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MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT 

OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY 

IN  THE  WORLD  WAR 


VOLUME  V 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS 
IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


PREPARED  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF 

MAJ.  GEN.  M.  W.  IRELAND,  M.  D., 

Surgeon  General  of  the  Army 


By 

LIEUT.  COL.  FRANK  W.  WEED,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  ARMY 


WASHINGTON  : : GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  : : 1923 


UH  6U?¥J O 
lr_n  3 m 
v.  5 


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COPY  POR  PROFIT.— PUB.  RES.  57,  APPROVED  MAY  11,  1922 


DUKE 

UNIVERSITY 

JUL  1 7 1975 


MEDICAL,  CENTER 
LIBRARY 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMISSION. 


I have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  Volume  V of  the  history  of  the 
MEDICAL  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY  IN  THE 
WORLD  WAR.  The  volume  submitted  is  entitled,  Military  Hospitals  in 
the  United  States.” 

Meritte  W.  Ireland, 

Surgeon  General,  United  States  Army. 


The  Secretary  of  War. 


EDITORIAL  BOARD. 


Col.  Charles  Lynch,  M.  C.,  Editor  in  Chief. 

Dr.  Lot  McAfee,  C.  S.,  Assistant  Editor  in  Chief. 

MEMBERS. 

Col.  Bailey  Iv.  Ashford,  M.  C. 

Col.  Frank  Billings,  M.  C. 

Col.  Thomas  R.  Boggs,  M.  C. 

Col.  George  E.  Brewer,  M.  C. 

Col.  W.  P.  Chamberlain,  M.  C. 

Col.  C.  F.  Craig,  M.  C. 

Col.  Haven  Emerson,  M.  C. 

Brig.  Gen.  John  M.  T.  Finney,  M.  D. 

Col.  J.  H.  Ford,  M.  C. 

Lieut.  Col.  Fielding  H.  Garrison,  M.  C. 

Col.  H.  L.  Gilchrist,  M.  C. 

Brig.  Gen.  Jefferson  Kean,  M.  D. 

Lieut.  Col.  A.  G.  Love,  M.  C. 

Col.  James  F.  McKernon,  M.  C. 

Col.  S.  J.  Morris,  M.  C. 

Col.  R.  T.  Oliver,  D.  C. 

Col.  Charles  R.  Reynolds,  M.  C. 

Col.  Thomas  W.  Salmon,  M.  C. 

Lieut.  Col.  G.  E.  de  Schweinitz,  M.  C. 

Col.  J.  F.  Siler,  M.  C. 

Brig.  Gen.  W.  S.  Thayer,  M.  D. 

Col.  A.  D.  Tuttle,  M.  C. 

Col.  F.  W.  Weed,  M.  C. 

Col.  William  H.  Welch,  M.  C. 

Col.  E.  P.  Wolfe,  M.  C. 

Lieut.  Col.  Casey  A.  Wood,  M.  C. 

Col.  Hans  Zinsser,  M.  C. 

a The  highest  rank  held  daring  the  World  War  has  been  used  in  the  case  oi  each  officer. 

4 


PREFACE. 


The  purpose  of  this  volume  is  twofold:  to  furnish  a record  of  experiences 
incident  not  only  to  the  actual  provision  of  the  military  hospitals  in  the  United 
States  during  the  World  War  but  to  their  administrative  operation  as  well;  and, 
in  so  far  as  it  has  been  practicable,  to  record  the  histories  of  the  hospitals 
separately  in  order  that  their  individual  identities  might  be  perpetuated. 

The  material  has  been  arranged  to  deal  with  generalities  first  and  then 
with  the  individual  organizations. 

Professional  activities  are  considered  in  other  volumes  of  the  history,  appro- 
priate in  each  case  to  the  particular  specialty  involved.  The  plan  consistently 
followed  here  has  been  not  to  include  any  of  these  except  as  they  intimately 
affected  organization  or  administration,  when,  to  avoid  a breach  in  continuity 
or  the  semblance  of  devitalization,  they  have  been  briefly  recounted. 

It  was  obviously  impossible  to  include  complete  histories  of  all  the  many 
military  hospitals  in  the  United  States,  so  a representative  of  each  of  the  vari- 
ous types  has  been  selected  for  description.  Hospitals  whose  histories  were 
most  complete  were  chosen  in  each  instance  for  this  purpose. 

To  show  what  each  of  the  hospitals  accomplished  and  the  staff  requirements 
of  each,  statistical  tables  have  been  prepared  exhibiting,  numerically,  the  num- 
ber of  patients  treated  and  the  personnel  provided  for  their  treatment.  These 
tables  have  been  appended  to  the  hospital  concerned  when  that  hospital  has 
been  separately  considered;  otherwise,  they  have  been  given  in  synopsis  form 
by  hospital  groups.  These  tables  are  imperfect:  complete  data  either  were  not 
furnished  by  the  hospital  during  the  war,  or  they  have  been  misplaced  since. 
They  are  not  considered  an  end,  but  rather  a means  to  an  end,  and  for  this 
reason  it  is  felt  that  they  will  amply  serve  their  purpose  despite  minor  errors. 

During  the  earlier  stages  of  the  preparation  of  this  volume  Lieut.  Col.  Casey 
A.  Wood,  M.  C.,  was  in  direct  charge  of  its  compilation.  Colonel  Wood  accom- 
plished much  valuable  work  on  his  assignment,  but  the  exigencies  of  the  service 
resulted  in  his  separation  from  activities  connected  with  the  history,  except  as 
a member  of  the  editorial  board.  Since  Colonel  Wood’s  separation  from  the 
service  in  October,  1920,  much  pertinent  material  became  available,  necessitating 
the  rearrangement  of  the  volume. 

Acknowledgment  is  made  to  Col.  Charles  Lynch,  M.  C.,  for  much  of  the 
material  in  Chapter  XXII,  on  embarkation  and  debarkation  hospitals;  to  Dr. 
Loy  McAfee,  for  helpful  advice  on  the  general  arrangement  of  the  contents  of 
the  volume  and  for  the  condensation  of  a number  of  the  individual  histories  of 
base  hospitals;  to  Col.  A.  E.  Truby,  M.  C.,  for  the  chapter  on  the  airplane 
ambulance;  to  Lieut.  Col.  S.  M.  DeLoffre,  M.  C.,  for  data  on  the  construction 
of  aviation  hospitals;  to  Maj.  Floyd  Kramer,  M.  C.,  for  the  material  on  the 
construction  of  temporary  hospitals  and  the  procurement  of  hospital  space  in 
existent  buildings;  and  to  Mr.  Arthur  W.  Hodgkins  for  the  preparation  of  the 
illustrations  from  which  practically  all  of  the  line  cuts  have  been  made. 

<*For  thepurposes  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  United  States  Army  in  the  World  War,  theperiod  of  war  activities 
extends  from  April  6,  1917,  to  December  31,  1919.  In  the  professional  volumes,  however,  in  which  are  recorded  the  medi- 
cal and  surgical  aspects  of  the  conflict  as  applied  to  the  actual  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  this  period  is  extended, 
in  some  instances,  to  the  time  of  the  completion  of  the  history  of  the  given  service.  In  this  way  only  can  the  results  of  the 
methods  employed  be  followed  to  their  logical  conclusion. 


5 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


Page. 

Preface 5 

Introduction 13 

Evolution  of  the  military  hospital 13 

Section  I. — Procurement. 

Chapter  I.  Evolution  of  hospital  procurement  methods 27 

II.  General  factors  underljdng  the  hospitalization  scheme 33 

III.  Classification  of  hospitals  constructed 39 

Section  II. — Construction  and  Improvement. 

IY.  Construction 57 

V.  Hospitals  provided  and  improved 102 

Section  III. — Organization,  Administration,  and  Control. 

VI.  Differentiation  of  general,  base,  and  camp  hospitals 117 

VII.  Personnel 121 

VIII.  Supplies  and  utilities 145 

IX.  Coordination  of  improvement  measures 157 

X.  Correlated  activities 164 

XI.  Distribution  of  overseas  patients 171 

XII.  Transportation  of  sick  and  wounded 180 

XIII.  Demobilization 189 

Section  IV. — Types  of  Hospitals. 

XIV.  The  camp  base  hospital 193 

XV.  The  general  hospital  (permanent) 272 

XVI.  The  general  hospital  (converted) 323 

XVII.  The  general  hospital  (tuberculosis) 363 

XVIII.  The  general  hospital  (new) 375 

XIX.  Post  hospitals 388 

XX.  Aviation  hospitals 398 

XXI.  The  airplane  ambulance 416 

XXII.  Embarkation  and  debarkation  hospitals 426 

XXIII.  The  debarkation  hospital 436 

XXIV.  The  embarkation  hospital 451 

Section  V. — Other  General  Hospitals. 

XXV.  Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital;  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex.; 

General  Hospitals,  Nos.  1,  4,  5,  6,  7,  and  8 483 

XXVI.  General  Hospitals,  Nos.  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  and  18 520 

XXVII.  General  Hospitals,  Nos.  19,  20,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  and  29 552 

XXVIII.  General  Hospitals,  Nos.  30,  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  and  40 586 

Section  VI. — Other  Base  Hospitals. 

XXIX.  Base  Hospitals,  Camp  Beauregard,  La.;  Fort  Bliss,  Tex.;  Camps  Bowie,  Tex.; 

Cody,  N.  Mex.;  Custer,  Mich.;  Devens,  Mass.;  Dix,  N.  J.;  Dodge,  Iowa;  and 

Doniphan,  Okla 619 

XXX.  Base  Hospitals,  Camps  Eustis,  Va. ; Fremont,  Calif. ; Gordon,  Ga. ; Greene, 

N.  C.;  Hancock,  Ga.;  A.  A.  Humphreys,  Va.;  Jackson,  S.  C.;  Jos.  E.  Johnston, 

Fla.;  Kearny,  Calif.;  and  Lee,  Va 663 


7 


8 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Page. 

Chapter  XXXI.  Base  Hospitals,  Camps  Lewis,  Wash.;  Logan,  Tex.;  MacArthur,  Tex.; 

McClellan,  Ala.;  Meade,  Md.;  Pike,  Ark.;  Fort  Eiley,  Kans.;  and 

Sam  Houston,  Tex 709 

XXXII.  Base  Hospitals,  Camps  Sevier,  S.  C.;  Shelby,  Miss.;  Sheridan,  Ala.; 

Sherman,  Ohio;  Zachary  Taylor,  Ky.;  Travis,  Tex.;  Upton,  N.  Y.; 
Wadsworth,  S.  C.;  and  Wheeler,  Ga 745 

Section  VII. — Other  Embarkation  and  Debarkation  Hospitals. 

XXXIII.  Embarkation  Hospitals,  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4;  Debarkation  Hospitals,  Nos. 

1,  2,  4,  and  5;  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Merritt,  N.  J.;  Base  Hospital, 

Camp  Mills,  N.  Y.;  and  United  States  Army  Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1, 

N ew  Y ork  C ity 785 

XXXIV.  Debarkation  Hospitals,  Nos.  51  and  52 821 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Figure.  Page. 

1.  Tilton’s  Log  Hut  Hospital,  New  Jersey,  1780 15 

2.  Herbert  Hospital,  Woolwich,  England 17 

3.  Lariboisiere  Hospital,  Paris 

4.  Patterson  Park  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md 19 

5.  Judiciary  Square  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C 20 

6.  Sedgwick  Hospital,  Greenville,  La 21 

7.  Mower  Hospital,  Chestnut  Hill,  Pa 22 

8.  Satterlee  Hospital,  West  Philadelphia,  Pa 23 

9.  General  hospitals  superimposed  upon  Bureau  of  Census  population  map,  1910 36 

10.  Chart  of  normal  bed  capacities  in  larger  hospitals  in  United  States 53 

11.  Chart  showing  relation  of  available  beds  to  patients  in  general  hospitals 54 

12.  Chart  showing  relation  of  available  beds  to  patients  in  base  hospitals 55 

13.  Types  of  block  plans  for  hospitals 5S 

14.  Floor  plan  of  receiving  building  J-3 61 

15.  Administration  building,  base  hospital 62 

16.  Receiving  building,  base  hospital 62 

17.  Floor  plans  of  administration  and  receiving  buildings  B-9 63 

18.  Floor  plan  of  administration  and  receiving  building  B-13 64 

19.  Floor  plans  of  single  wards  Iv-1  and  K-20 65 

20.  Floor  plans  of  two-story  ward  barracks  K-5  and  K-105 66 

21.  Floor  plan  of  two-story  general  ward  unit  K-34 67 

22.  Floor  plans  of  two-story  ward  units  K-117  and  Iv-58 6S 

23.  Floor  plan  of  isolation  wards  M and  M-l 68 

24.  Floor  plan  of  isolation  wards  M-3  and  M-6 69 

25.  Floor  plan  of  psychiatric  wards  R-2  and  R-4 69 

26.  Interior  of  a typical  one-story  ward  of  temporary  construction : 72 

27.  Floor  plan  of  tuberculosis  ward  Iv-103 75 

28.  Floor  plans  of  tuberculosis  wards  K-108  and  K-107 75 

29.  Floor  plans  of  laboratory  buildings 77 

30.  Floor  plans  of  surgical  pavilions 78 

31.  Floor  plan  of  a surgical  department  for  a 1,000-bed  hospital 79 

32.  Floor  plan  of  a surgical  building  for  a 2,000-bed  hospital SO 

33.  Floor  plan  of  of  a surgical  and  laboratory  pavilion  for  a 300-bed  hospital SI 

34.  Floor  plan  of  a physical  therapy  building 82 

35.  Floor  plan  of  mess  and  kitchen,  I 84 

36.  Interior  of  a base  hospital  general  kitchen S5 

37.  Corridor  adjacent  to  patients’  mess,  showing  equipment  for  transporting  prepared  food  to 

wards 85 

38.  Floor  plan  of  mess  and  kitchen  I— 11 S6 

39.  Floor  plan  of  mess  and  kitchen  1-12 S7 

40.  Floor  plan  of  mess  and  kitchen  1-34 : SS 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


9 


Figure.  Page 

41.  Floor  plans  of  mess  1—43  and  kitchen  1-39 89 

42.  Cafeteria  equipment 91 

43.  Officers’  quarters 93 

44.  Officers’ dining  room 93 

45.  Nurses’  quarters 94 

46.  Living  room,  nurses’  quarters 94 

47.  Enlisted  men’s  quarters 94 

48.  Enlisted  men’s  mess  hall 95 

49.  Typical  Red  Cross  recreation  house  for  nurses 95 

50.  Typical  Red  Cross  convalescent  house 96 

51.  Typical  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  hut 96 

52.  Interior  of  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  hut 97 

53.  Typical  medical  supply  buildings 97 

54.  Floor  plan  of  laundry  building  Q-3 98 

55.  Floor  plan  of  laundry  building  Q-4 98 

56.  Garage  and  cars  at  base  hospital 99 

57.  Block  plan  of  base  hospitals  as  originally  constructed 104 

58.  Inclosed  corridor,  connecting  buildings 105 

59.  Typical  one-story  ward  of  temporary  construction 105 

60.  Portion  of  the  isolation  section  of  a base  hospital 106 

61.  Portion  of  the  psychiatric  ward 106 

62.  Exterior  of  a typical  ward-barrack 107 

63.  Floor  plans  of  regimental  infirmary  and  camp  dental  infirmary 108 

64.  Central  heating  plant,  National  Army  base  hospital 150 

65.  Method  of  heating  National  Guard  hospitals 150 

66.  Base  hospital  fire  station 153 

67.  Portion  of  a base  hospital  farm 154 

68.  Covered,  or  “umbrella’’  walk 155 

69.  A post  exchange  building 164 

70.  Interior  of  a post  exchange 165 

71.  A base  hospital  bowling  alley 167 

72.  A swimming  pool  at  base  hospital,  Camp  MacArthur,  Tex 167 

73.  Semischematic  map  showing  manner  of  distribution  of  sick 172 

74.  Distribution  of  overseas  patients  to  general  and  base  hospitals 179 

75.  Hospital  Train  No.  1 180 

76.  A 16-section  patient  car,  Train  No.  1 181 

77.  Car  for  sick  officers,  Train  No.  1 182 

78.  A hospital  unit  car  fitted  with  Glennan  adjustable  bunks,  showing  manner  of  adjust- 

ment  184 

79.  Hospital  unit  car  interior 185 

80.  Hospital  unit  car  interior  in  use 186 

81.  Laundry,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 202 

82.  Folders  for  clinical  records,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant 222 

83.  Receiving  office,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant 235 

84.  Ward  class  in  physical  reconstruction,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant 262 

85.  Cottage  used  by  the  hospital  personnel  for  outings,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant 264 

86.  Cover  design  for  one  of  the  issues  of  the  Silver  Chev’ , Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant 269 

87.  Specimen  page  of  the  Silver  Chev’ 270 

88.  Administration  building,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 274 

89.  Hospital  stewards’  quarters,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 275 

90.  Detachment  barracks,  W7alter  Reed  General  Hospital 276 

91.  Officers’  quarters,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 277 

92.  Nurses’  quarters,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 278 

93.  Isolation  building,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 279 

94.  Aerophotograph,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 280 

95.  Block  plan,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 282 

96 . A view  of  temporary  buildings,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 284 


10 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Figure.  Page. 

97.  Hospital  swimming  pool,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 315 

98.  Service  Club  No.  1,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 318 

99.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md 324 

100.  Old  Post  Hospital,  Fort  McHenry,  used  as  first  administration  building  and  officer- 

patients’  quarters 325 

101.  Panorama  of  cantonment  wards,  the  first  to  be  erected,  at  General  Hospital  No.  2 326 

102.  Two-story  wards,  constructed  of  tile,  General  Hospital  No.  2 327 

103.  Plaster  models  of  maxillofacial  patients,  General  Hospital  No.  2 336 

104.  Orthopedic  shop,  General  Hospital  No.  2 338 

105.  Portion  of  laboratory,  General  Hospital  No.  2 344 

106.  Work  in  basketry,  General  Hospital  No.  2 348 

107.  Patients  at  work  in  printing  shop,  General  Hospital  No.  2 349 

108.  Blind  patients  learning  typewriting,  General  Hospital  No.  2 351 

109.  Patients’  work  in  jewelry  class,  General  Hospital  No.  2 352 

110.  Patients’  class  in  photography,  General  Hospital  No.  2 356 

111.  A view  of  Camp  Purnell.  Patients  bathing,  General  Hospital  No.  2 358 

112.  Block  plan  of  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 364 

113.  Wards  (under  construction)  General  Hospital  No.  21 366 

114.  Open-air  ward,  General  Hospital  No.  21 366 

115.  Officers’  apartments,  General  Hospital  No.  21 367 

116.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 376 

117.  View  of  front  of  General  Hospital  No.  3 377 

118.  Convalescent  wards,  General  Hospital  No.  3 378 

119.  Bakery,  General  Hospital  No.  3 379 

120.  Chemical  laboratory,  General  Hospital  No.  3 385 

121.  East  garrison,  Fort  McDowell,  Calif 390 

122.  Post  hospital,  Fort  McDowell 391 

123.  Hospital  at  Love  Field,  showing  additional  wings 399 

124.  Front  view  of  a 50-bed  aviation  hospital 399 

125.  Aviation  hospital,  Rockwell  Field,  Calif 400 

126.  A ward,  Post  Hospital,  Eberts  Field,  Ark 400 

127.  Nurses’  quarters,  Eberts  Field,  Ark 401 

128.  Enlisted  men’s  barracks,  Post  Hospital,  Barron  Field,  Tex 402 

129.  Enlisted  men’s  barracks,  Post  Hospital,  Wilbur  Wright  Field,  Ohio 403 

130.  Medical  research  laboratory,  Rockwell  Field,  Calif 403 

131.  Operating  room,  aviation  hospital 405 

132.  Sterilizing  room,  aviation  hospital 406 

133.  Dispensary,  aviation  hospital 406 

134.  Physical  examining  room,  aviation  hospital 407 

135.  X-ray  room,  aviation  hospital 407 

136.  Low  oxygen  tension  test  room,  aviation  hospital 40S 

137.  Kitchen  and  mess  hall,  aviation  hospital 408 

138.  Toilet  room,  Post  Hospital,  Rockwell  Field,  Calif 409 

139.  Ambulance  and  field  equipment 409 

140.  Trial  flight  of  the  Rhoades-Gosman  airplane,  January  26,  1910 416 

141.  Airplane  ambulance,  first  used  at  Gerst.ner  Field,  La.,  January  2S,  1918 417 

142.  JN-4  H airplane  ambulance  approaching  scene  of  accident,  Ellington  Field 419 

143.  JN-4  H airplane  ambulance,  top  removed  from  fuselage,  litter  being  removed 420 

144.  JN-4  H airplane  ambulance,  rendering  first-aid  to  patient,  Ellington  Field 420 

145.  JN — 4 H airplane  ambulance,  preparing  to  load  patient,  Ellington  Field 420 

146.  JN-4  H airplane  ambulance,  placing  patient  in  fuselage,  Ellington  Field 421 

147.  JN-4  H airplane  ambulance,  Ellington  Field,  showing  empty  and  loaded  litter 422 

148.  Winching  Stokes  litter  into  place  in  the  Rockwell  Field  airplane  ambulance 423 

149.  Final  position  of  litter,  Rockwell  Field  airplane  ambulance 423 

150.  Stokes  litter  for  a DH-4  airplane  ambulance 424 

151.  Stokes  litter  in  place  in  a DH-4  airplane  ambulance 424 

152.  Chart  showing  relationship  of  available  beds  to  patients  in  port  hospitals 426 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


11 


Figure.  Page. 

153.  Map  of  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Ya 431 

154.  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Greenhut  Building,  N.  Y 437 

155.  Isometric  plan  of  first  floor,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 439 

156.  Typical  general  ward  floor,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 440 

157.  One  of  the  large  wards  at  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 441 

158.  Block  plan  of  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 452 

159.  Headquarters,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 453 

160.  General  view  of  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya.,  showing  central  heating 

plant 454 

161.  Interior  of  power  and  heating  plant,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 456 

162.  Nurses’  recreation  building,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 457 

163.  Nurses’  wards,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 478 

164.  Red  Cross  convalescent  house,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 479 

165.  Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark 484 

166.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital,  Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex 487 

167.  Block  plan,  Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco 491 

168.  General  Hospital  No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  New  York  City 494 

169.  Portion  of  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y 502 

170.  Block  plan  of  General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga 506 

171.  Swimming  pool  in  gymnasium,  General  Hospital  No.  7,  Baltimore 512 

172.  General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y 515 

173.  General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J 520 

174.  Portion  of  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston 523 

175.  General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J 526 

176.  General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C 529 

177.  Block  plan  of  General  Hospital  No.  14,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga 535 

178.  Open-air  tuberculosis  ward,  General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn 539 

179.  General  Hospital  No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa 542 

180.  Block  plan  of  General  Hospital  No.  19,  Oteen  (Azalea),  N.  C 553 

181.  Sun  porch,  General  Hospital  No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz 555 

182.  General  Hospital  No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa 558 

183.  General  Hospital  No.  24,  Park  View,  Pittsburgh 563 

184.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind 566 

185.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa 570 

186.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111 576 

187.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa 589 

188.  General  Hospital  No.  32,  Chicago,  111 592 

189.  Portion  of  General  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass 596 

190.  General  Hospital  No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind 598 

191.  General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich 601 

192.  General  Hospital  No.  38,  Eastview,  N.  Y 606 

193.  Recreation  room,  General  Hospital  No.  38 607 

194.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo 610 

195.  General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo 612 

196.  Plan  of  Camp  Dix,  showing  relative  position  of  Base  Hospital 647 

197.  View  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sherman,  Chillicothe,  Ohio 759 

198.  Airplane  view  of  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y 792 

199.  Block  plan  of  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.  (General  Hospital  No.  41).  796 

200.  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2 797 

201.  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  Long  Beach,  N.  Y 799 

202.  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5,  New  York  City 803 

203.  Floor  plan,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5 805 

204.  Block  plan,  General  Hospital  No.  43,  Soldiers’  Home,  Hampton,  Va 822 


12 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


LIST  OF  TABLES.3 

Table.  Page. 

1.  Schedule  showing  new  construction  (temporary)  erected  at  post  hospitals 40 

2.  Schedule  of  hospital  buildings  erected  at  the  National  Army  camps  (base  hospitals).  All 

temporary  construction 42 

3.  Schedule  of  hospital  buildings  erected  at  the  National  Guard  camps  (base hospitals).  All 

temporary  construction 44 

4.  Schedule  of  new  hospital  construction  of  the  temporary  type  done  at  points  other  than 

the  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps 46 

5.  Schedule  of  new  construction  (temporary  except  General  Hospitals,  Nos.  20  and  21) 

tuberculosis  hospitals 50 

6.  Schedule  of  hospital  buildings,  semipermanent  (except  General  Hospital  No.  28),  of  later 

design  than  buildings  at  hospitals  of  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps 52 

7.  Hospital  beds  available  on  armistice  day 113 

8.  Number  of  enlisted  men  assigned  to  different  sized  hospitals 123 

9.  Number  of  overseas  patients  arriving  at  Hoboken,  Newport  News,  and  Boston 171 

10.  Patients  from  American  Expeditionary  Forces  transferred  to  general  and  base  hospitals 

from  ports  at  Hoboken  and  Newport  News 176 

11.  Revised  table  for  ratio  capacity,  for  troops  invalided  home  September  5,  1918,  on  prin- 

cipal naval  transports 187 

12.  Influenza  and  pneumonia  statistics,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 249 

13.  Drugs  used  in  dispensary,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111.,  during  the  influenza  epi- 

demic, 1918 249 

14.  Figures  and  statistics  from  the  influenza  epidemic,  compiled  by  the  Quartermaster 

Department,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 249 

15.  Average  number  of  days  lost  in  hospital,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  1917 304 

16.  Surgical  operations  performed  at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  1917 304 

17.  Admissions  to  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  1918 305 

18.  Surgical  operations  performed  at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  1918 305 

19.  Admissions  and  dispositions,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  1919 305 

20.  Consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  strengths  of  personnel  at 

United  States  Army  post  hospitals 394 

21.  Consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  strengths  of  personnel  at 

United  States  Army  aviation  hospitals 412 

22.  Consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  strengths  of  personnel  at 

United  States  Army  camp  hospitals 7S3 


a Tables  of  statistical  data  concerning  individual  hospitals  have  been  placed  at  the  end  of  the  history  of  each  hos- 
pital considered. 


INTRODUCTION. 


EVOLUTION  OF  THE  MILITARY  HOSPITAL. 

ANCIENT  PERIOD. 

Of  those  who,  during  the  World  War,  were  patients  in  any  of  our  large, 
especially  constructed  military  hospitals  there  were  probably  few  who  reflected 
that  they  were  having  the  unique  experience  of  being  the  first  soldiers  in  the 
history  of  the  world  so  favored  as  to  receive  treatment  in  a military  hospital, 
the  perfections  of  which  rivaled  the  refinements  of  the  best  contemporary  civil 
institutions  for  the  care  of  the  sick.  That  this  is  irrefutable  a rapid  survey  of 
medico-military  history  and  an  examination  of  the  data  set  forth  in  this  volume 
will  substantiate. 

Hospital  Care  of  Ancient  Warriors. 

Turning  back  the  leaves  of  history  to  the  records  of  the  earliest  times  we 
find  that,  throughout,  it  has  been  customary  to  remove  wounded  soldiers  from 
the  field  of  battle  and  to  place  them  in  temporary  shelters  where  they  were 
given  such  crude  treatment  (“wound  surgery”)  as  the  times  afforded.  Even 
in  the  more  remote  period,  or  the  domain  of  unauthenticated  history,  as  related 
by  Homer,  the  wounded  were  transported  by  hand  or  chariot  to  the  tents  or 
“black  ships”  to  the  rear.1  There  was,  as  might  be  expected,  no  organized 
effort  to  either  rescue  or  care  for  the  wounded  in  these  early  times;  nor  was 
such  the  case  until  a comparatively  late  period.  Since  the  improvised  shelters 
were  extremely  temporary,  it  was  the  custom  among  the  Greeks  and  Romans 
to  call  into  use  houses,  temples,  even  stables  wherein  the  soldiers  were  refreshed 
and  their  wounds  budded  up.2  It  was  not  until  after  the  beginning  of  the 
Christian  Era  that  organized  effort  was  made  to  rescue  and  adequately  care  for 
the  wounded  in  permanent  buildings  which  had  been  especially  constructed  for 
that  purpose. 

Stationary  Military  Hospitals. 

In  republican  Rome  private  hospitals  and  the  homes  of  the  wealthy  had 
been  utilized  for  the  care  of  wounded  Roman  soldiers,  so  long  as  military 
activities  remained  confined  to  the  vicinity  of  Rome.3  With  the  extension  of 
conquest  to  unknown  lands,  and  the  establishment  of  standing  armies  in  occu- 
pied territories,  it  became  necessary  to  provide  special  hospitals  for  the  Roman 
soldiery  there.  Some  of  these  hospitals,  constructed  of  stone  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  first  century  or  beginning  of  the  second  century  of  the  Christian  Era,3 
suggest  a striking  resemblance  to  the  military  hospitals  planned  and  erected  by 
the  British  and  French  about  17  centuries  later,  They  consisted  of  series  of 
wards  built  about  a quadrangle  and  opening  on  both  sides  of  longitudinal 
corridors;  each  ward  only  sufficiently  large  to  accommodate  approximately  a 
dozen  patients.  There  were  such  refinements  as  sewers,  water  piping,  a heat- 

13 


14 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ing  plant,  kitchen,  and  apothecary’s  shop.  This  surprisingly  excellent  arrange- 
ment for  caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded  continued  throughout  the  Byzantine 
period  (476  to  732  A.  D.),  but  ceased  with  the  decline  of  Roman  influence.4 

MEDIEVAL  PERIOD. 

Modern  hospitals  had  their  incipiency  during  that  part  of  the  Middle  Ages 
when  the  great  waves  of  the  Crusades,  breaking  on  the  deserts  of  the  East, 
carried  back  in  their  ebb  a flotsam  of  the  lame,  the  halt,  and  the  blind  to  the 
cities  of  medieval  Europe.  To  care  for  these  and  the  plague  of  lepers  introduced 
at  the  same  time,  the  charitable  orders  of  the  church  founded  places  of  shelter 
for  the  poor  and  helpless.5  These  institutions,  called  hospitals,  were  designed 
merely  to  house  their  helpless  inmates,  and  had  little  resemblance  to  the  scien- 
tifically constructed  and  administered  hospitals  of  the  present  day. 

The  revival  of  the  direct  hospital  care  of  warriors  is  credited  to  Isabella, 
Queen  of  Spain,  who,  during  the  siege  of  Alora  (1184),  sent  to  the  camps  six 
large  tents  and  their  furniture,  together  with  physicians,  surgeons,  medicines, 
and  attendants.  These  tents  were  called  the  “Queen’s  Hospital.”6 

The  influence  of  Queen  Isabella  on  the  establishment  of  military  hospitals 
was  afterwards  seen  at  the  siege  of  Metz  (1552),  when,  under  Emperor  Charles 
the  Fifth,  there  were  included  the  organizations  of  both  field  and  garrison 
hospitals.7 

EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY  HOSPITALS. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  widespread  attention  was 
directed  to  the  wretched  general  condition  of  the  hospitals  throughout  Europe. s 
In  the  Hotel  Dieu,  at  Paris,  at  that  time  a veritable  hotbed  of  disease,  there  were 
approximately  1,220  beds,  the  most  of  which  contained  from  four  to  six  patients. 
In  larger  halls  there  were  patients  crowded  on  pallets  or  often  lying  about 
miserably  on  heaps  of  straw,  which  was  in  vile  condition.  Vermin  and  filth 
abounded  and  the  ventilation  was  often  so  abominable  that  the  attendants  and 
inspectors  would  not  enter  in  the  morning  without  a sponge  dipped  in  vinegar 
held  to  their  faces.  Although  the  Hotel  Dieu  was  not  a military  hospital,  its 
condition  reflected  the  general  lack  of  knowledge  of  hospital  construction  and 
management,  and  especially  the  high  value  of  the  basic  principles  of  sanitation 
in  connection  therewith — the  provision  of  adequate  ah’  space,  and  means  for 
ventilation  and  the  admission  of  sunlight. 

The  true  principle  of  hospital  construction  was  at  first  discussed  bv  a 
committee  of  the  French  Academy  of  Sciences,9  which  in  1788  made  a final 
report  as  to  conditions  which  a model  hospital  should  fulfill,  specifying  that  the 
wards  should  be  in  isolated  pavilions;  that  each  ward  should  be  24  feet  wide, 
from  14  to  15  feet  high  and  115  feet  long;  and  should  contain  from  34  to  36 
beds;  and  that  the  windows  should  extend  to  the  ceilings.  A part  of  the  com- 
mittee visited  England,10  and  along  with  the  ideas  of  the  English  ward  utilities, 
they  were  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  limiting  the  beds  in  a ward  to  from 
12  to  13,  a custom  entirely  at  variance  with  that  which  prevailed  in  the  Hotel 
Dieu.  They  took  ideas  from  the  plan  of  the  pavilion  hospital  at  Stonehouse, 
England,10  in  all  probability  the  first  pavilion  hospital,  which  guided  them  in 
preparing  their  famous  report. 


INTRODUCTION, 


15 


EARLY  AMERICAN  HOSPITALS. 

In  America,  the  first  account  of  a hospital  in  the  territory  now  known  as 
the  United  States  was  of  the  one  established  on  Manhattan  Island  11  in  1658, 
for  sick  soldiers — who  had  previously  been  billeted  in  private  families — and  for 
the  West  India  Co.’s  negroes.  In  1679  this  hospital  consisted  of  five  houses. 

During  the  American  Revolution,  General  Washington  evinced  the  kindest 
interest  in  the  sick  and  wounded;  but  there  was  much  suffering  on  account  of 
the  poverty  of  the  Government  and  the  meager  resources  of  the  country,  pre- 


Fig.  1. — Tilton's  Log  Hut  Hospital,  New  Jersey,  17S0.  (From  an  old  wood  cut.) 


venting  the  possibility  of  building  and  conducting  hospitals.  Consequently, 
it  was  a necessity  to  make  use  of  all  kinds  of  houses  for  the  purpose  of  locating 
the  sick  and  wounded;  and  we  find  but  little  recorded  as  adding  to  the  develop- 
ment of  hospitals.12 

During  the  winter  of  1779-80,  Dr.  James  Tilton,  of  Delaware,  was  in  charge 
of  the  general  hospital  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  to  him  is  to  be  accorded  the  credit 
of  endeavoring  to  diminish  the  sickness,  resulting  from  crowd  poisoning,  by  a new 
system  of  hospital  construction.13  He  did  away  with  the  hospital  tents  and 
private  houses  then  in  use;  and  caused  to  be  constructed  a large  number  of  log 


16 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK"  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


huts,  built  roughly,  so  that  air  could  penetrate  the  crevices.  These  huts  were 
without  wooden  floors,  the  ground  being  hardened  or  baked  by  heat,  and  each 
hut  was  intended  to  accommodate  about  8 to  12  men. 

During  the  War  of  1812  the  general  hospital,  established  at  Burlington* 
Vt.,  14  consisted  of  40  wards  containing  between  700  and  800  patients.  Wards 
were  appropriated  to  infectious  or  contagious  diseases,  surgical  cases  had  rooms 
separate  from  the  febrile,  and  venereal  and  itch  patients  were  assigned  to  their 
separate  wards  and  not  intermixed  with  men  of  different  diseases.  In  an 
adjoining  house  the  surgeons  were  accommodated  with  comfortable  rooms 
where  one  or  more  always  remained. 

INFLUENCE  OF  THE  CRIMEAN  WAR  ON  HOSPITALS. 

The  next  progressive  step  after  the  report  of  the  French  Academy’s  commit- 
tee, in  the  development  of  hospitals,  was  brought  about  by  the  fearful  death  rate 
of  the  English  and  French  armies  in  the  beginning  of  the  Crimean  War.  So  great 
was  the  mortality  that  the  English  people  as  a whole  were  aroused  to  the  neces- 
sity of  better  provision  being  made  for  the  sick  and  wounded.  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale,  who  had  had  training  as  a nurse  at  Kaiserworth,  and  a selected 
band  of  37  nurses  were  sent  to  the  seat  of  the  war,  on  October  24,  1854. 15 
In  1855,  the  British  Government  appointed  a sanitary  commission  to  proceed 
at  once  to  Crimea  and  Scutari.15  Miss  Nightingale  and  the  commission  suc- 
ceeded in  introducing  many  valuable  sanitary  reforms  in  the  British  army  in 
the  East.16 

In  1855  the  sanitary  inspectors  of  the  British  army  in  Crimea  suggested  the 
use  of  wooden  huts  or  barracks  for  hospitals,17  and  at  the  same  time  proposed  a 
permanent  tent  hospital.  It  was  found  by  experience  that  simple  wooden  huts 
raised  from  the  ground,  with  double  walls  to  protect  from  the  heat  in  summer  and 
cold  in  winter,  made  with  ridge  ventilation,  and  heated  by  means  of  open  fires 
or  stoves,  gave  far  better  results  than  any  other  kind  of  building. 

The  practical  results  of  the  interest  in  hospitals  brought  about  by  the 
Crimean  War  were  the  building  of  the  famous  Herbert  Hospital  at  Woolwich, 1S 
and  establishing  on  a sure  basis  the  detached  plan  of  hospital  construction 
which  had  been  proposed  and  a small  one  erected  (Plymouth  Naval  Hospital), 
just  100  years  before.  The  Herbert  Hospital  was  an  improvement  on  the 
Lariboisiere,  in  Paris,  finished  in  1854;  but  like  it  was  modeled  after  the  plan 
proposed  by  the  French  Academy’s  committee  in  1786 — the  improvements 
being  mainly  in  the  details  of  internal  arrangements. 10 

PTntil  the  building  of  the  Herbert  Hospital,  the  Lariboisiere  Avas  the  model 
hospital  of  the  world.10  The  influence  of  the  Crimean  experience  did  not  do  so 
much  for  France;  nothing  better  than  the  Lariboisiere  was  proposed. 

Before  the  interest  in  sanitary  and  hospital  reform,  caused  by  the  Crimean 
War,  had  quieted  down,  the  American  people  had  the  opportunity  offered  them 
to  make  use  of  the  valuable  suggestions  published  in  the  reports  of  the  English 
commission,  and  in  doing  so  succeeded  in  developing  the  most  perfect  system  of 
army  hospitals  ever  known  to  the  Avorld. 


INTRODUCTION. 


17 


100  50  0 10 0 SO 0 300  400 

1— LLLLi  UU-LJ ( . I ■ — L_ - i 


Herbert  Hospital. 

Fig.  2. — Herbert  Hospital,  Woolwich,  England. 


Fig.  3. — Lariboisiere  Hospital,  Paris. 

45269°— 23 2 


18 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CIVIL  WAR  HOSPITALS.0 

Prior  to  the  Civil  War  the  troops  composing  the  United  States  Army  were 
chiefly  distributed  at  garrisons  of  the  various  units  of  the  general  system  of  our 
coast  defense,  or  for  the  protection  of  the  Indian  frontier.  Each  of  these  sta- 
tions was  provided  with  a small  post  hospital  in  which  serious  cases  of  illness 
were  treated. 

When  the  troops  began  to  go  into  camp,  at  the  commencement  of  war,  each 
regiment  established  a regimental  hospital  on  the  same  general  plan.  Hospital 
tents  or  buildings,  temporarily  occupied,  afforded  shelter  for  the  more  serious 
cases.  When  small  regiments  were  grouped  together  as  brigades  it  was  often 
found  convenient  to  establish  a congeries  of  regimental  hospitals  at  one  point, 
and  this  led  to  their  consolidation  in  many  instances  as  brigade  hospitals.  At 
a later  period,  the  same  tendency  to  consolidation  led  to  the  union  of  the  several 
brigade  hospitals  of  a division,  forming  thus  a division  hospital.  The  division 
hospital  was  sometimes  a mere  aggregation  of  a regimental  or  brigade  hospital ; 
but  in  its  highest  development,  in  connection  with  large  armies  in  which  troops 
were  maneuvered  by  divisions,  it  formed  a single  unit  having  the  same  relation 
to  the  division  that  the  regimental  hospital  had  to  the  regiment. 

Very  soon  after  the  mobilization  of  troops  was  begun  in  1861  it  was  found 
that  the  system  of  post  and  regimental  hospitals  was  inadequate  to  provide  for 
all  the  sick.  Difficulty  was  especially  experienced  when  a regiment  changed 
station.  It  became  necessary,  therefore,  to  organize  near  the  bases  of  opera- 
tions independent  hospitals  to  receive  and  care  for  the  sick  necessarily  left 
behind  when  troops  moved,  as  well  as  those  for  whom  regimental  hospitals  were 
inadequate,  and  the  wounded  after  battles.  Such  establishments,  known  as 
general  hospitals,  being  of  a more  or  less  permanent  character,  it  was  possible 
to  provide  more  conveniences  and  comforts  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
than  could  be  furnished  in  the  field,  and  hence  it  became  the  custom  to  send 
the  more  serious  cases,  especially  those  requiring  protracted  treatment,  to  a 
general  hospital.  When,  in  the  course  of  events,  the  general  hospitals  near 
the  several  bases  of  operations  became  encumbered  with  sick  and  wounded, 
others  were  established  throughout  the  North,  and  the  hospitals  near  the  bases 
of  operations  were  evacuated  upon  the  more  distant  establishments,  from  time 
to  time,  to  make  room  for  the  continual  stream  of  diseased  and  disabled  which 
constantly  flowed  from  the  scene  of  active  operations. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  this  country  knew  nothing 
practically  of  large  military  hospitals.  It  was,  therefore,  not  surprising  that 
existing  buildings  were  used.  Hotels,  churches,  seminaries,  dwellings,  ware- 
houses, and  factory  buildings  were  used  at  the  various  places  in  the  North  and 
Middle  West  as  extemporized  hospitals. 

Frequently,  when  the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  a building  taken  for  hos- 
pital purposes  was  of  a suitable  character,  the  demand  for  increased  accommoda- 
tion was  supplied  by  hospital  tents  pitched  so  as  to  form  a series  of  elongated 
pavilions,  which  in  some  instances  were  replaced  later  by  long  wooden  pavilions. 

a Abstracted  from  Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.19  Illustrations  used  in  this  connection 
are  slightly  reduced  from  the  originals,  consequently  scales  on  the  reproductions  do  not  apply. 


INTRODUCTION. 


19 


The  prototype  of  the  pavilion  hospitals  of  the  Civil  War  was  erected  in 
West  Virginia.  This  was  before  the  need  of  specially  constructed  hospitals 
in  the  large  cities  had  received  a practical  recognition,  and  was  due  to  the 
movements  of  large  bodies  of  troops  in  West  Virginia  as  well  as  the  absence  of 
adaptable  buildings.  This  was  a series  of  ridge  ventilated  wooden  sheds,  130 
by  25  by  14  feet  to  the  eaves,  each  divided  by  transversal  partitions  into  four 
wards  of  20  beds  each.  The  wards  were  roughly  constructed,  were  well  adapted 
for  use  in  warm  weather,  but,  because  of  the  lack  of  shutters  on  the  ridge  ven- 
tilators, permitted  the  cold  winds  and  snow  to  penetrate  in  the  winter  to  an 
extent  unbearable  to  the  patients. 

The  inauguration  of  the  peninsular  campaign  in  1S62  filled  the  hospitals  of 
Washington  with  sick  men  of  the  moving  army.  It  occasioned  also  the  vaca- 


I 4 


tion  of  a number  of  barracks  buildings  near  Washington  and  Baltimore,  which 
were  acquired  by  the  Medical  Department,  and  though  intended  to  be  used  for 
makeshift  hospitals,  many  retained  the  status  of  general  hospitals  to  the  end  of 
the  war. 

To  adapt  this  type  of  dormitories  to  hospital  purposes,  they  were  generally 
repaired;  additional  windows  were  inserted;  and  ridges  were  laid  open  for 
ventilation  in  summer  and  louvered  exits  were  provided  for  winter  use.  The 
lower  rooms  of  two-storied  barracks  were  connected  with  the  ridge  by  ventilat- 
ing shafts. 

The  greatest  defect  in  the  barrack  buildings  was  their  arrangement  or 
relative  position  on  the  camp  ground,  which  was  seldom  the  most  appropriate 


20 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


for  the  aggregation  of  hospital  pavilions.  They  were  either  so  detached  as  to 
greatly  augment  the  difficulties  of  administration,  or  so  massed  around  a cential 
point  as  to  materially  interfere  with  ventilation. 

The  difficulties  encountered  in  the  use  of  illy  adapted  buildings  for  hospitals 
led  the  United  States  Sanitary  Commission,  early  in  the  winter  of  1861,  to  urge 
upon  the  Government  the  importance  of  building  hospitals  on  the  pavilion 
principle.  The  first  of  the  hospitals  constructed  in  accordance  with  this  sugges- 
tion were  the  Judiciary  Square  and  Mount  Pleasant  hospitals,  Washington,  D.  C . 

The  most  grievous  fault  in  the  plan  of  these  hospitals  lay  in  the  common 
atmosphere  which  the  single  roof  and  the  screen  partitions  gave  to  all  the 
rooms  occupied  by  the  sick,  including  even  those  assigned  for  the  purpose  of 
isolation.  Although  nominally  built  upon  the  pavilion  principle,  they  were 
wanting  in  the  very  point  which  was  the  leading  idea  of  the  system.  A central 
corridor  with  a double  row  of  attached  pavilions,  five  on  each  side,  does  not 


appear  to  have  met  with  favor,  after  recognized  failure  of  attempts  of  this  kind 
on  the  Mount  Pleasant  type. 

The  improvements  which  were  made  in  each  succeeding  hospital  erected 
during  the  Civil  War  had  reference  to  the  character  of  the  construction  of  the 
wards,  their  lighting  and  ventilation,  the  attachment  of  their  bathrooms  and 
toilets,  and  their  arrangement  as  a whole,  including  their  connection  one  with 
another  and  with  the  administration  and  executive  departments  of  the  hospital. 
Structural  refinements  replaced  the  former  coarse  joining  and  rough  fin- 
ishing. The  pavilions  were  gradually  reduced  in  length  from  those  of  24S 
feet  with  transversal  partitions,  giving  four  wards,  to  a clear  ward  length  of  150 
feet  in  each  building.  The  width  and  height  of  the  wards  became  increased  to 
24  or  25  feet  and  12  or  14  feet,  respectively.  The  open  ridge,  which  admitted 
driving  rains  and  snows,  received  protection,  and  other  means  of  ventilation 
connected  with  the  heating  of  the  wards  were  introduced.  Lastly,  faults  of 
aggregation  were  recognized  and  avoided. 


INTRODUCTION.  21 


Fig.  6. — Sedgwick  Hospital,  Greenville,  La 


22 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  experience  of  the  war  was  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  pavilion  system, 
each  pavilion  constituting  a single  ward  isolated  from  adjacent  buildings  by 
somewhat  more  than  its  own  width  and  connected  by  a covered  walk  with  the 
other  buildings  of  the  hospital.  In  an  aggregation  this  separation  was  effected 
without  removing  any  of  the  wards  to  an  inconvenient  distance  from  the  admin- 


SECTION 


Fig.  7. — Mower  Hospital,  Chestnut  Hill,  Pa. 

istration  and  executive  buildings,  by  radiating  them  around  some  central  point 
in  a form  determined  by  the  configuration  of  the  ground  available  for  building. 

The  force  of  medical  officers  indicated  a decided  preference  for  a pavilion 
length  affording  space  for  not  more  than  50  beds.  The  experience  of  the  British 
in  Crimea  with  similar  pavilions  was  in  favor  of  a ward  containing  from  26  to 


INTRODUCTION. 


23 


Fig.  8. — Salterlee  Hospital,  West  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


24 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


30  patients  as  giving  better  ventilation  and  greater  comfort  and  economy  of 
labor  than  one  of  larger  capacity. 

From  the  foregoing  progressive  stages  through  which  general  hospital  con- 
struction passed  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  it  would  seem  that  the  United 
States  Army  slowly  and  independently  arrived  at  conclusions  similar  to  those 
drawn  by  the  British  and  French.  Billings,  in  his  report  on  barracks  and  hos- 
pitals, states,  in  referring  to  the  pavilion  type  of  hospital  recommended  by  the 
British,  “The  experience  gained  during  the  late  war  * * * contributed 

greatly  to  the  recognition  of  its  value  in  this  country.”9 

AMERICAN  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  INTERIM  BETWEEN  THE  CIVIL  AND 

WORLD  WARS. 

Of  the  large  especially  constructed  Civil  War  hospitals  none  has  survived 
the  ravages  of  time.  Of  the  many  post  hospitals  of  that  period — some  of  which 
were  used  as  general  hospitals — many  remain,  in  name  at  least,  for  by  altera- 
tion or  new  construction  their  original  appearance  is  no  longer  recognizable. 
This  alteration  in  the  post  hospitals  was  largely  due  to  the  publication  of 
Billings’  “Report  on  Barracks  and  Hospitals,”  9 which  forms  a classic  treat- 
ment of  military  hospitals  in  general. 

During  the  Spanish-American  War  nothing  in  the  way  of  general  hospital 
construction  was  accomplished  which  would  add  to  the  developed  plan  of  the 
Civil  War.  Of  the  general  hospitals  established,  the  majority  were  extempor- 
ized by  the  use  of  tents,  vacant  barracks  or  other  existing  buildings — hotels  or 
school  buildings — post  hospitals,  etc.  Where  increased  capacity  was  requisite, 
when  existing  buildings  were  used,  tent  wards  were  erected.20 

Several  semipermanent  general  hospitals  were  constructed  shortly  after 
this  period,  three  arrangements  of  the  pavilion  wards  being  used.21  One  con- 
sisted in  locating  the  wards  on  the  outer  side  of  a covered  way,  shaped  like  an 
inverted  V;  in  the  establishment  of  them  on  two  sides  of  a central  square; 
and  in  arranging  them  in  two  parallel  lines  on  each  side  of  a covered  passageway. 

The  1,000-bed  hospital  at  Fort  Monroe  was  built  in  the  form  of  an  inverted 
V,  similar  to  the  plans  of  the  Lincoln  and  McClellan  Hospitals  of  the  Civil  "War, 
and  the  hospitals  used  by  the  French  at  Metz  in  1870-71.  The  administrative 
portion  of  the  hospital  was  located  between  two  covered  corridors ; the  entrance 
standing  obliquely  away  from  the  latter  in  such  a manner  as  to  receive  the  full 
benefit  of  wind  and  sun  without  interference  from  each  other.  The  chief 
disadvantages  of  this  hospital  were  difficulty  of  administration  and  a too  great 
size  of  the  individual  ward. 

The  general  hospital  at  Savannah,  also  having  a capacity  of  1,000  beds, 
was  well  planned  and  arranged  for  purposes  of  administration;  the  beds  being 
closely  placed  at  right  angles  to  a long  central  corridor.  The  long  axes  of  the 
pavilions,  however,  extended  north  and  south — an  undesirable  arrangement  in 
hospital  buildings  in  such  a southern  latitude.  The  buildings  were  also  too 
compactly  placed,  seriously  interfering  with  each  other  in  respect  to  air  currents. 

The  general  hospital  at.  San  Francisco  had  10  general  wards,  each  with  an 
inside  length  of  153  feet  and,  including  lavatory  and  administrative  rooms  of 
180  feet.  The  width  of  the  ward  was  25  feet;  the  space  between  wards  was  35 
feet.  These  buildings  were  located  in  parallel  lines  on  each  side  of  a central 
square  in  which  was  placed  the  operating  rooms  and  mess  halls.  The  square 


INTRODUCTION. 


25 


was  partially  closed  in  at  one  end  by  the  administrative  building  and  was  bor- 
dered by  a covered  passageway  connecting  all  the  wards,  the  block  plan  resem- 
bling very  closely  that  of  the  Lariboisiere  except  that  the  latter  had  three- 
storied wards. 

This  adaptation  of  the  pavilion  ward  has  proven,  in  its  grouping  of  buildings, 
to  be  very  convenient  and  easily  administered;  and,  as  will  be  seen  later, 
materially  influenced  the  block  plans  for  the  hospitals  constructed  at  the  large 
camps  during  the  World  War. 

HOSPITAL  SITUATION  AT  THE  TIME  OF  OUR  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WORLD  WAR. 

In  April,  1917,  the  number  of  beds  in  hospitals  of  the  Army  was  9,530, 
distributed  among  131  post  hospitals,  4 general  hospitals,  and  5 base  hospitals.22 

The  usual  type  of  our  post  hospital  differed  materially  from  the  military 
hospitals  in  use  in  foreign  countries.23  In  our  service,  the  small  number  of 
troops  located  at-  any  one  place  made  our  Army  hospital  buildings  of  corre- 
spondingly small  size.  Considerations  of  economy  also  forced  the  building  of 
post  hospitals  of  such  a compact  nature  that  they  naturally  and  unavoidably 
presented  many  defects  incident  to  all  activities  being  present  ’within  the  same 
structure.  Among  these  faults  may  be  mentioned  the  crowding  together  and 
close  connection  of  the  adminstrative  portion,  wards,  kitchen,  lavatories,  etc., 
which  should  be  separated  one  from  another.  Exceptionally,  there  were  large 
post  hospitals,  to  which,  by  special  and  successive  appropriations,  additions 
were  made  until  the  faults  mentioned  above  were  partially  eliminated. 

The  character  of  the  construction  of  the  general  hospitals  was  very  similar 
to  that  of  the  post  hospitals,  the  difference  being  mainly  in  size,  in  the  aggrega- 
tion of  buildings,  and  in  the  more  elaborate  installation  of  surgical  and  medical 
appliances  for  the  recognized  specialties  in  general  hospitals.  Though  desig- 
nated general  hospitals,  but  two  served  for  general  cases — the  Letterman  General 
Hospital  at  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  and  the  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital, 
Takoma  Park,  District  of  Columbia.  The  general  hospital,  Fort  Bayard, 
N.  Mex.,  was  used  solely  for  the  treatment  of  pulmonary  tuberculosis, 24  and  the 
Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  cared  for  those  cases  for 
which  the  hot  springs  of  Arkansas  had  a high  reputation  for  benefiting.25 

The  post  and  general  hospitals  were,  usually,  of  permanent  brick  and 
stone  construction.  Some  were  of  wood,  some  partly  of  stone,  or  brick  and 
wood;  a few  were  built  of  concrete.  They  contained  central  heating  plants — 
hot-water  systems  usually — had  range  cooking  facilities,  and  were  rarely  more 
than  two-storied.  The  size  of  their  wards  varied,  containing  from  6 to  36  beds, 
dependent  upon  the  size  of  the  hospital.  As  a rule,  the  permanent  hospitals 
were  well  constructed,  durable,  well  lighted,  and  had  ample  porches. 

During  the  concentration  of  troops  along  the  Mexican  border  in  1916, 
semipermanent  hospitals  were  erected  at  various  places  for  their  care  and 
treatment.26  The  two  existing  base  hospitals  at  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex.,  and 
at  Fort  Bliss,  Tex.,  of  about  200  beds  each,  were  enlarged  by  the  addition  of 
pavilion  wards,  and  increased  to  the  capacity  of  750  and  900  beds,  respectively. 


26 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


REFERENCES. 

(1)  Eleventh  Iliad. 

(2)  Withington,  E.  T.:  Medical  History  from  the  Earliest  Times.  The  Scientific  Press,  (Ltd.). 

London,  1894,  69-70. 

(3)  Garrison,  F.  H.:  Notes  on  the  History  of  Military  Medicine.  The  Military  Surgeon,  Wash- 

ington, D.  C.,  1921, 1,  No.  1,  22. 

(4)  Withington:  Op.  cit.,  117. 

(5)  Garrison,  F.  H.:  An  Introduction  to  the  History  of  Medicine.  W.  B.  Saunders  & Co. 

Philadelphia.,  1913,  120. 

(6)  Withington:  Op.  cit.,  224. 

(7)  Heizman,  C.  L.:  Military  Sanitation  in  the  Sixteenth,  Seventeenth,  and  Eighteenth  Cen- 

turies. Journal  of  the  Military  Service  Institution  of  the  United  States,  Governors  Island, 
N.  Y.,  1893,  xiv,  No.  64,  711. 

(8)  Garrison,  F.  H. : An  Introduction  to  the  History  of  Medicine,  332. 

(9)  Circular  No.  4,  War  Department,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  Dec.  5,  1870.  A 

Report  on  Barracks  and  Hospitals. 

(10)  Wylie,  W.  G.:  Hospitals:  History  of  Their  Origin.  New  York  Academy  of  Medicine  Trans- 

actions, 1874-1876,  264. 

(11)  Wylie:  Op.  cit.,  266. 

(12)  Wylie:  Op.  cit.,  272. 

(13)  Brown,  H.  E.:  Medical  Department  of  the  United  States  Army,  1775-1873.  Washington. 

D.  C.,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  1873,  52-53. 

(14)  Brown:  Op.  cit.,  89-90-91. 

(15)  Report:  Hospitals  of  the  British  Army  in  Crimea  and  Scutari.  Eyre  and  Spottiswoode, 

London,  1855. 

(16)  Wylie:  Op.  cit.,  278. 

(17)  Report  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  Dispatched  to  the  Seat  of  War  in  the 

East.  Harrison  & Sons,  London,  1855-1856. 

(18)  Burdette,  H.  C.:  Hospitals  and  Asylums  of  the  World.  J.  and  S.  Churchill,  London,  Yol. 

IX,  34. 

(19)  Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Part  III.  Medical  volume,  Chap. 

XII. 

(20)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1898,  128-131. 

(21)  Munson,  E.  L.:  Military  Hygiene.  Wm.  Wood  & C'o.,  New  York,  1901,  439—442. 

(22)  Hospitalization  Program  for  the  LTnited  States.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Corre- 

spondence File,  632.1. 

(23)  Munson:  Op.  cit.,  434-436. 

(24)  A.  R.  1445,  1913. 

(25)  A.  R.  1441-42,  1913. 

(26)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army.  1917,  142. 


SECTION  I. 

PROCUREMENT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EVOLUTION  OF  HOSPITAL  PROCUREMENT  METHODS. 

PRE-WAR  PROCUREMENT. 

The  Surgeon  General  personally  authorized  all  hospital  projects  and 
approved  all  preliminary  or  sketch  plans,  1 often  as  the  result  of  conferences 
in  which  other  officers  of  his  staff  joined.  Three  or  four  clerks,  draftsmen, 
were  employed  in  sketching  preliminary  plans  for  new  hospital  buildings. 
These  preliminary  plans,  with  supporting  data,  were  furnished  the  Quarter- 
master General,  to  be  used  by  him  as  a basis  for  the  completed  plans  prepared 
in  his  office.2  Frequently  necessary  changes  were  made  in  the  preliminary 
plans  by  the  Quartermaster  General,  in  which  event  they  were  returned  to  the 
Surgeon  General  for  his  approval.  Specifications  were  likewise  prepared  by 
collaborating  with  the  Quartermaster  General’s  Office.  Complete  prints  and 
specifications  were  finally  approved  by  the  Surgeon  General  and  returned  to 
the  Quartermaster  General,  together  with  a request  for  construction.3 

Funds  for  the  construction  of  hospitals  were  secured  from  Congress  4 as 
an  appropriation  specifically  termed — 

Construction  and  repair  of  hospitals:  For  construction  and  repair  of  hospitals  at  military  posts 

already  established  and  occupied,  including  extra  duty  pay  of  enlisted  men  employed  on  the  same, 
and  including  also  all  expenditures  for  construction  and  repairs  at  the  Army  and  Navy  Hospital 
at  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  and  for  construction  and  repair  of  general  hospitals  and  expenses  incident 
thereto,  and  for  activities  to  meet  the  requirements  of  increased  garrisons. 

Difficulty  had  been  experienced  in  securing  the  complete  construction  of 
Army  hospitals  with  money  thus  appropriated.  This  was  due  to  the  fact  that 
several  other  appropriations,  in  addition  to  that  for  construction  and  repair 
of  hospitals,  were  required  to  install  electric  fixtures,  sewerage,  cooking  ranges, 
and,  in  large  hospitals,  the  additional  construction  of  barracks,  quarters , roads, 
walks,  etc.  Even  though  ample  funds  were  provided  for  the  erection  of  build- 
ings, occupancy  could  not  be  effected  unless  funds  existed  in  at  least  three 
other  appropriations  to  cover  expenditures  for  electric  fixtures,  sewers,  etc. 

The  average  yearly  appropriation  under  "Construction  and  repair  of 
hospitals,”  for  the  10  years  prior  to  the  war,  was  $400,000,  of  which,  as  a rule, 
55  per  cent  was  used  for  repair  and  45  per  cent  for  new  construction.5 

Funds  for  the  construction  of  hospital  stewards’  quarters  were  secured 
under  separate,  appropriate  headings.6 


27 


28 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


WARTIME  ORGANIZATION  FOR  HOSPITAL  PROCUREMENT. 

The  preliminary  study  of  the  hospital  problem,  as  applied  to  our  Army 
after  the  declaration  of  war,  was  made  the  duty  of  an  officer  of  the  Medical 
Corps,  especially  detailed  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General  for  that  purpose 
because  of  his  broad  experience  with  the  larger  type  of  military  hospitals. 

Early  in  July,  1917,  a hospital  division  was  created  in  the  Surgeon  General’s 
Office,  under  the  officer  mentioned,  which  was  charged  with  the  responsibility 
of  producing  hospital  space  in  the  United  States  for  the  cantonments  of  the 
National  Army  and  encampments  of  the  National  Guard,  and  general  and 
special  hospitals  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  sick  and  wounded  from  overseas, 
as  well  as  those  from  numerous  camps,  requiring  special  or  prolonged  treatment.7 

There  were  32  mobilization  camps  each  of  which  required  a large  hospital.8 
Inasmuch  as  the  first  divisions  of  the  new  National  Army  were  scheduled  for 
mobilization  in  the  early  fall  of  1917,  it  was  essential  to  proceed  rapidly  with 
the  development  of  preparations  for  the  establishment  of  hospitals  at  the  various 
camps  of  these  divisions.  At  the  same  time  plans  had  to  be  formulated  for  the 
provision  of  hospitals  for  the  sick  and  wounded  from  overseas.  That  these 
latter  hospitals  would  be  numerous  became  early  apparent  from  the  experiences 
of  the  British  and  French. 

It  was  finally  decided  that  provision  would  have  to  be  made  for  5 per 
cent  casualties  and  2 per  cent  sickness,  the  percentage  referring  to  the  total 
number  of  troops  overseas  and  indicating  the  number  estimated  to  require 
treatment  and  care  on  their  return  to  the  United  States.  This  would  make  a 
total  of  beds  equal  to  7 per  cent  of  the  expeditionary  troops.  It  was  assumed 
that  a turnover  could  be  made,  on  the  average,  every  six  months,  and  a 31 
per  cent  basis  was  adopted  as  a required  number  of  beds  for  returning  sick  and 
wounded.8  As  the  United  States  had  been  divided  into  16  draft  districts, 
the  policy  was  adopted  of  providing  in  each  draft  district  the  number  of  hospitals 
and  beds  to  be  proportionate  to  the  number  of  men  inducted  from  each  district. 
For  obtaining  these  hospital  facilities  various  methods  were  used. 

The  Council  of  National  Defense  classified  the  hospitals  of  the  United 
States  as  to  size,  convenience  to  railroad,  equipment,  facilities  for  expansion, 
and  arrangements  for  handling  special  work.  Tuberculosis  sanitaria  and 
dispensaries  were  inventoried  and  a survey  was  made  as  to  hospitals  for  con- 
valescents. Offers  of  private  houses  and  other  larger  buildings,  tendered  to 
the  Surgeon  General  for  use  as  military  hospitals,  were  classified  and  tabulated 
for  the  Surgeon  General’s  use.10 

After  due  consideration,  it  was  decided  that  the  use  of  civil  hospitals  for 
the  care  and  treatment  of  troops  was  not  feasible  because  of  the  uncertainty 
of  the  supply  of  beds,  the  impracticability  of  taking  over  entirely  civil  hospitals 
in  sufficient  number  without  creating  hardship  on  the  civil  population,  and  the 
difficulty  in  operating  a military  and  civil  organization  in  the  same  institution. 
The  Surgeon  General  concluded  that  a program  must  be  developed  for  obtaining 
a sufficient  number  of  hospitals  absolutely  under  military  control,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  develop  that  program. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  fiscal  year  1917-18,  the  plans  prepared  for  the 
hospitals  for  the  National  Army  and  the  National  Guard  divisions  were  being 
turned  over  to  the  Quartermaster  Department  for  execution.  Due  to  the 


PROCUREMENT. 


29 


antiquated  printing  apparatus  in  the  construction  branch  of  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office,  there  was  some  delay  incident  to  the  printing  of  large  numbers 
of  plans  requisite  for  erection  purposes  in  the  field,  and  it  was  necessary  to  run 
the  printing  machine  21  hours  per  day  for  weeks  and  demand  overtime  labor, 
on  the  part  of  the  civilian  employees  concerned,  with  no  increase  of  pay  possible. 
Therefore  a modern,  motor-driven  press  and  a motor-driven  gas-heater  drier 
were  installed.  The  majority  of  the  printing  firms  were  well  behind  on  work 
orders  and  in  consequence  could  not  be  depended  upon.  In  the  preparation 
of  these  plans,  medical  officers,  representing  the  various  specialities,  such  as 
surgery,  medicine,  laboratory,  were  consulted,  and,  in  so  far  as  time,  nec- 
essary construction,  standardization,  and  funds  permitted,  plans  were  pre- 
pared to  embody  the  essential  features  desired.  These  features  were  included 
with  other  usual  hospital  features  and  activities,  and  a general  plan  was  evolved 
for  the  typical  1 ,000-bed  hospital.  A 500-bed  hospital  was  planned  by  a similar 
process.  In  order  to  standardize  equipment,  materials,  personnel,  construction, 
and  administrative  requirements,  it  was  thought  best  to  accomplish  this,  and 
the  1,000-bed  and  the  500-bed  hospital  types  were  considered  as  more  nearly 
approximating  the  majority  of  the  proposed  perfected  features.  The  500-bed 
hospital  differed  from  the  1,000-bed  hospital  not  only  in  number  of  wards, 
which  were  of  the  same  type,  but  in  the  size  of  the  administration  building, 
receiving  building,  general  mess  hall,  kitchen,  and  other  service  buildings.11 

During  the  execution  of  this  planning  work,  considerable  expansion  occurred 
in  the  section  of  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General  charged  with  it.  At  the  begin- 
ning five  civilian  employees  were  engaged  in  the  work,  under  the  supervision  of 
one  officer,  who  had  other  activities  as  well,  and  the  section  functioned  directly 
under  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  Hospital  Division.  It  was  necessary  at  this 
period  to  increase  the  drafting  force.  This  was  rendered  difficult  because  the 
Civil  Service  Commission  was  unable  to  supply  draftsmen,  and  the  law  did 
not  permit  the  Medical  Department  to  employ  draftsmen  except  at  a very  low 
wage.  To  overcome  this  impediment,  in  a measure,  architects,  versed  in 
hospital  design  and  construction,  or  in  military  procedure,  were  commissioned 
in  the  Sanitary  Corps,  for  supervisory  duties.  12  By  considerable  effort  and 
after  extended  delays,  the  drafting  and  designing  force  was  organized  and  the 
hospital  plans  were  studied  and  revised  as  occasions  demanded. 

The  difficulty  incident  to  securing  complete  construction  of  Army  hos- 
pitals from  congressional  appropriations,  as  they  were  made  previous  to  the 
war,  was  overcome  by  adding  the  following  phrase  for  incorporation  into 
the  enactment: 

* * * and  for  temporary  hospitals  in  standing  camps  and  cantonments.  For  the  altera- 
tion of  permanent  buildings  at  posts,  for  use  as  hospitals,  construction  and  repair  of  temporary 
hospital  buildings  at  posts  for  use  as  hospitals,  construction  and  repair  of  temporary  hospital 
buildings  at  permanent  posts,  construction  and  repair  of  temporary  general  hospitals,  rental  or 
purchase  of  grounds  and  rental  and  alteration  of  buildings  for  use  for  hospital  purposes  in  the 
District  of  Columbia  and  elsewhere,  for  use  during  the  existing  emergency,  including  necessary 
temporary  quarters  for  hospital  personnel,  outbuildings,  heating  and  laundry  apparatus,  plumb- 
ing, water  and  sewers,  and  electric  work,  cooking  apparatus,  and  roads  and  walks  for  the  same.13 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1917,  the  necessity  for  closer  cooperation 
between  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  and  the  Construction  Division,  War 
Department,  became  apparent  to  both  bureaus,  and  as  a result  a hospital 


30 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  LST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


section  was  organized  in  the  latter.  At  this  time  about  250  hospital  construc- 
tion projects  were  in  the  Construction  Division,  and  the  number  was  rapidly 
increasing.  The  creation  of  a hospital  section  in  the  Construction  Division  14 
proved  to  be  an  excellent  innovation,  most  advantageous  to  all  concerned, 
and  eventually  it  grew  to  a considerable  size. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Hospital  Division  of  the  Surgeon  General’s 
Office  one  of  its  sections  was  designated  the  procurement  section.15  Prior  to 
that  time  the  branch  in  charge  of  construction  had  not  been  concerned  with 
the  leasing  or  investigation  of  properties  suitable  for  hospital  purposes.  Sub- 
sequently, however,  all  activities  relating  to  the  acquisition  of  places  for  hos- 
pital uses  were  initiated  and  followed  up  by  the  procurement  section,  necessitat- 
ing- the  assignment  of  additional  medical  officers  and  architects  to  it  from 
time  to  time.  Its  functions 16  were  to  determine  requirements  for  hospital 
space;  to  secure  adequate  congressional  appropriations;  to  locate  and  procure 
hospital  space  by  lease;  to  make  preliminary  plans;  to  make  request  for  new 
construction;  to  pass  upon  the  requests  for  hospital  space  from  War  Depart- 
ment representatives  in  the  field;  to  authorize  allotments  from  the  appropria- 
tions made  by  Congress  for  the  construction  and  repair  of  hospitals  and 
quarters  of  hospital  stewards. 

In  June,  1918,  the  planning  subsection  was  physically  placed  in  the  Con- 
struction Division  of  the  War  Department.17  This  was  done  to  obtain  better 
liaison  with  the  engineering  and  building  activities  and  to  economize  in  time. 
An  officer  from  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General  was  assigned  to  duty  as 
liaison  officer  and  to  follow  up  projects  which  had  been  initiated.18 

After  the  necessity  for  hospital  construction  was  determined  in  the  Office 
of  the  Surgeon  General,  and  the  plans  therefor  completed  in  the  Construction 
Division,  in  collaboration  with  the  construction  branch  of  the  Surgeon  Gen- 
eral’s Office,  estimates  for  necessary  funds,  with  a request  that  their  expenditure 
be  authorized,  were  made  and  sent  to  the  War  Industries  Board,19  through 
the  Purchase,  Storage,  and  Traffic  Division,  General  Staff,  for  clearance.20 
After  clearance  by  the  War  Industries  Board,  they  were  returned  through 
the  Purchase,  Storage,  and  Traffic  Division  to  the  Operations  Division,  General 
Staff,  for  the  approval  of  the  Secretary  of  War,20  after  which  they  were  re- 
turned to  the  Construction  Division,  whence  they  were  sent  to  the  field  for 
execution. 

PROCUREMENT  OF  EXISTING  BUILDINGS  FOR  HOSPITAL  PURPOSES. 

The  spirit  of  patriotic  service  which  swept  the  country  prompted  many 
persons  to  offer  their  properties  to  the  War  Department  for  hospital  purposes. 
These  offers  included  buildings  of  every  conceivable  kind,  such  as  lofts,  depart- 
ment stores,  sanatoria,  private  establishments,  hospitals,  and  private  homes.21 
Upon  investigation,  it  was  found  that  many  of  these  could  be  utilized  with 
advantage  and  could  be  obtained  and  converted  into  hospitals  much  more 
expeditiously  than  barrack  hospitals  could  be  constructed,  and  at  less  cost. 
Therefore,  dependence  was  placed  in  the  greatest  degree  upon  these  sources 
of  supply,  though  many  of  the  buildings  offered  required  extensive  remodeling 
and  additional  construction. 


PROCUREMENT. 


31 


When  it  was  desired  to  lease  a building,  the  Surgeon  General  requested 
the  Quartermaster  General  to  lease  a specific  property.  Authorization  was 
obtained  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  after  which  the  approved  lease  was 
transmitted,  by  the  Quartermaster  General,  to  a local  quartermaster,  for 
accomplishment.22  In  August,  1918,  this  time-consuming  routine  was  changed 
by  the  organization  of  a real-estate  unit  in  the  General  Staff.20  From  that 
time  on  requests  emanating  from  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  for  the 
leasing  of  property,  were  forwarded  directly  to  the  General  Staff,  which, 
within  its  divisions,  conducted  investigations,  authorized  expenditures,  and 
executed  leases. 

When  it  was  desired  to  establish  a hospital  in  a building  which  required 
leasing  and  then  had  to  be  altered,  after  the  lease  had  been  accomplished, 
the  routine  was  proceeded  with  as  though  new  construction  were  being 
provided. 

As  a rule,  from  two  to  six  months  were  consumed  in  the  establishment 
of  large  hospitals,  representing  the  time  between  that  when  a request  for  a 
lease  was  forwarded  from  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  and  the  completion  of 
any  alteration  work  and  the  opening  of  the  hospital  for  the  reception  of  the 
sick.  This  necessitated  the  initiation  of  projects  at  a date  from  two  to  six 
months  prior  to  anticipated  needs.  It  was  highly  desirable  that  the  method 
be  simplified  to  save  time,  for  during  1918  there  was  a progressively  rapid 
increase  in  troop  movement  overseas. 

The  increase  in  the  active  operations  at  the  front  portended  an  influx  of 
sick  and  wounded  into  the  hospitals  of  the  United  States;  and  to  hasten  the 
acquisition  of  a greater  amount  of  general  hospital  space,  the  following  plan 
was  instituted:21  Two  groups  of  officers  were  formed,  each  consisting  of  a 
representative  of  the  real-estate  section  of  the  Purchase,  Storage,  and  Traffic 
Division  of  the  General  Staff,  the  Construction  Division,  and  the  Office  of  the 
Surgeon  General.  The  duties  of  these  groups  were  to  investigate  properties 
in  the  large  cities;  one  for  the  eastern  section  of  the  country  and  one  for  the 
western.  Upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Surgeon  General,  the  Secretary 
of  War,  on  September  21,  1918,  authorized  the  groups  to  close  leases  where 
rentals  would  not  exceed  $250  per  bed  per  annum;  and  to  authorize  necessary 
funds  for  alteration  purposes,  provided  each  project  would  be  cleared  by  the 
regional  adviser  of  the  War  Industries  Board  and,  further,  that  the  three 
members  of  the  group  of  officers  were  unanimous  in  their  opinions.21  When 
the  described  condition  could  not  be  effected  the  project  required  separate 
action  in  the  War  Department. 

Under  the  changed  routine,  hospital  procurement  progressed  rapidly. 
Upon  the  execution  of  a lease  and  after  the  expenditure  of  funds  for  alterations 
had  been  authorized,  the  War  Department  was  at  once  notified. 

To  take  up  the  work  on  projects  where  these  groups  stopped,  other  groups, 
consisting  of  an  officer  versed  in  Medical  Department  requirements,  from  the 
procurement  section  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  together  with  assistants 
from  the  hospital  section  of  the  Construction  Division,  War  Department,  went 
to  the  site  and,  collaborating  with  the  local  quartermaster,  completed  the 
plans.23  Definite  knowledge  was  at  hand  as  to  when  the  conversion  might  be 
expected  to  be  completed  which  permitted  the  advanced  assemblage  of  per- 


32 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


sonnel  for  the  organization  of  the  hospital  and  utilization  of  the  hospital  for 
patients  at  a much  earlier  date.  It  was  found  that  work  progressed  smoothly 
and  rapidly;  uncertainty  was  largely  eliminated;  and  arrangements,  covering 
many  details,  could  be  completed  locally  without  undue  loss  of  time. 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  A.  R.  1465,  1913. 

(2)  A.  R.  1000,  1913. 

(3)  A.  R.  1468,  1913. 

(4)  Bull.  No.  30,  W.  D.,  May  22,  1917. 

(5)  Table  compiled  from  Annual  Reports,  Quartermaster  General,  1907  to  1916.  On  tile,  Record 

Room,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Correspondence  File  632.1  (General). 

(6)  Bull.  No.  30,  W.  D.,  May  22,  1917. 

(7)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  304. 

(8)  Ibid.,  305. 

(9)  Ibid.,  306. 

(10)  Report  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Medicine  and  Sanitation  of  the  Advisory  Com- 

mission of  the  Council  of  National  Defense,  Washington,  April  1,  1918,  23. 

(11)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  317. 

(12)  Ibid.,  318. 

(13)  Bull.  No.  43,  W.  D.,  July  22,  1918. 

(14)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  319. 

(15)  Ibid.,  308. 

(16)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1141. 

(17)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  319;  and  1919,  Yol.  II,  1142. 

(18)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Yol.  II,  1142. 

(19)  Second  Annual  Report  of  the  Council  of  National  Defense,  for  the  Fiscal  Year  Ended  June 

30,  1918,  117. 

(20)  G.  0.  No.  80,  W.  D.,  Aug.  26,  1918. 

(21)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1144. 

(22)  A.  R.  1046,  1913. 

(23)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1145. 


CHAPTER  II. 


GENERAL  FACTORS  UNDERLYING  THE  HOSPITALIZATION  SCHEME. 

HOSPITAL  PROVISION  AT  EXISTING  ARMY  POSTS  AND  TRAINING  CAMPS. 

During  the  first  few  months  after  the  war  had  been  declared,  Regular 
Army  troops  were  being  mobilized  and  trained  at  permanent  military  posts  in 
numbers  far  in  excess  of  those  for  which  original  hospital  accommodations  had 
been  provided.  At  many  posts,  camps  had  been  instituted  in  which  there  were 
being  trained  men  who  were  afterwards  to  become  officers  of  the  new  Army. 
The  pi'ovision  of  additional  hospital  space  for  the  sick  of  these  troops  was 
effected  by  the  construction  of  temporary  wards,  mess  halls,  barracks,  nurses’ 
quarters,  or  combinations  of  these  or  other  hospital  buildings  adjoining  the 
existing  post  hospitals  at  the  various  places.  Plans  were  prepared  and  the  con- 
struction of  the  buildings  requested  mostly  in  the  month  of  May,  1917. 1 

Rigid  physical  examination  of  the  entrants  to  these  camps  excluded  prac- 
tically all  possible  chronic  ailments,  and  hospital  provisions  were  made  for  only 
prospective  acute  illnesses. 

HOSPITAL  PROCUREMENT  AT  CANTONMENTS  AND  CAMPS. 

Following  the  procurement  of  hospital  space  at  the  early  training  camps, 
the  next  necessity  in  point  of  time  was  the  provision  of  hospitals  for  the  sick 
of  the  drafted  troops  and  the  National  Guard  at  the  32  cantonments  and  camps. 
As  in  the  training  camps,  the  character  of  the  sick  anticipated  was  the  acute, 
and  it  was  expected  that  an  abnormal  number  of  beds  would  he  needed  for  con- 
tagious diseases  and  for  cases  under  observation. 

In  the  completed  plans  (proposed  along  lines  radically  different  from  the 
usual  Army  type)  it  was  supposed  that  ample  provision  had  been  made  in  these 
temporarily  constructed  buildings  for  laboratories,  infectious  diseases,  wards 
for  the  insane,  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  patients,  general  medical  and  surgical 
patients,  staff  and  nurses’  quarters,  and  administration.  That  the  plans  were 
faulty  in  minor  respects  was  due  to  the  necessity  for  haste  and  will  not  seem 
remarkable  when  one  considers  the  length  of  time  it  requires  to  develop  plans 
for  much  smaller  hospitals  in  civil  life. 

PROVISION  OF  HOSPITALS  AT  PORTS  OF  EMBARKATION. 

At  these  ports  large  camps  were  established  for  the  temporary  quartering 
of  troops  awaiting  transportation  abroad.2  Here,  the  most  rigid  physical 
examinations  were  given  troops  and  the  provision  of  beds  in  hospitals  had  to 
he  not  only  of  sufficient  number  for  the  sick,  but  for  communicable  disease 
contacts  and  for  soldiers  under  observation  as  well. 

As  in  large  mobilization  camps,  the  location  of  these  embarkation  camps 
determined  that  of  the  hospital.  There  was  little  or  no  information  to  serve  as 
a guide  to  the  amount  of  hospital  space  required  in  these  camps.  Moreover 
45269°— 23 3 33 


34 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


such  information  would  have  been  of  slight  value  as  the  size  of  the  camps  was 
frequently  changed— usually  increased — and  hospital  construction  was  forced 
to  keep  apace.  As  an  instance  to  show  the  impossibility  of  foretelling  the  ulti- 
mate requirements  of  an  embarkation  hospital,  the  camp  hospital,  Newport 
News,  Va.,  was  originally  built  with  a capacity  of  250  beds.3  Before  the  war 
had  closed  the  capacity  of  this  hospital  had  been  increased  to  over  2,000  beds 
and  the  emergency  capacity  was  even  greater.4  It  should  be  stated,  however, 
that  a portion  of  this  space  was  used  for  debarking  sick. 

PROVISION  OF  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 

The  general  scheme  for  caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  United  States 
Army  abroad  provided  for  the  return  to  the  United  States  of  those  requiring 
prolonged  hospital  treatment.  This  necessitated  the  provision,  at  the  ports, 
of  hospitals  for  their  reception.2  The  character  of  sick  anticipated  was  the 
nonacute. 

The  location  of  the  hospitals  for  the  reception  of  these  returned  sick  and 
wounded  was  fixed,  in  general,  by  the  location  of  the  port.  Specifically,  the 
actual  location  was  fixed  by  the  larger,  local  considerations  of  avadabilitv 
and  suitability  of  space,  local  transportation,  connection  with  railroad  systems 
of  the  United  States,  and  connection  with  the  actual  point  of  debarkation. 
No  one  site  was  ideal  in  all  of  the  above  considerations.  The  good  and  bad 
features  of  available  sites  or  properties  had  to  be  considered  and  the  one  pos- 
sessing the  best  combination  selected.  The  absence  of  outside  recreation 
space  and  the  presence  of  extraneous  noises  and  disturbances  were  disregarded. 
While  these  things  were  undesirable,  the  contemplated  stay  of  sick  in  these 
hospitals  obviated  the  necessity  of  going  to  an  undue  extent  in  avoiding  them. 
Prompt  reception,  on  short  notice,  and  the  possibility  of  rapid  evacuation  were 
features  of  first  and  most  important  consideration. 

The  requisite  space  in  these  hospitals  was  the  subject  of  considerable 
thought,  being  variously  estimated.  All  estimates  were  subject  to  adverse 
criticism  as  they  contained  uncertain  factors  in  their  very  foundations.  Ac- 
cording to  the  view  of  one  observer  an  estimate  could  be  criticized  for  being 
too  high;  from  another  viewpoint  another  observer  would  feel  that  the  estimate 
was  too  conservative.  The  number  of  expeditionary  troops  was  known  and 
the  monthly  increments  to  that  number  were  known.  The  battle  casualties 
of  past  wars  were  considered  and  applied  as  far  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so  to 
the  existing  one.  The  incidence  of  injury  and  disease  from  normal  causes 
could  be  foretold  with  a reasonable  degree  of  accuracy.  The  plan  to  keep  in 
France  all  sick  and  injured,  returnable  to  duty  within  a period  of  sLx  months, 
was  known.  It  was  not  known  until  quite  late,  however,  what  the  rate  of  return 
of  sick  and  wounded  from  France  would  be. 

Based  upon  known  factors  estimates  were  made  and  revised  as  necessary, 
showing  the  number  of  sick  and  wounded  that  might  be  expected  in  the  United 
States.  These  estimates  were  used  in  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General  as  a 
basis  for  planning  the  capacity  of  the  debarkation  hospitals  for  both  ports.3  In 
applying  them  it  was  assumed  that  the  average  stay  of  the  sick,  returned  from 
overseas,  would  not  be  for  a longer  period  than  10  days  in  the  port  hospitals. 


PROCUREMENT. 


35 


PROVISION  OF  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 

Many  unusual  cases  of  illness  or  injury,  for  which  facilities  and  personnel 
could  not  be  provided  in  camp  or  post  hospitals,  necessitated  the  provision  of 
general  hospital  care.  These  hospitals  had  to  be  made  general  in  the  sense  in 
which  the  term  is  used  in  civil  communities,  equipped  for  the  care  and  treatment 
of  all  varieties  of  injury  and  disease. 

The  larger  purpose  of  the  general  hospitals  was,  however,  for  the  care  and 
treatment  of  patients  from  abroad.3  The  number  of  patients  from  the  expedi- 
tionary forces  precluded  the  possibility  of  retaining  them  at  debarkation  ports 
longer  than  a reasonably  sufficient  time  for  their  clearance  from  the  debarkation 
hospitals,  and  accommodations  for  them  had  to  be  provided  elsewhere  through- 
out the  country. 

The  question  of  the  number  of  returned  patients  to  provide  for  was  prob- 
lematical. Some  of  the  general  hospitals  were  solely  for  the  tuberculous, 
others  for  mental  cases,  yet  both  these  kinds  of  hospitals  were  potentially 
general  hospitals,  in  the  accepted  sense,  and  were  operated  and  controlled  as 
such.  Any  necessary  surgical  or  medical  requirement  could  be  met  at  any  of 
the  general  hospitals  with  one  exception — General  Hospital  No.  7,  Baltimore. 

To  secure  this  general  hospital  space  by  the  use  of  military  posts  seemed 
appropriate,  and,  to  a certain  extent,  this  was  so  directed  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment.6 The  lease  of  civilian  properties,  hospitals,  hotels,  colleges,  loft  buildings, 
and  the  like  was  contemplated.  This  means  was  used  to  a great  extent.6 

The  provision  of  general  hospitals  by  new  construction  was  the  most 
expensive,  but  could  not  he  ent  irely  avoided,  particularly  where  general  hospit  als 
for  the  tuberculous  were  concerned.  It  was  always  difficult  to  lease  desirable 
property  for  use  in  the  treatment  of  tuberculous  patients.  The  medical 
profession  recognized  certain  areas  as  being  more  efficacious  than  others  in 
the  treatment  of  tuberculosis  and  to  lind  suitable  properties  in  these  recognized 
localities  for  leasing  purposes  was  extremely  difficult.  In  accordance  with 
prevalent  opinion,  the  most  popular  sections  for  the  treatment  of  the  tuberculous 
were  the  mountains  of  New  York  and  of  North  Carolina  and  the  high  and  dry 
sections  of  central  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona.  It  was  in  these  locali- 
ties that  practically  all  of  our  general  hospitals  for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis 
were  placed.7 

Population  centers  were  chosen  for  the  location  of  general  hospitals,  other 
than  those  especially  planned  for  the  tuberculous  and  neuropsychiatric,  the 
majority  of  them  being  naturally  located  in  the  East,  a few  scattered  throughout 
the  West  in  military  posts.  Large  civilian  properties,  convertible  into  1,000- 
bed  hospitals,  did  not  exist  in  the  West. 

THE  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  PERCENTAGE  OF  AMBULATORY  SICK  ON  HOSPITAL  PLANS. 

The  expected  percentage  of  ambulatory  sick  had  a large  influence  in  the 
planning  of  hospitals.  Mess  halls  of  the  hospitals  of  the  camps,  as  originally 
constructed,  provided  a seating  capacity  of  60  per  cent.  Later,  it  was  found 
that  this  estimate  had  been  too  conservative  and  that  the  number  habitually 
able  to  go  to  the  mess  halls  varied  from  60  to  75  per  cent. 


3G 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fig.  9. — Goncral  hospitals  superimposed,  upon  Bureau  of  Census  population  map  of  1910. 


PROCUREMENT. 


37 


The  use  of  the  two-storied  ward  barrack — a compromise  between  a ward 
and  a barrack — early  in  1918,  was  an  example  of  how  both  exterior  and  interior 
arrangements  were  influenced  by  the  quantity  of  ambulatory  sick. 

In  preparing  the  hospitals  designed  for  the  overseas  sick  and  wounded, 
after  their  return  to  the  United  States,  arrangements  were  made  for  80  per 
cent  ambulatory  patients.  Acute  diseases  were  not  anticipated,  but  a high 
percentage  of  ambulatory  injured  was  expected.8  The  number  of  patients  able 
to  walk  proved  to  be  larger  than  originally  estimated,  varying  from  90  to  95 
per  cent.9  This  discrepancy  was  attributed  to  the  fact  that,  after  the  armistice, 
there  was  no  military  necessity  for  the  retention  abroad  of  the  moderately 
sick  and  slightly  wounded  until  cured,  and  these  were  returned  to  the  United 
States  from  hospitals  in  France  as  patients  whose  convalescence,  in  many 
instances,  had  been  completed.10 

HOSPITAL  PROVISIONS  FOR  THE  NEUROPSYCHIATRIC  AND  THE  COMMUNICABLE 

DISEASES. 

During  peace  times,  the  incidence  of  mental  diseases  among  troops  had 
been  about  three  per  thousand  per  annum.11  This  figure  was  used,  in  a measure, 
as  a basis  for  the  provision  of  beds  for  mental  cases  in  all  of  the  hospitals.  For 
each  1,000-bed  hospital  in  the  camps,  two  special  wards,  of  20  beds  capacity 
each,  were  provided  for  the  observation  and  treatment  of  mental  cases.  In 
the  500-bed  hospitals  only  one  ward,  of  20  beds,  was  constructed.12 

In  the  groups  of  general  hospitals,  special  hospitals  were  provided  for  the 
neuropsychiatric.  Three  were  established  for  the  insane  and  one  for  the 
psychoneurotic.13 

As  a rule,  15  per  cent  of  the  space  in  hospitals,  for  the  treatment  of  mental 
diseases,  was  especially  prepared  for  the  adequate  care  of  the  violently  insane.14 

Approximately  8 per  cent  of  the  total  hospital  space  in  camps  was  de- 
signed for  the  isolation  of  cases  of  communicable  diseases.15  This  space  was 
readily  augmented  by  the  use  of  cubicles  in  the  ordinary  wards. 

DEFERENCES. 

(1)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1917,  320. 

(2)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  305. 

(3)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  commanding  general, 

Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  dated  Dec.  10,  1917.  Subject:  Embarkation 
hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  Adjutant  General’s  Office,  Correspondence  File,  632-1 
(Newport  News,  Va.)  N. 

(4)  Letter  from  commanding  general,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  chief,  Em- 

barkation Service,  Washington,  D.  C.;  dated  July  8,  1918.  Subject:  Provision  for  housing 
enlisted  personnel,  Medical  Department.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Correspondence 
File,  632  (Newport  News,  Va.)  N. 

(5)  Memo,  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  dated  Nov.  2,  1918.  Subject:  De- 

barkation hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Correspondence  File,  721.6  (Sick  and 
Wounded  Overseas). 

(6)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1148. 

(7)  Ibid.,  1167. 

(8)  Third  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  of  the  Army  to  Bureau  of  Medicine  and  Surgery 

of  the  Navy,  dated  Dec.  7,  1917.  Subject:  Transportation  of  sick  and  wounded  from  over- 
seas. On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Correspondence  File,  721.6  (Sick  and  Wounded 
Overseas). 


38 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(9)  Ambulatory  sick,  percentage  of  returned  from  overseas:  Based  on  “Weekly  reports  of  sick  and 
wounded  from  overseas.”  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Correspondence  File,  721.6 
(Sick  and  Wounded  Overseas). 

(10)  Cablegram  No.  2176  from  Harris  to  Pershing,  dated  Nov.  12,  1918,  subparagraph  A.  On  file, 

Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Cablegram  File. 

(11)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1917,  79. 

(12)  Semiannual  Report,  Division  of  Neurology  and  Psychiatry,  from  Maj.  Pearce  Bailey  to  the 

Surgeon  General,  dated  Jan.  2,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Weekly  Report  File 
(Neurology  and  Psychiatry). 

(13)  Memo,  for  the  Surgeon  General  from  Col.  C.  R.  Damall,  M.  C.,  dated  Nov.  13,  1918.  Subject: 

Care  of  insane,  epileptics,  and  war  neuroses.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspond- 
ence File  701  (Care  of  Insane). 

(14)  Memo,  from  Maj.  Pearce  Bailey  to  Hospital  Division.  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  dated  June 

13,  1918.  Subject:  Alterations  in  psychiatric  ward.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
Correspondence  File,  .024-10  (Neurology  and  Psychiatry). 

(15)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  dated  May  26,  1917.  Subject: 

Estimates  for  base  hospitals  for  cantonments.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Corre- 
spondence File,  176796-R.  (Old  Files). 


CHAPTER  III. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  HOSPITALS  CONSTRUCTED. 

The  following  group  of  tables  divides  the  new  construction  of  war  hospitals 
into  six  main  classes : Additions  to  post  hospitals  which  were  enlarged  but  which 
never  became  general  hospitals;  hospital  buildings  constructed  at  the  National 
Army  contonments;  hospital  buildings  constructed  at  the  National  Guard 
camps;  hospital  buildings  of  the  cantonment  type  constructed  at  places  other 
than  at  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps;  buildings  constructed  at 
the  general  hospitals  for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis;  and  semipermanent 
hospital  buildings. 

39 


40 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Table  1 . — Schedule  shovjing  nev ; comtruc- 


Post  Hospital  at — 


Fort  Adams.  | 

Fort  Banks.  1 
i i 

1 Fort  Barran- 
cas. 

Fort  Caswell.  | 

Fort  Casey. 

Fort  Clark. 

1 Columbus, 
N.  Mex. 

j Fort  Constitu- 
tion. 

Fort  Crockett. 

Fort  Dade. 

to 

O 

O 

Q ^ 

c3 

Of* 

o3 

O 

Fort  DuPont. 

| Fort  Ethan 
Allen. 

Fort  Flagler. 

I Fort  Hamil- 
ton. 

| Fort  Hancock. 

Fort  Howard. 

I Jackson  Bar- 
racks. 

t-s 

O 

p o 
© 

1 Fort  Me- 
Dowell. 

§ 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

2 

1 

2 

1 

4 

6 

1 

5 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

j . 

I 

24 

84 

37 

11 

28 

6 

52 

14 


1,870 

300 

48 

48 

288 

32 

504 

252 

112 

27 

50 

364 

204 

20 

24 

200 


19 
4, 618 


1 

1 

1 

3 
2 

4 
1 
1 

55 

5 

3 
2 
9 
1 
7 
9 

4 
1 
1 
7 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 

139 


BED  CAPACITY. 


Post  Hospital  at — 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

Fort  Adams 

2S 

42 

27 

Fort  Barrancas 

34 

Fort  Caswell 

62 

11 

68 

32 

2S 

Columbus,  N.  Mex 

198 

Fort  Constitution 

2S 

Fort  Crockett 

6$ 

Fort  Dade 

16 

Camp  Douglas 

SS 

28 

FortDuPont 

Fort  Ethan  Allen 

34 

Fort  Flagler 

32 

Fort  Hamilton 

12S 

Fort  Hancock 

34 

Fort  Howard 

24 

Jackson  Barracks 

76 

24 

Fort  Jay 

136 

511 

24 

52 

312 

154 

a Data  compiled  from  plans  for  temporary  construction  at  post  hospitals.  Plans  on  file,  Hospital  Division,  Surgeon 
General’s  Office. 


PROCUREMENT, 


41 


tion  ( temporary ) erected  at  post  hospitals  a 


Post  Hospital  at— 

Letter  prefix. 

Description. 

Capacity. 

Fort  Moultrie.  | 

t-4 

o 

>, 

o 

j Fort  Niagara. 

Fort  Rose- 
crans. 

Fort  Schuyler. 

Fort  Screven. 

g 

3 

o 

m 

o 

N 

Fort  Stevens. 

3 

m •“ 

o 

Ph 

Fort  Terry. 

Fort  Thomas. 

Fort  Totten. 

1 V anco  u ver 
Barracks. 

1 Watertown 
Arsenal. 

Fort  Worden. 

| Fort  11.  G. 
Wright. 

D-S.. 

24 

1 

E.... 

42 

1 

E-4. . 

Nurses’  quarters  and  mess 

37 

E-6. . 

Female  servants’  quarters 

11 

1 

E-7.  - 

Nurses’  quarters  and  mess 

14 

1 

E-8- . 

6 

E-9. . 

26 

1 

E-12 . 

14 

H-l. . 

Garage./. 

1 

H 3.. 

1 

1-2... 

1-3... 

1 

1-4... 

1-7... 

General  mess  and  kitchen 

1-9... 

Detachment  mess 

1 

4 

3 

2 

4 

4 

8 

Ii-1 . . 

34 

1 

K-8.. 

60 

K-17. 

16 

1 

Iv-18. 

24 

1 

3 

K-20. 

do 

32 

K-23. 

32 

3 

L-l.  . 

72 

1 

1 

1 

3 

M.... 

28 

M-l . . 

Isolation / 1 

28 

M-2- . 

27 

1 

N.... 

50 

N-2-. 

52 

1 

1 

N-3. . 

do 

68 

1 

N-4. . 

20 

N-6. . 

24 

1 

N-9. . 

200 

1 

0.... 

0-3.. 

1 

P.... 

Mortuary T 

R-3. . 

19 

BED  CAPACITY. 


Post  Hospital  at — 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

Fort  McDowell 

170 

Fort  Michie 

16 

Fort  Monroe 

68 

14 

52 

Fort  Moultrie 

34 

Fort  Myer 

136 

42 

Fort  Niagara 

31S 

Fort  Rosecrans 

68 

14 

200 

Fort  Schuvler 

24 

Fort  Screven 

28 

Fort  Slocum 

60 

F ort  Stevens 

164 

Fort  St.  Philip 

28 

Fort  Terry 

Fort  Thomas 

136 

Fort  Totten 

Vancouver  Barracks 

356 

AVatertown  Arsenal 

32 

F ort  AV orden 

96 

Fort  H.  G.  AV right 

3,500 

24 

175 

656 

42 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Table  2. — Schedule  of  hospital  buildings  erected  at  National 


Number 
of  beds. 

Num- 
ber of 
build- 
ings. 

Base  Hospital  at- 

Camp 

Custer. 

Camp 

Dev- 

ens. 

Camp 

Dix. 

Camp 

Dodge. 

Camp 

Grant. 

Camp 

Gor- 

don. 

Camp 

Jack- 

son. 

Camp 

Lee. 

Camp 

Lewis. 

Camp 

Heade. 

Camp 

Pike. 

Camp 

Sher- 

man. 

13 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 | 

2 

1 

1 

495 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

330 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

l 

1 

1 1 

60 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

i ! 

630 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

i ; 

370 

10 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

60 

10 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1,456 

56 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

42 

3 

1 

1 

1 

255 

5 

2 

2 

1 

104 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

1 

i 

i 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

13 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

1 

i 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

1 

i 

i 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

i 

i 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

i 

i 

i 

1 

1 

i 

i 

i 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

i 

1 

i 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 j 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

i 

1 

i 

1 

1 

7,480 

220 

16 

16 

16 

8 

16 

4 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

16 

11,392 

178 

10 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

420 

7 

4 

3 

576 

18 

9 

2 

1,220 

10 

10 

9,360 

130 

8 

8 

8 

12 

8 

14 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

1,204 

43 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

2 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

5, 100 

102 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

7 

5 

6 

7 

7 

7 

600 

3 

1 

2 

60 

4 

4 

4 

3 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

323 

17 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

41,477 

1, 14S 

RATED  CAPACITY. 


Base  Hospital  at — 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

2, 184 

26 

215 

350 

550 

350 

350 

750 

350 

350 

250 

300 

2,043 

26 

S5 

2, 264 

26 

189 

2, 012 

26 

26 

203 

317 

1S9 

3'  244 
2,020 
2,024 
2,  OSS 

26 

26 

189 

26 

274 

2',  024 

26 

189 

a Data  compiled  from  plans  for  base  hospitals  for  National  Army  camps.  Plans  on  file,  Hospital  Division,  Surgeon 
General’s  Office. 


PROCUREMENT. 


43 


Army  camps  ( base  hospitals).  All  temporary  construction. a 


Base  Hospital  at — 

Normal  capacity. 

Camp 

Taylor. 

Camp 

Travis. 

Camp 

Upton. 

Letter 

prefix. 

Description. 

Pa- 

tients. 

Offi- 

cers. 

Nurses. 

De- 

tach- 

ment. 

1 

1 

1 

B 

Administration  building 

B-l 

do 

1 

1 

1 

C 

1-story  officers’  ward 

33 

1 

1 

1 

I) 

1-story  officers'  quarters 

22 

1 

1 

1 

D— 4 

Commissioned  officers’  quarters 

4 

1 

1 

1 

E 

Nurses’  quarters,  1-story 

42 

E-4 

do 

37 

E-8 

Nurses'  infirmary 

6 

4 

4 

4 

E-9 

Nurses'  quarters^  1-story 

26 

E-12 

Nurses'  quarters  and  mess 

14 

E-20 

Nurses’  quarters,  2-story 

51 

i 

E-22 

26 

1 

1 

1 

F 

1 

1 

1 

F-l 

1 

1 

1 

G 

G -4 

Operating  addition 

1 

1 

1 

H 

1 

1 

1 

H 

Shop 

1 

1 

1 

H 

1 

1 

1 

I 

1 

1 

1 

1-2 (1-8). 
J 

1 

1 

1 

16 

16 

16 

K-l 

34 

12 

12 

12 

64 

K-8 

do 

60 

K-20 

32 

K-34 

122 

8 

8 

8 

L-l 

72 

3 

3 

3 

M 

28 

7 

7 

7 

N.... 

50 

N-9 

200 

4 

4 

5 

0 

0-8 

do 

i 

1 

1 

P 

1 

1 

1 

P 

1 

1 

1 

P 

1 

1 

1 

Q-5 

1 

1 

2 

R-2 

19 

RATED  CAPACITY. 


Base  Hospital  at — 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

Camp  Meade 

2,428 

2,024 

2,024 

2,024 

2,024 

2,043 

26 

229 

350 

Camp  Pike 

26 

1S9 

350 

Camp  Sherman 

26 

211 

350 

Camp  Taylor 

26 

146 

350 

Camp  Travis. . 

26 

146 

350 

Camn  Unton  . . 

26 

146 

350 

32, 470 

390 

2,917 

5,  700 

44 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Table  3. — Schedule  of  hospital  buildings  erected  at  the  National 


Number 
of  beds. 

Num- 
ber of 
build- 
ings. 

Base  Hospital  at — 

Camp 

Beau- 

regard. 

Camp 

Bowie. 

Camp 

Cody. 

Camp 

Doni- 

phan. 

Camp 

Fre- 

mont. 

Camp 

Greene. 

Camp 
Han- 
cock . 

Camp 

Kear- 

ny. 

Camp 

Logan. 

Camp 

Mac- 

Arthur. 

Camp 

Mc- 

Clellan. 

Camp 

Sevier. 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

528 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

352 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

54 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

072 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

555 

15 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

96 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

910 

35 

4 

3 

2 

2 

2 

3 

2 

1 

2 

3 

2 

28 

2 

1 

1 

26 

1 

1 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

2 

1 

1 

12 

] 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

16 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

i 

4 

1 

1 

1 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

16 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

l 

i 

16 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

i 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

l 

i 

16 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

i 

6,  324 

186 

8 

8 

4 

10 

8 

16 

12 

8 

8 

16 

32 

8 

7,  552 

118 

8 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

9 

9 

6 

3 

8 

9 

2, 196 

18 

14 

4 

6,  336 

88 

4 

8 

8 

6 

4 

8 

6 

4 

4 

8 

4 

1, 148 

41 

3 

3 

2 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

i 

3 

3 

2 

3,100 

62 

3 

5 

2 

5 

3 

5 

5 

5 

2 

5 

5 

2 

1,200 

6 

3 

3 

64 

4 

4 

4 

4 

3 

5 

5 

3 

3 

5 

4 

4 

2 

1 

1 

16 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

i 

16 

i 

1 

1 

i 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

l 

1 

i 

16 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

304 

16 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

l 

1 

1 

31,  391 

960 

RATED  CAPACITY. 


Base  Hospital  at — 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

Camp  Beauregard 

1,208 

1,368 

26 

1S9 

150 

Camp  Bowie 

26 

163 

250 

Camp  Cody 

1/204 

26 

137 

100 

Camp  Doniphan 

1,292 

1,0S0 

26 

85 

250 

Camp  Fremont 

26 

100 

150 

Camp  Greene 

1,640 

26 

137 

250 

3;  260 
1,272 

26 

203 

850 

Camp  Kearny 

26 

137 

250 

Camp  Logan 

1,024 

26 

111 

100 

a Data  compiled  from  plans  for  temporary  construction  at  National  Guard  camps.  Plans  on  file  Hospital  Division. 
Surgeon  General’s  Office. 


PROCUREMENT. 


45 


Guard  camps  ( base  hospitals).  All  temporary  construction  fl 


Base  Hospital  at— 


Camp 

Shelby. 

Camp 

Sheri- 

dan. 

Camp 

Wads- 

worth. 

Camp 

Wheel- 

er. 

Letter 

prefix. 

Description. 

Pa- 

tients. 

Offi- 

cers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

B-l 

Administration  building 

1 

1 

1 

1 

C 

1-story  officers’  ward 

33 

1 

1 

1 

1 

D 

1-story  officers'  quarters 

22 

1 

1 

1 

1 

D-4 

Commissioned  officers'  quarters 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

E 

Nurses'  quarters,  1-story 

42 

1 

1 

1 

1 

E-4 

do 

37 

1 

1 

1 

1 

E-S 

Nurses’  infirmary 

6 

2 

2 

4 

1 

E-9 

Nurses’  quarters,  1-story 

26 

E-20 

Nurses’  quarters,  2-story 

14 

E-22 

Nurses’  quarters  and  mess 

26 

1 

1 

1 

1 

F 

Laboratory,  head  surgery  and  X ray 

F-l 

Head  surgery ”. 

1 

1 

1 

F-6 

do. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

G 

Operating  building 

1 

G-4 

Operating  addition 

1 

1 

1 

1 

H 

Garage.  .T. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

H 

Shop. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

H 

Exchange 

1 

1 

1 

1 

I 

Patients'  mess 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1-2 (1-S). 

Detachment  mess 

1 

1 

1 

1 

J 

Receiving  building 

12 

12 

16 

8 

IC-3 

1-story  ward 

34 

11 

6 

11 

8 

K-5 

64 

K-34 

2-story  wing  ward 

122 

6 

6 

8 

4 

L-2 

Double  ward  and  lavatory,  1-story 

72 

3 

3 

1 

M 

Isolation  ward,  1-story. 

28 

3 

5 

2 

N 

Detachment  barracks,  1-story 

50 

N-9 

do 

200 

4 

4 

5 

3 

0 

Storehouse 

0-8 

do 

1 

1 

1 

1 

P 

Chapel 

1 

1 

1 

1 

P 

Guardhouse 

1 

1 

1 

1 

P 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Q-5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

R-2 

19 

Normal  capacity. 


RATED  CAPACITY. 


Base  Hospital  at — 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

1,448 

26 

137 

250 

1,736 

26 

163 

250 

L732 

26 

151 

700 

1,652 

26 

137 

150 

1, 360 

26 

137 

250 

i;960 

1,152 

26 

189 

250 

26 

H 

100 

24,388 

416 

2,287 

4,300 

46 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Table  4. — Schedule  of  new  hospital  construction  of  the  temporary  type 


Hospital. 


Number 
of  beds. 

Num- 

ber 

of 

build- 

ings. 

General  Hospital 
No.  3. 

Edgewood  Arsenal. 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp 
Eustis. 

General  Hospital 
No.  41. 

General  Hospital 
No.  25. 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp 
A.  A.  Humphries. 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp 
Jos.  E.  Johnston. 

General  Hospital 
No.  9. 

Letterman  General 
Hospital. 

General  Hospital 
No.  2. 

| General  Hospital 
No.  6. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp 
Merritt. 

Norfolk  Quartermas- 
ter Terminal. 

General  Hospital 
No.  14. 

General  Hospital 
No.  5. 

General  Hospital 
No.  24. 

General  Hospital, 
Camp  Perry. 

Raritau  River,  N.  .1. 

"a  ■ 
~ >. 

I General  Hospital 
No.  7. 

3 . 

o 

o 

o ~ 

as 

tc 

9 

p ~ 

orZ 

V5 

3 

1 

1 

1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

2 

1 

330 

9 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

12 

1 

1 

110 

5 

2 

1 

68 

2 

1 

1 

24 

6 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

40 

1 

1 

21 

1 

1 

162 

3 

1 

1 

1 

96 

4 

1 

1 

51 

1 

1 

24 

1 

1 

50 

1 

1 

378 

9 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

185 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 



304 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

14 

1 

60 

10 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

468 

18 

3 

2 

4 

4 

4 

1 

72 

2 

40 

1 

102 

2 

2 

26 

1 

1 

100 

2 

2 

8 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

i 

1 

2 

1 

1 

i 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

8 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i 

1 

1 

.... 

i 

1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

7 

1 

i 

1 

1 

1 

i 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

4 

1 

3 

3 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

6 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

10 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

a Data  compiled  from  plans  for  temporary  construction  of  hospitals.  Plans  on  file,  Hospital  Division.  Surgeon 
General’s  Office. 


PROCUREMENT. 


47 


done  at  points  other  than  the  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps. a 


Hospitals. 

Letter 

prefix. 

Description. 

Capacity. 

Base  Hospital.  Fort 
Sill. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp 
Stuart. 

Walter  Reed  General 
Hospital. 

General  Hospital 
No.  1. 

fl 

.2 

M 

b-4 

© 

© 

e 

© 

§ 

& 

JS 

© 

cl 

B 

Administration 

1 

B-l 

do 

B-4 

do 

i 

B-6 

do 

1 

B-7 

Administration  additions 

1 

B-101 . . . 

2-story,  administration  and  receiving 

C 

Officers’  ward,  mess,  and  kitchen. . / 

33 

C-102 

do 

12 

1 

1 

D 

Officers’  quarters 

22 

D-3 

Officers’  quarters,  mess,  and  kitchen 

34 

D-4 

Commissioned  officers’  quarters 

4 

D-5 

2-story  officers’  quarters^ 

40 

D-6 

Officers’  quarters 

21 

D-7 

54 

2 

D-S 

Officers’  quarters  . 

24 

D-10 

2-story  officers’  quarters 

51 

D-102 

Officers’  quarters 

24 

D-103 

do...! 

1 

1 

E 

Nurses’  quarters,  mess,  and  kitchen 

42 

E-4 

do..; 

37 

E-5 

2-storv  nurses’  quarters,  mess,  and  kitchen 

76 

1 

E-7 

Nurses’  quarters,  mess,  and  kitchen 

14 

1 

E-8 

Nurses’  infirmary 

6 

E-9 

Nurses’  quarters 

26 

2 

E-10 

do 

36 

1 

E-15 

40 

E-20 

Nurses’  quarters t 

51 

E-104 . . . 

do. . ; 

26 

E-105. . . 

2-story  nurses’  quarters 

50 

1 

F 

Laboratory,  head  surgery  and  X ray 

F-l 

Head  surgery ^ 

F-4 

Laboratory .". 

F-5 

Clinic  building 

F-6 

Head  surgery  ; 

F-ll 

1 

F-13 

Chemical  and  bacteriological  laboratory 

1 

F-20 

1 

F-l 01 . 

1 

F-102 . . . 

Head  surgery../. // .* 

1 

G 

Operating. 

G-4 

G-101 . . . 

Emergency  and  operating 

1 

1 

H . 

Garage...." t 

1 

H . 

Shop^ 

1 

H . 

H-l... 

H-l. 

H-l. 

H-2. 

1 

H-6 

H-ll 

" ' ‘ 

H-101 

I 

1 

1-1... 

1 

1-2... 

1-4. 

1-5... 

1-6.  . 

1-7... 

1-9 

1-13 

1 

1-14 

1-17... 

1-18 

1 

1 

1-23 

1 

1-24.  .. 

1-38  . 

1-103 

1-104 

1 

J... 

J-2. . 

J-3 

J-G.... 

1 

J-S 

do../ 

48 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Table  4. — Schedule  of  new  hospital  construction  of  the  temporary  type 


Hospital. 


Number 
of  beds. 

Num- 

ber 

of 

build- 

ings. 

General  Hospital 
No.  3. 

Edgewood  Arsenal. 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp 
Eustis. 

General  Hospital 
No.  41. 

General  Hospital 
No.  25. 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp 
A.  A.  Humphries. 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp 
Jos.  E.  Johnston. 

General  Hospital 
No.  9. 

Letterman  General 
Hospital. 

I General  Hospital 
No.  2. 

General  Hospital 
No.  6. 

I Base  Hospital,  Camp 
Merritt. 

| Norfolk  Quartermas- 
ter Terminal. 

1 General  Hospital 
No.  14. 

1 General  Hospital 
No.  5. 

I General  Hospital 
No.  24. 

|| 
— 5" 

oQ 

© 

o 

Raritan  River,  N.  J. 

1 Base  Hospital,  Fort 
Riley. 

Gouorul  Hospital 
No.  7. 

S- 

© 

o ~Z 

~§ 
o ~~ 

© X 

782 

23 

9 

4 

7,208 

212 

17 

22 

1 

16 

12 

4 

14 

20 

1 

2 

13 

6 

17 

2 

10 

6 208 

97 

17 

20 

3 

4 

12 

18 

14 

660 

11 

4 

4 

128 

4 

1 

1 

1 

2, 048 

64 

29 

25 

9 

1 

32 

1 

1 

132 

4 

4 

2,944 

46 

3 

17 

l’  053 

13 

6 

.... 

216 

3 

1,368 

19 

2 

2 

2 

6 

4 

’756 

27 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

2 

3 

2 

6 

112 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

56 

2 

1 

1 

600 

12 

1 

4 

1 

6 

11 

6 

1 

4 

;;;; 

.... 

120 

1 

26 

1 

1 

400 

2 

2 

37 

4 

4 

1 

2 

3 

2 

1 

3 

1 

4 

3 

1 

6 

2 

1 

2 

.... 

i 

2 

2 

5 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

4 

1 

J 

1 

1 

10 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

24 

2 

1 

152 

8 

1 

1 

2 

1 

9 

19 

1 

1 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

2 

8 

2 

2 

1 

1 

5 

2 

2 

1 

1 

28,331 

889 

RATED  CAPACITY. 


Hospital. 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

1,727 

109 

76 

364 

24 

26 

1,040 

28 

84 

300 

General  Hospital  No*  41,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y 

2, 150 

4S 

134 

General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison 

’206 

37 

50 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys 

1,897 

49 

147 

112 

92 

So 

200 

320 

442 

42 

2,241 

374 

104 

252 

85 

50 

2,344 

62 

7S 

152 

300 

50 

1,596 

76 

PROCUREMENT, 


49 


done  at  points  other  than  the  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps — Continued. 


Hospitals. 

Letter 

prefix. 

Description. 

Capacity. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort 

srn. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp 
Stuart. 

Walter  Reed  General 
Hospital. 

General  Hospital 
No.  1. 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detachment. 

10 

K 

34 

4 

19 

14 

18 

K-l 

do 

34 

3 

1 

K-5 

2-story  ward  barracks 

64 

1 

2 

K-8 

2-story  ward  and  barracks 

GO 

1 

IC-1 9.... 

Prison  isolation 

32 

K-20 

l-story  ward 

32 

K-23 

Sick  prisoners 

32 

IC-101. . . 

1-story  ward 

33 

7 

12 

2 

K-102... 

2-story  ward  barracks 

64 

7 

2-story  ward 

81 

3 

L 

Double  ward  and  lavatory 

72 

3 

L-l 

do 

72 

4 

2 

M 

28 

M-l 

do 

28 

M-101... 

28 

N 

Detachment  barracks 

50 

N-2 

do 

50 

1 

N-7 

2-story  double  barracks 

120 

N-8 

Barracks  and  lavatory 

26 

N-9 

2-story  detachment  barracks 

200 

1 

3 

0 

1 

0-1 

1 

0-2 

3 

0-4 

2 

0-6 

1 

0-7 

0-101... 

P 

P 

1 

P 

P-1 

do 

P-2 

Chapel 

P-2 

Q-2 

Laundry 

Q-3 

Laundry,  disinfecting  and  linen 

Q-4 

1 

R-l 

12 

1 

R-2 

19 

R-3 

19 

S 

Physiotherapy  building 

1 

S-101— . 

Ido 

Li 

4 

U-101 . . . 

do t 

V 

1 

V-101 . . . 

do 

U-V 

RATED  CAPACITY. 


Hospital. 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

503 

42 

200 

102 

64 

26 

237 

32 

1,642 

22 

37 

68 

1,238 

124 

352 

14 

2,057 

70 

88 

2,140 

22 

114 

120 

804 

24,640 

646 

1,749 

1,296 

45269°—  23 4 


50  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Table  5. — Schedules  of  new  construction  (temporary,  except  General  Hospitals  Nos.  20  and  21),  tuber- 
culosis hospitals A 


Number  of  beds. 

Number  of  buildings. 

Hospital. 

Letter  prefix. 

Description. 

Capacity. 

General  Hospital, ! 
Fort  Bayard. 

General  Hospital 
No.  21. 

l General  Hospital 
No.  17. 

General  Hospital 
No.  16. 

General  Hospital 
No.  19. 

c3 

a 

VI 

§S 

a 

© 

O 

1 General  Hospital 
No.  18. 

1 General  Hospital 
No.  20. 

.2 

© 

© 

71 

© 

or, 

£ 

© 

© 

1 

1 

B-102 

2-story  administration 

138 

3 

1 

1 

1 

C-3 

Officers’  ward 

46 

88 

4 

2 

2 

C-6 

22 

192 

6 

4 

2 

0103 

32 

34 

1 

1 

D 

34 

48 

l9 

7 

1 

4 

D-4 

4 

24 

1 

1 

D-8 

24 

48 

1 

1 

D-104... 

48 

37 

1 

1 

E-4 

37 

77 

7 

7 

E-6 

11 

12 

2 

1 

l 

E-8 

6 

104 

4 

2 

1 

1 

E-9 

26 

26 

1 

1 

E-22 

26 

96 

2 

2 

E-106 

48 

1 

1 

F 

1 

1 

F-ll 

Small  laboratory  and  operating 

1 

1 

F-33 

1 

1 

F-103 

2-story  laboratory  and  receiving 

1 

1 

G 

14 

2 

1 

1 

G-102 

Operating  and  nurses’  infirmary 

1 

1 

H 

3 

1 

1 

1 

H-l 

Exchange 

2 

1 

1 

H-l 

1 

1 

H-9 

do 

1 

1 

H-102 

do 

1 

1 

H-102. . . 

Recreation 

.... 

1 

1 

H-l  03 

Exchange 

1 

1 

H-104. . . 

1 

1 

I 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1-2 

1 

1 

1-4 

do 

1 

1 

1-6 

do 

1 

1 

1-9 

do 

2 

1 

1 

1-11 

General  mess 

i 

1 

1-12 

do 1 

1 

1 

1-106 

do 

2 

1 

1 

1-107 

Detachment  mess 

1 

1 

1-108.... 

do 

2 

1 

1 

1-109.... 

do 

1 

1 

1-113.... 

Alteration  to  kitchen  1-110 

1 

1 

1-114.... 

Alteration  to  mess  1-106 

2 

1 

1 

1-2 

Receiving  building 

68 

2 

2 

K-1 

1-story  ward 

34 

408 

12 

2 

10 

K— 4 

34 

128 

2 

2 

K-5 

2-story  ward  barracks 

64 

720 

20 

14 

K-7 

Open-air  tuberculosis  ward 

36 

210 

4 

2 

1 

1 

K-8 

2-story  ward  barracks 

60 

462 

14 

2 

9 

3 

K-12 

Infirmary,  tuberculosis  ward 

33 

245 

7 

6 

1 

K-13 

do. 

35 

1,232 

44 

10 

31 

K-14 

Open-air  tuberculosis  ward 

2S 

168 

6 

6 

K-15 

....  .do 

2S 

23 

1 

1 

IC-50 

Infirmary  ward  for  detachment 

23 

120 

2 

1 

1 

IC-103-1. 

Infirmary  ward,  2-story 

60 

232 

2 

i 

1 

K-103-2. 

do.  .1 

116 

232 

2 

i 

1 

IC-103-3 . 

do 

116 

336 

12 

12 

K-104... 

Open-air  tuberculosis  ward,  2-story 

28 

26 

1 

1 

IC-106 

26 

256 

8 

8 

K-107 

Open-air  tuberculosis  ward,  2-story 

32 

828 

9 

8 

1 

K-108... 

Semi-infirmary  tuberculosis  ward  

92 

23 

1 

1 

Iv-109... 

Infirmary  ward  for  detachment 

23 

74 

1 

1 

K-110-. . 

Infirmary,  tuberculosis  for  nurses 

74 

26 

1 

1 

K-11S... 

Surgical  ward 

26 

28 

1 

1 

M-l 

Isolation 

28 

56 

2 

1 

1 

M-102 

28 

884 

17 

6 

3 

8 

N-2 

Detachment  barracks 

52 

500 

5 

5 

N-101 

Detachment  barracks,  2-story 

100 

6 

i 

1 

2 

2 

O 

Storehouse 

2 

1 

1 

0-4 

4 

4 

O-102... 

do 

1 

1 

P 

Chapel 

3 

1 

1 

1 

P 

Guardhouse 

1 

1 

P 

Mortuary 

1 

1 

P-1 

do 

1 

1 

P-3 

2 

1 

1 

P-102... 

Chapel 

1 

1 

P-102... 

Guardhouse 

2 

1 

1 

Q-i 

Laundry 

a Data  compiled  from  plans  for  general  hospitals.  Hans  on  file,  Hospital  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Office. 


PROCUREMENT. 


51 


Table  5. — Schedules  of  new  construction  (temporary , except  General  Hospitals , Nos.  20  and 21),  tuber- 
culosis hospitals. 


Number  of  beds. 

Number  of  buildings. 

Hospital. 

Letter  prefix. 

Description. 

Capacity. 

General  Hospital, 
Fort  Bayard.  \ 

General  Hospital 
No.  21. 

General  Hospital 
No.  17. 

General  Hospital 
No.  16. 

General  Hospital 
No.  19. 

General  Hospital 
No.  8. 

General  Hospital 
No.  IS. 

General  Hosjatal 
No.  20. 

j Patients. 

Officers. 

3 

& 

Detachment. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

293 

1 

Q-102... 

Q-103... 

1 

41 

1 

R-102... 
U 

41 

1 

2 

1 

U-101 . . . 

V-101 . . . 

u-v.... 

School 

1 

8,294 

RATED  CAPACITY. 


Hospital. 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

628 

28 

129 

312 

1,940 

48 

103 

500 

168 

280 

26 

156 

1,600 

62 

58 

416 

1,  212 

16 

43 

60 

502 

7 

6,390 

154 

366 

1,384 

52 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Table  6. — Schedule  of  hospital  buildings,  semipermanent  ( except  General  Hospital  No.  28),  of  later 
design  than  buildings  at  hospitals  of  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps. a 


Number  of  beds. 

Number  of  buildings. 

Hospital. 

Letter  prefix. 

Description. 

Capacity. 

Camp  Hospital, 
Camp  Bragg. 

Camp  Hospital, 
Camp  Knox. 

Base  Hospital, 
Camp  Mills. 

General  Hospi- 
tal No.  28. 

5 

© 

V) 

© 

to 

Z 

| 

2 

1 

1 

B-9 

Administration  and  receiving 

1 

1 

B-ll 

1 

1 

B-13 

do 

164 

2 

2 

C-10 

Officers  ’ wing  ward 

82 

4 

1 

1 

D-4 

Commissioned  officers’  quarters 

4 

51 

1 

1 

D-10 

Officers’  quarters 

51 

81 

3 

1 

1 

1 

D-ll 

Officers’  quarters  and  mess 

27 

255 

5 

1 

3 

1 

E-20 

Nurses’  quarters,  2-story 

49 

2 

1 

1 

E-21 

Nurses’  quarters  and  infirmary 





49 

52 

2 

1 

1 

E-22 

Nurses’  quarters  and  mess 

.... 

26 

1 

1 

F-21 

Large  laboratory  and  mortuary 

1 

1 

F-37 

Laboratory  and  mortuary 





1 

i 

G-8 

Surgical  wong 

2 

1 

1 

G-12 

Large  operating  wing 

1 

1 

G-103 

Surgery  and  laboratory  building 

1 

1 

H-8 

Exchange 

2 

1 

i 

H-12 

Garage 

1 

i 

H-13 

Shop 

1 

1 

H-14 

Exchange 

1 

1 

H-18 

Garage  and  shop 

1 

1 

H-20 .... 

Exchange 

1 

1 

1-28 

Generalmess  and  kitchen 

4 

1 

2 

1 

1-34 

i 

1 

1-39 

Large  kitchen  building 

3 

1 

2 

1-42 

Double  cafeteria  mess  wing 

1 

1 

1-53 

Nurses’  mess  and  kitchen 

68 

2 

2 

K-l 

1-story  ward 

34 

4,  758 

39 

16 

1 

22 

K-34 

2-story  wing  ward 

122 

92 

1 

1 

K-47 

General  isolation  wing  ward 

92 

612 

6 

6 

K-56 

2-story  wing  ward,  divided 

102 

432 

6 

6 

K-117... 

2-story  pavilion  ward 

72 

72 

1 

1 

L-2 

Double'ward  and  lavatory 

72 

218 

2 

2 

M-3 

2-story  isolation  wing  war’d. 

124 

354 

3 

1 

2 

M-4 

do 

11S 

57 

1 

1 

M-104... 

2-story  isolation  ward 

690 

3 

3 

N-9 

Detachment  barracks,  1-story 

*>00 

100 

i 

1 

N-10 

2-story  detachment  barracks  and  mess 

I 

100 

400 

2 

2 

N-12 

2-stor v detachment  barracks . _ _ 

200 

10 

6 

3 

1 

O 

Storehouse 

1 

1 

0-12.... 

Food-nrenaration  buildine 

1 

1 

0-14 

Storehouse  and  linen  sendee 

2 

1 

1 

P-3 

Guardhouse 

1 

1 

P-4 

Chapel 

1 

i 

P-6 

do 

1 

i 

P-7 

Guardhouse 

116 

1 

i 

R-4 

Psychiatric  wing  ward 

116 

1 

1 

S-l 

Physiotherapy  building 

1 



i 

U-l 

Curative  shop,  2-stor v 

1 

1 

V-l 

1 

1 

u-v 

Curative  shop  and  school 

8,565 

132 

RATED  CAPACITY. 


Hospital. 

Patients. 

Officers. 

Nurses. 

Detach- 

ment. 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp  Bragg 

4S9 

31 

51 

400 

Camp  Hospital,  Camp  Knox 

2,186 

78 

228 

700 

990 

27 

General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan 

3,308 

6,973 

136 

356 

1, 100 

a Data  compiled  from  plans  for  temporarv  hospital  construction.  Plans  on  file  Hospital  Division,  Surgeon  General’s 
Office. 


The  available  bed  capacity  and  the  number  of  beds  occupied  in  the  larger 
hospitals — general,  base,  port,  and  department  base  hospitals — controlled  by 
the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  directly,  or  used  by  it  for  the  treatment  of  overseas 
sick,  were  charted  from  weekly  or  daily  reports.  This  information  was  of 
incalculable  value  to  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  in  showing  at  all  tunes  the 
status  of  these  hospitals.  These  data  have  been  consolidated  by  months  on  the 
following  chart  covering  the  period  January,  1918,  to  September,  1919. 


PROCUREMENT. 


53 


CHART  op  NORMAL  BED  CAPACITIES  «n  LARGER  HOSPITALS 

IN  THE 

UNITED  STATES 

Fig.  10. 


54 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  Figure  11  the  activity  of  the  general  hospitals  is  shown  in  a manner 
similar  to  the  chart  in  Figure  10.  However,  hut  one  type  of  hospital  has  been 
charted  and  space,  both  available  and  occupied,  has  been  shown  in  Figure  11. 

The  activity  of  the  base  hospitals — National  Army  and  National  Guard 
camps — is  shown  in  Figure  12,  which  was  prepared  in  a manner  identical  to 
that  for  the  general  hospitals. 


GENERAL  HOSPITALS 

Fig.  11. 


The  rapid  rise  in  number  of  both  patients  and  beds  in  October,  1918,  was  inci- 
dent to  the  epidemic  of  influenza.  The  approximate  maximum  constructed 
capacity  of  these  hospitals  was  fifty-five  thousand  beds,  and  this  capacity  was 
first  available  in  July,  1918. 1 All  the  bed  capacity  shown  as  being  higher  than 
this  figure  was  extemporized  in  corridors  or  on  porches,  or  in  the  barrack  build- 
ings of  the  camps  proper. 

FUNDS  APPROPRIATED  FOR  HOSPITAL  CONSTRUCTION. 

Funds  were  made  available  by  Congress  from  time  to  time  for  the  procure- 
ment of  hospitals  and  were  provided  in  the  appropriation  for  construction  and 
repair  of  hospitals.  From  May,  1917,  to  July,  1919,  the  following  sums  were 
appropriated : 2 


May  12,  1017 

June  15,  1917 

October  G,  1917. . . 
March  28,  1918.... 

July  8,  1918 

July  9,  1918 

November  4,  1918 
July  11,  1919 


. $750,  000.  00 
. 2,115,267.00 
.35.  000,  000.  00 
.19,  654,  300.  00 
.13,  936,  015.  00 
.SO,  000,  000.  00 
.86,  469,  930.  00 
.«5,  000.  000.  00 

242,  865,  512.  00 


The  above  amounts  represent  appropriations  and  not  expenditures.  How- 
ever, it  may  be  stated  that  during  the  active  part  of  the  war  period  the  expendi- 
tures were  practically  the  same  as  the  appropriations,  with  the  exception  of 
the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  during  which  not  over  half  the  sum  appro- 
priated for  that  period  was  expended  for  hospital  construction.3 


a In  this  amount,  $350,003  appropriated  to  purchase  land  at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  is  not  included. 


PROCUREMENT. 


55 


1918 

JAN. 

FEB. 

MAR 

APR 

MAY 

JUN 

JUL. 

AUG. 

SEPT 

OGT 

NOV. 

DEC 

1919 

JAN, 

FEB. 

MAR. 

APR 

MAY 

JUN. 

JUL 

AUG. 

B5000 

130000 

125000 

120000 

/> 

115000 

K 

110000 

1 

100000 

i 

1 i 

95000 

\ 

90000 

r 

i 

85000 

f 

80000 

i 

S 

1 

1 

75000 

I 

\\ 

70000 

1 

1 

65000 

\ 

\ 

NIDI 

DAT 

ES 

BED£ 

60000 

J 

\ 

N 

55000 

/' 

/ 

\ 

V 

50000 

1 

1 

\ 

\ 

45000 

s' 

f 

s 

400CO 

y 

/ 

35000 

4 

y 

>* 

30000 

/ 

1 

25000 

NDIC 

ATE 

S P 

ATI 

ENTS 

A 

\ 

20000 

15000 

1 — 

'v 

— > 

V- 

10000 

i 

5000 

11 

1000 

j 

BASE  HOSPITALS 


Fig.  12. 


56 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CLASSIFICATION  OF  CONSTRUCTION  PROJECTS. 

The  major  hospital  construction  projects  may  be  briefly  divided,  into  three 
classes  representing  buildings  erected,  and  beds  provided  in  both  entirely  new 
construction  and  in  altered  buildings,  as  follows: 


Hospitals. 

Buildings. 

Beds. 

Entirely  new  construction 

62 

3,597 

88,460 

29,383 

6,056 

Converted  Army  posts  and  leased  buildings 

39 

659 

Post  hospital  enlargements 

48 

365 

149 

4,621 

123,899 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  W.  D.,  1919,  192. 

(2)  Ibid.,  61. 

(3)  Taken  from  Treasury  ledger  accounts.  On  file,  Funding  Division,  Office  of  Chief  of  Finance, 

War  Department. 


SECTION  II. 

CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CONSTRUCTION  PLANS  FOR  TEMPORARY  HOSPITALS. 

BLOCK  PLANS. 

Figure  13  (p.  58)  shows  various  groupings  of  hospital  buildings.  The  key 
inserted  in  this  figure  explains  symbolically  and  by  letters  the  use  for  which  the 
building  was  designed.  Block  plan  (A)  is  that  of  the  Letterman  General  Hospit  al 
as  that  hospital  was  at  the  beginning  of  our  participation  in  the  war.1  That  this 
plan  influenced  the  design  of  the  early  hospitals,  built  at  the  National  Army 
and  National  Guard  camps,  is  demonstrated  when  comparison  is  made  between 
(A)  and  (B).  Block  plan  (B)  was  used  for  the  32  hospitals  of  the  National 
Army  and  National  Guard  camps,  and  for  several  other  hospitals  of  approxi- 
mately the  same  size  (1,000  beds)  built  soon  afterward.2  The  block  plan  next 
evolved  (C)  was  for  the  hospital  at  Camp  Abraham  Eustis,  Va.3  This  hos- 
pital was  designed  when  the  scarcity  of  materials  was  beginning  to  be  acutely 
felt.  The  street  construction  was  minimized  by  using  only  one  street  with  a 
side  arm  and  a loop;  all  kitchens,  utility,  and  supply  buildings  were  placed  on 
the  street;  and  storehouses  (0)  were  built  parallel  to  the  street,  one  being 
placed  well  forward  on  a main  corridor  to  enhance  its  accessibility.  Another 
point  of  difference  between  (C)  and  (B)  was  the  location  of  the  isolation  and 
psychiatric  wards  (M-l)  and  (R-3)  on  the  main  corridors  in  the  hospitals 
constructed  on  plan  (C).  The  block  plan  next  developed  was  for  a smaller 
hospital  where  more  fire-resisting  materials  were  to  be  used.  The  Camp  Bragg 
hospital,  in  North  Carolina,  was  of  this  type  (D).4  In  so  far  as  the  layout 
only  is  concerned,  (D)  differed  from  (C)  mainly  in  the  corridor  connection. 
In  the  type  of  hospital  represented  by  (D),  the  connecting  corridors  passed 
through  the  center  of  the  ward  building  on  both  floors  and  were  constructed  to 
permit  isolation  from  the  adjacent  buildings.  Opening  the  corridor  doors  and 
closing  the  ward  doors  freed  the  passage  from  end  to  end.  This  block  plan 
did  not  permit  of  great  extension  because  of  the  eccentric  location  of  the  general 
mess  hall  and  kitchen.  Block  plan  (E)  was  that  for  the  hospital  at  Camp  Mills, 
Long  Island.5  Upon  the  promulgation  of  the  approved  military  program  to 
place  3,360,000  men  in  France  by  June  30,  1919,  and  meanwhile  maintain  an 
average  of  1,400,000  men  in  the  camps  of  the  United  States,6  it  was  necessary 
to  take  careful  stock  of  the  available  doctors,  nurses,  other  hospital  attendants, 
materials,  and  labor.  This  affected  the  problem  of  the  care  of  the  sick,  whether 
in  camp  hospitals  or  general  hospitals,  and,  very  materially,  requests  for  new 
hospital  construction,  which,  from  that  time  on,  had  to  be  so  planned  that  the 

57 


58 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


maximum  number  of  patients  could  be  cared  for  by  the  minimum  number  of 
personnel.  It  resulted  in  the  construction,  at  large  hospitals,  of  large  wards; 
in  the  general  use  of  two-story  buildings,  more  fire-resisting  materials,  consoli- 


dated kitchens  and  mess  halls,  the  use  of  cafeteria  systems  and  smaller  mess 
halls.  These  changes  in  hospital  construction  influenced  both  interior  arrange- 
ments and  the  block  plan,  but  were  effected  only  at  Camp  Knox.  Ivy..  Camp 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


59 


Jackson,  S.  C.,  and  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,  which,  were  designed  to  he  made 
the  largest  camps.7  In  a measure,  also,  the  plan  for  the  hospital  at  Camp 
Bragg,  N.  C.,  was  influenced.8  Here,  however,  the  hospital  was  smaller  and 
the  large  ward  was  less  adaptable  to  a small  hospital.  The  plans  of  the  hos- 
pitals of  these  two  classes  of  camps  were  prepared,  at  about  the  same  time,  in 
the  fall  of  191S. 

INDIVIDUAL  BUILDINGS. 

The  more  commonly  used  hospital  buildings  have  been  divided  into 
classes  according  to  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  utilized.  The  following 
classification  indicates  the  purposes  of  the  more  important  buildings: 

Class  I.  For  general  administration  and  the  operation  of  the  hospital: 

1.  Administration  building. 

2.  Receiving  building. 

3.  Hospital  exchange. 

4.  Guardhouse. 

5.  Chapel. 

Class  II.  For  general  care  and  treatment: 

1.  Ward  buildings. 

(а)  General  wards — 

Common  wards. 

Officers’  wards. 

Nurses’  wards. 

(б)  Tuberculosis  wards — 

Infirmary. 

Semi-infirmary. 

Ambulatory. 

(c)  Psychiatric  ward. 

( d ) Isolation  ward. 

(e)  Ward  barrack. 

(/)  Prison  ward. 

Class  III.  For  special  care  and  treatment: 

1.  Surgical  buildings. 

2.  Head  surgical  buildings. 

3.  Laboratory  buildings. 

4.  Physical  reconstruction  buildings — 

(a)  Curative  shops. 

(&)  School  buildings. 

(c)  Physiotherapy  buildings. 

Class  IV.  For  food,  housing,  and  supplies: 

1.  Kitchen  and  mess  buildings  for  patients. 

2.  Kitchen  and  mess  buildings  for  personnel. 

3.  Quarters  for  all  personnel. 

4.  Storehouses. 

Class  V.  For  utilities  and  physical  operation : 

1.  Power  house. 

2.  Shops. 

3.  Laundry. 

4.  Garage. 

5.  Fire  station. 


60 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CLASS  I.  GENERAL  ADMINISTRATIVE  AND  OPERATIVE  BUILDINGS. 

For  the  reception  and  discharge  of  patients  and  the  general  administration 
of  the  hospital,  certain  offices  were  required.  A condensed  list  of  the  elements 
involved  follows : 


Receiving  buildings. — The  first  type  (plan  J in  Figure  14)  was  built  for  the 
National  Army  and  National  Guard  hospitals.9  It  was  necessary,  later,  both 
to  enlarge  and  to  redesign  the  administration  and  receiving  buildings  at  all 
camps  and  cantonments  in  the  United  States,  because  of  general  additions 
to  the  hospitals.9  In  the  receiving  building  greater  floor  area  was  provided, 
together  with  more  adequate  isolation  space  for  observation  and  examination. 

A combined  receiving  and  administration  building  is  shown  in  Figure  17 
(B-9)  10  (p.  63).  This  building  had  the  advantage  of  being  larger  and  of  possess- 
ing separate  facilities  for  the  admission  of  the  contagious  or  those  suspected  of 
having  communicable  diseases.  It  permitted  the  discharge  of  general  adminis- 
trative duties,  as  well  as  the  reception  of  the  sick,  and  afforded  opportunity  for 
close  contact  between  the  hospital  management  and  the  troops  in  camp.  It 
placed  the  dispensary  where  it  was  in  easy  contact  with  the  hospital  and  where 
it  was  most  accessible  to  the  camp.  The  receiving  building  was  the  accepted 
point  of  contact  with  the  members  of  the  command  to  whom  it  was  familiar. 
The  dispensary,  in  the  same  building,  was  convenient  for  prescription  work 
arising  out  of  this  contact.  The  entrance  and  hall  farthest  to  the  right  on  plan 
(B-9)  was  designed  for  the  admission  of  suspects,  and  provision  was  made  to 
keep  these  suspects  separated  from  all  other  patients  during  examination  and 
observation.10  Through  the  central  entrance,  and  the  space  to  the  rear  of  it, 
the  ordinary  cases  were  admitted,  and  to  the  left  were  provisions  for  the  routine 
discharge  of  patients. 

For  the  reception  of  large  numbers,  another  type  of  building,  J-3  in  Figure 
14,  was  designed,  and  was  erected  at  General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills. 
Staten  Island,  N.  Y., 11  which  was  planned  for  a debarkation  hospital. 

Another  type  of  combined  receiving  and  administrative  building  (B-13) 
is  illustrated  in  Figure  IS  (p.  64). 


Reception  and  discharge: 
Receiving  room. 


Clerks. 

Undressing  room. 

Linen  room. 
Observation  rooms. 
Small  laboratory. 
Patients’  effects  storage. 
Disinfector  rooms. 
Clothing  issue  room. 
Dressing  room. 
Discharging  room. 


General  administration: 
Commanding  officer. 
Adjutant. 

Waiting  room. 

Clerks. 

Registrar. 

Post  office. 

Information  and  telephone. 
Chaplain. 

Visitors’  room. 

Toilet. 


CONSTRUCTION'  AND  IMPROVEMENT, 


61 


62 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Fig.  15. — Administration  building,  base  hospital. 


Fig.  16. — Receiving  building,  base  hospital. 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT, 


63 


Fig.  17. 


64 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CLASS  II.  GENERAL  CARE  AND  TREATMENT  BUILDINGS. 

This  class  included  the  various  ward  units.  By  ward  units  is  meant  the 
sum  total  of  the  facilities  in  one  ward  building  used  in  the  care  of  the  sick, 
including  the  ward  room,  where  the  beds  were  located,  and  the  auxiliary  rooms 
for  utilities,  office,  linen,  and  serving. 

The  letters  for  the  plans  or  buddings  represent  the  symbols  used  by  the  Sur- 
geon General’s  Office,  12  designating  roughly  the  purpose  of  the  budding:  A, 
block  plans;  B,  administration  buddings;  C,  officers’  wards;  D,  officers’  quar- 
ters; E,  nurses’  quarters  and  wards;  F,  laboratory,  X ray,  head  surgery,  etc.; 
G,  general  surgical  buildings;  H,  hospital  exchange,  garage,  shops,  etc.;  I,  all 
kitchen  and  mess  buildings;  J and  Iv,  receiving  buddings;  L,  wards  (common 
and  tuberculosis) ; M,  isolation  wards,  and  X,  psychiatric  wards.  Xumerals 
following  these  letters  indicate  subsequent  variations  and  new  designs; 13 
numerals  above  100  further  indicating  a tile  construction.  As  an  example:  B 
represents  the  earliest  frame  administration  budding;  M-3,  the  third  variation 
or  newer  design  of  frame  isolation  ward;  and  F-102,  the  second  variation  or 
newer  design  of  a tile  laboratory. 

In  ward  designing,  four  classes  of  patients  were  provided  for:  12  General, 
tuberculous,  contagious,  and  mental.  For  the  general  cases,  two  variations  from 
general  designs  were  made:  One  to  provide  for  officer  patients  and  the  other,  a 
minor  modification  of  the  general  ward  unit,  for  prisoner  patients.14 

Although  several  types  and  variations  of  general  ward  units  were  con- 
structed during  the  war  period,  by  far  the  largest  number  of  sick  were  treated 
in  but  two  types  of  wards: 15  The  one-story  single  ward  (K-l)  and  its  derivative, 
the  double  ward  (L-l)  and  its  final  form  (K-20) ; and  the  two-story  ward  bar- 
racks (K-5). 

The  other  general  ward  units  differed  from  these  types  in  minor  details 
with  two  exceptions:  The  ward  building  known  as  (K-105)  16,  a two-story 


CONSTRUCTION’  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


65 


adaptation  of  the  one-story  single  ward  (K-l) ; and  a special  and  distinctly 
different  type  of  building  (K-58)17. 

The  following  tabulation  shows  the  total  bed  capacity  of  the  different  types 
of  wards  constructed  throughout  the  country: 15 


Building  plan. 

Description. 

Number  of 
buildings. 

Number  of 
beds. 

Percentage 
of  all  bed 
construc- 
tion. 

K-l 

1-story  ward 

491 

16, 694 
6,408 

14 

L-l 

Double  ward  and  lavatory 

89 

5 

K-20 

1-story  ward 

97 

3, 104 

2i 

Total 

677 

26,  206 

21i 

2-story  ward  barrack 

395 

25,280 

21 

K-l  05 

2-story  ward 

13 

1,053 

1 

Total 

408 

26,  333 

22 

K-34 

2-story  wing  ward 

57 

8,174 

7 

K-58  and  K-l  17 

2-story  pavilion  ward 

6 

432 

i 

Other  types 

36,  249 

32 

20,  218 

17 

Grand  total 

117,612 

100 

The  K-l  type  of  the  one-story  ward  was  designed  in  the  early  summer  of 
1917,  and  was  built  at  all  the  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps.18  The 
plan  K-l,  and  its  final  form  Iv-20,  were  also  used  in  the  construction  of  most  of 


Fig.  19. 

the  other  camp  hospitals  and  the  general  hospitals  previous  to  the  fall  of  1918. lj 
The  K-20  type  of  one-story  ward  19  was  a revised  form  of  K-l  and  included  in 
its  design  various  changes  made  in  plan  K-l,  from  time  to  time,  as  experi- 
45209° — 23 5 


66 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ence  dictated  and  as  conditions  demanded.  The  double  ward  L-l  was  evolved 
by  combining,  for  purposes  of  economy,  the  toilet  facilities  of  two  K— 1 wards.20 
This  type  was  discontinued  after  the  completion  of  the  hospitals  at  National 
Army  and  National  Guard  camps  in  the  early  fall  of  1917. 13  These  constituted 
the  one-story  pavilion  types  of  wards. 

The  first  of  the  two-story  type  wards,  known  as  a K-5  ward-barrack,  was 
designed  in  the  early  part  of  December,  1917,  and  was  erected  at  many  of  the 
hospitals  21  to  provide  for  a very  considerable  increase  in  the  capacity  of  the 
hospitals  at  the  camps  which  became  necessary  at  that  time.  The  two-storv 
type  was  selected  in  order  to  concentrate  the  required  number  of  beds  in  as 
small  an  area  as  possible,  thus  obtaining  economy  in  first  cost  and  facilitating 


-f-'  57' 

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Fig.  20. 


administration.  Then,  too,  in  many  of  the  hospitals  already  built  the  area 
available  for  expansion,  immediately  adjoining  the  hospital,  was  limited. 
When  making  the  increase  in  bed  capacity  it  was  necessary  also  to  increase  the 
housing  capacity  for  the  correspondingly  augmented  enlisted  personnel.  In 
order  to  secure  further  economy  in  cost  and  more  rapid  erection  of  the  build- 
ings, it  was  decided  to  make  but  one  design  which  could  serve  both  purposes 
and  to  use  this  type  of  building  in  sufficient  numbers  to  provide  increased  bed 
capacity  and,  at  the  same  time,  increased  housing  for  personnel.  This  building 
had  decided  advantages  in  its  flexibility,  since  it  could  be  used  either  as  a ward 
for  the  ambulatory  patients  or  as  a barrack. 

The  two-story  ward  building  of  the  K-105  type  was  designed  to  meet 
the  special  conditions  which  arose  at  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  2, 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


67 


Fort  McHenry,  Md.,22  where,  during  its  erection,  a large  number  of  the  K-5 
buildings  were  being  constructed.  It  was  found  that  the  existing  one-story 
wards  were  not  sufficient  in  capacity  to  provide  the  number  of  beds  desired  at 
that  place,  so  it  was  determined  to  substitute,  for  some  of  the  K-5  buildings,  a 
number  of  two-story  buildings  suitable  for  acute  cases.  This  K-105  building  fol- 
lowed the  general  design  of  the  one-story  ward  building  K-l ; but  the  second 
story  was  arranged  for  convalescents;  and  the  diet  kitchen,  the  ward  office, 
and  one  quiet  room  were  omitted.16 

During  July,  1918,  it  became  necessary  to  design  several  large  camp  hos- 
pitals of  about  2,500  beds  each,  and  to  make  an  extensive  enlargement  of  one  of 
the  existing  camp  hospitals  where  the  available  space  was  limited.23  It  was 


W D □ □ o D o tfo  d ol  o tTb  d do  flUo 

'□•Q  DODO  DO'O-O □'□"DO O'D'DO  dd'oo  dd 


D-D  a-0  M 0-0  D-D  D-a  D-a  1 j3 

a □ a on  □ □ d_d  □ □ a j a a a □ ot  □ a a 


<XLAR../'TOB.y  MliGKV  ut  Q l 


■TWO  •■/'TORY  GENERAL  WARD  • UNIT  K.” 

FlR/T  ./"TORY  - Z"°yTORY-yin]LAR 


COVH.LC  POR.C" 

□ G 

□■0 

WARD 

□ □ 

a 00  OD  DD  UO  D 
SOD  OOJID  DDT 

□ DD 

□ D-D 
\ 

' WARD 

D D-D 

□ QD 

-CUBDIVl/ION  ^ INTO  fOUR.WAR.Dy- 

Fig.  21. 


T v p i c A L - C -./■  C.CT  I O N • 


found  in  the  case  of  the  new  camps  that  the  one-story  ward  (K-20),  if  built  in 
sufficient  numbers  to  give  the  required  bed  capacity,  would  cover  an  immense 
area,  thus  making  the  first  cost  excessive.  It  would  also  either  jeopardize 
administration  or  demand  more  personnel  than  could  be  supplied.  These  con- 
ditions again  led  to  the  use  of  two-story  buildings  and  to  the  further  necessity  for 
concentrating  the  beds  into  even  a smaller  area  than  was  possible  by  the  use  of 
a K-5  ward  barrack.  From  these  requirements  the  K-34  type  of  two-story 
ward  developed  and  was  called  the  Knox  type,24  because  it  was  first  designed 
and  built  at  Camp  Knox,  Ky. 

Just  previous  to  the  signing  of  the  armistice  a two-story  ward  building  (K-5S 
in  Figure  22)  was  in  course  of  design,  intended  for  use  in  hospitals  not  exceeding 
1,000  beds.17  When,  due  to  the  ending  of  the  war,  it  was  no  longer  necessary 
to  build  large  camps,  one  of  them,  Camp  Bragg,  X.  C.,  was  so  reduced  in  size  as 


08 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


69 


to  make  a small  hospital  of  only  400  beds  necessary,  instead  of  the  2,500  beds 
previously  contemplated.  The  K-58  ward  was  used  at  that  place  and  at  a few 
others  where  hospitals  of  small  capacity  were  needed.15 


The  designs  of  the  isolation  and  psychiatric  ward  units  were  not  greatly 
changed  from  the  original  plan,  except  when  it  was  necessary  to  conform  with 
changes  in  the  general  ward  units.  Figure  23  shows  the  original  one-story 
isolation  wards  (M  andM-1)  constructed  as  part  of  the  early  hospitals,25  and 


70 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Figure  24  shows  the  two-story  ward  unit  (M-3)  used  with  the  Camp  Knox  type 
of  two-story  wai’d,26  and  the  latest  design  of  isolation  ward  (M-6)27  corresponding 
with  the  general  ward  unit  (K-58).  Figure  25  exhibits  the  plan  of  the  orig- 
inal one-story  type  of  psychiatric  ward  (R-2)  ;28  and  the  later,  two-story  type 
(R-4),29  corresponding  with  the  two-story  general  ward  unit  (K-34). 

Some  of  all  of  the  following  facilities  constituted  the  various  ward  units  r30 


FOR  GENERAL  CASES. 

(a)  General  ward  units — 

I.  Bed  facilities 

II.  Toilet  facilities  for — 

(a)  Bed  patients 

(b)  Ambulant  patients 

III.  Recreation  facilities 

IV.  Service — 

(a)  Feeding 

(b)  Supply 

(c)  Cleaning  rooms 

V.  Administration — • 

(a)  Officers’  administrative  work 

(b)  Nurses’  administrative  work 

(c)  Convenience  for  nurses 


1.  Ward  proper. 

2.  Utility  room. 

3.  Toilet  room. 

4.  Day  room. 

5.  Serving  kitchen. 

6.  Linen  room. 

7.  Slop  sink  closet. 

8.  Ward  office. 

9.  Nurses’  office. 

10.  Nurses’  retiring  room 
and  toilet. 


VI.  Special  facilities  for — 

(a)  Care  of  acutely  sick  or  moribund 11.  Quiet  rooms. 

( b ) Minor  medical  and  surgical  treatment 12.  Treatment  rooms. 

(c)  Minor  chemical  and  bacteriological  work 13.  Ward  laboratory. 


( b ) Prison  ward  units. — Contained  the  same  facilities  as  in  the  general  ward  unit,  with  addi- 
tional provisions  for  the  possible  restraint  of  the  patients,  and  their  isolation  under  restraint  in  case 
of  complication  with  contagious  disease. 

(c)  Officers’  ward  unit. — This  unit  had  the  same  facilities  as  the  general  ward  unit,  with  the 
beds  in  separate  rooms  or  in  wards  of  two  or  four  beds  each,  instead  of  in  wards  of  10  or  more  beds. 
Cooking  and  messing  facilities  were  made  part  of  the  unit. 


FOR  CONTAGIOUS  CASES. 


Isolation  ward  unit. — Had  facilities  especially  arranged  for  the  control  of  infectious  diseases 
(sterilizing  and  disinfecting  apparatus)  in  addition  to  the  facilities  of  the  general  ward  units. 


FOR  TUBERCULOSIS. 

Tuberculosis  ward  units. — Had  the  same  facilities  as  in  the  general  ward  unit,  but  they  were 
arranged  in  three  types  of  ward,  modified  to  give  better  ventilation,  heating,  and  increased  floor 
space  per  bed. 

FOR  MENTAL  CASES. 

Psychiatric  ward  unit. — This  unit,  also,  had  the  same  facilities  as  in  the  general  ward  unit, 
grouped  in  a special  manner,  with  the  addition  of  facilities  for  minor  hydrotherapy  (continuous 
baths) . 

GENERAL  WARD  UNITS. 

WARD  PROPER. 


Dimensions  of  the  wards  were  determined  from  a study  of  several  factors, 
that  is,  the  maximum  number  of  beds  per  ward,  the  cubic  space  per  bed,  the 
floor  area  per  bed,  and  the  number  of  rows  of  beds,  whether  two  or  four.13 
Structural  conditions,  influencing  the  size  of  the  ward  were  the  timber  sizes 
available  and  a limit  to  the  length  of  the  building,  that  is,  the  placing  of  it  on 
the  ground  so  that  all  buildings  could  be  located  on  any  terrain,  however  rough. 13 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


71 


The  number  of  beds  in  each  ward  in  new  construction  varied  from  a mini- 
mum of  14  to  a maximum  of  100. 30  Of  all  the  beds  provided  in  new  construc- 
tion, 44  per  cent  were  in  wards  of  14  or  16  beds  each,  44  per  cent  in  wards  of  25 
to  35  beds  each,  and  12  per  cent  in  wards  of  over  35  beds  each.15 

Wards  first  constructed  were  relatively  small,  containing  from  15  to  30 
beds  each.30  This  was  believed  to  be  the  ideal  size.  The  best  size  of  the  ward 
unit  or  of  the  ward  wing,  from  an  administrative  standpoint,  was  later  found  to 
be  from  50  to  100  beds.31  The  psychological  effect  of  treating  patients  in 
large  numbers,  even  as  high  as  100  in  a ward,  was  determined  to  be  negligible, 
since  the  patients  had  become  accustomed  to  living  “in  a crowd.”  On  the 
other  hand,  in  the  interests  of  economy  in  first  cost  and  operation  and  of  satis- 
factory administration,  it  was  considered  desirable  to  make  the  wards  larger 
than  these  limits,  thus  concentrating  a greater  number  of  beds  in  a given  area 
and  minimizing  required  personnel.  Structurally,  the  large  wards  were  cheaper 
in  first  cost,  partly  because  of  the  concentration  of  toilet,  utility,  and  diet  serv- 
ices effected,  and  partly  because  of  the  saving  in  partitioning.  Another  argu- 
ment which  favored  their  adoption  was  that  the  head  house  and  wing  type  of 
building  lent  itself  much  more  readily  and  economically  to  a large  dividing  unit. 
In  a measure,  also,  connecting  corridors  were  converted  into  active  hospital 
space.  The  solution  of  the  problem  was  reached  by  balancing  the  two  sets  of 
opposing  factors,  giving  sufficient  emphasis  to  the  contagious  factor,  when  the 
cases  to  be  treated  were  from  raw  troops,  as  in  the  camps,  and  not  quite  so 
great  emphasis  when  patients  came  from  seasoned  troops  who  had  acquired  some 
immunity,  as,  for  instance,  in  cases  returning  from  overseas. 

It  was  the  rule  to  provide  not  less  than  S00  cubic  feet  of  air  space  per  bed,31 
and  a minimum  spacing  between  beds  of  three  to  three  and  a half  feet.30  The 
floor  area  per  bed,  including  the  necessary  aisle  space,  varied  from  70  to  85 
square  feet.30  In  computing  air  space,  the  excess  of  height  from  floor  to  ceiling 
above  12  feet  was  disregarded.13 

Beds  were  arranged  in  two  rows,30  parallel  to  the  long  axis  of  the  wards, 
except  in  the  few  wide  wards  which  were  built,  where  more  than  two  rows  were 
placed.30  Two  rows  of  beds  were  found  to  be  the  best  arrangement;32  it  per- 
mitted the  making  of  sheet  cubicles  around  each  bed,  which  then  had  light  and 
air  directly  from  the  outside.  The  three-row  or  four-row  scheme  was  used  in 
those  wards  which  were  48  feet  wide,  as  a matter  of  ecomony  entirely,  since  tins 
made  it  possible  to  put  100  beds  in  a ward  without  making  the  building  exces- 
sively long.30 

Having  determined  the  factors  most  intimately  concerning  the  patient,  the 
actual  dimensions  of  the  ward  were  laid  out,  consideration  being  given  to  the 
sizes  of  timbers  most  readily  available,  the  length  of  studs  used  for  the  standard 
12  or  24  foot  lengths,  and  the  same  for  floor  joists.  These  sizes  determined  the 
actual  width  and  height  of  wards,13  for  example,  in  the  one-story  ward  the 
width,  out  to  out,  was  24  feet — two  lengths  of  joists — and  the  height  was  11.3 
feet,  being  the  12-foot  length  of  studs.  Similarly,  in  the  large  wards  the  out 
width  was  48  feet  and  the  studs  extended  through  the  two  stories,  giving  a 
story  height  of  11.2  feet. 

It  was  found  by  experience  in  locating  buildings  on  the  various  sites  that  a 
length  of  from  150  to  ISO  feet  was  the  maximum  permissible.33  Greater  lengths 


72 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


usually  involved  excessive  cost  for  excavation  and  grading,  or  building  up  of 
the  foundations  of  one  end  of  the  building  when  placed  on  a sloping  grade. 

The  windows  were  spaced  so  as  to  come  between  alternate  beds;30  thus 
each  bed  had  the  advantage  of  a window,  and  the  number  of  windows  was  not 
excessive.  Since  it  was  necessary  to  conserve  to  the  utmost  glass  and  other 
materials  used  for  windows,34  the  size  of  these  was  determined  from  the  sizes  of 
glass  available,  i.  e.,  10  by  15  inches,  with  six  lights  to  each  sash.  As  window 
sashes  were  not  counterbalanced, 3j  this  size  was  reasonably  easy  of  operation; 
whereas  the  larger  size— nine  lights  per  sash — would  have  been  heavy  without 
counterbalances.  Because  of  tlie  nation-wide  shortage  ol  hardware36  and  result- 
ant restrictions  imposed  by  the  War  Industries  Board,37  the  counterbalance 
was  not  used.  The  window  area  in  wards  was  about  12  per  cent  of  the  floor 


Fig.  26. — Interior  of  typical  one-.story  ward  of  temporary  construction. 

area,30  except  in  ward  barracks,  where  the  percentage  approximated  19, 30  due 
to  the  fact  that  wards  were  short  and  without  a solarium  at  the  end  and  that 
the  four  end  windows  contributed  to  increase  in  ratio.  In  the  latest  ward 
(K-58)  the  percentage  was  21, 17  windows  being  placed  between  each  bed.  as  the 
restriction  on  the  use  of  glass  had  passed  at  the  time  this  ward  was  designed.13 

In  addition  to  the  sliding  sash  of  windows,  ventilation  was  arranged  for 
by  ridge  ventilators.30  In  the  first  designs  a continuous  louver  ventilator  was 
used,30  but  this  was  found  to  be  unsatisfactory,  particularly  in  cold,  windy 
weather,  and  was  changed  to  a special  type,19  as  shown  in  Figure  19.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  the  same  conditions  obtained  in  the  Civil  War  hospitals.33 
At  first,  ridge  louver  ventilators  were  used  and  later  changed  to  a type  which 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


73 


was  almost  the  same  design  as  the  second  type  shown  in  Figure  19.  Even  this 
method  of  ventilation  was  not  entirely  satisfactory,  one  objection  being  that  it 
caused  a vast  amount  of  dust  to  collect  in  the  attic  space.  In  later  buildings, 
such  as  K -34  and  K-58,  commercial  metal  ventilators  were  used.17 

Porches  were  added  to  all  the  wards  12  on  the  long  side,  and,  although  they 
eliminated  the  direct  sunlight  on  one  side  of  the  ward,  these  porches  were  a 
great  advantage  in  permitting  the  wheeling  of  beds  into  the  open  air  with  a 
minimum  of  travel,  and  in  providing  a space  to  be  used  for  expansion  in  sudden 
emergency. 

AUXILIARY  ROOMS. 

The  toilet  and  day  rooms  were  placed  immediately  adjoining  the  wards;30 
and  the  utility  room  was  placed  either  adjoining  the  ward  or  near  it,  because  of 
its  continued  use  in  the  treatment  of  patients.30  The  remaining  rooms  were 
grouped  as  near  the  ward  as  possible,  but,  excepting  the  nurses’  office,  not 
directly  adjoining.30  The  nurses’  office  was  placed  immediately  adjacent, 
usually;  sometimes  it  consisted  of  a station  in  the  ward  itself,  as  in  later  designs.30 
All  the  rooms  were  at  the  corridor  end  of  the  ward. 

Utility  rooms  were  designed  large  enough  to  permit  the  emptying  and 
cleansing  of  bedpans  and  urinals,  as  well  as  their  storage.21  In  the  early  design 
it  Avas  found  that  these  rooms  were  too  small,  and  they  were  consequently  in- 
creased in  size  in  later  designs.39  In  some  cases  an  electrical  outlet  A\ras  added 
for  attaching  heating  apparatus,  and  in  a feAV  cases  utensil  sterilizers  AArere 
added,  but  this  Avas  not  the  general  practice.40  The  slop  sink  Avas  of  the  flushing 
rim  type,  when  available,  and  the  fixture  Avas  supplied  with  hot  and  cold  Avater 
Avith  combination  nozzle. 

Toilets  Avere  designed  to  ghre  sufficient  space  for  the  needs  of  ambulatory 
patients.  The  number  of  water-closets  Avas  determined  on  a basis  of  1 to  each 
15  or  20  beds.30  In  all  the  early  designs,  stalls  Avere  provided,  usually  without 
doors,  although  in  a feAV  buildings  doors  Avere  used.30  Later  the  stalls  Avere 
omitted  entirely,  for  purposes  of  cleanliness,  better  ventilation,  easy  inspection, 
and  economy  in  construction  and  maintenance.39 

Lavatories  of  the  individual  type  Avere  installed  in  the  same  ratio  as  that 
for  water-closets.30  These  lavatories  were  supplied  Avith  hot  and  cold  Avater  in 
the  earlier  designs,30  but  in  the  late  design  a wash  tray  Avas  supplied,  and  so 
arranged  as  to  permit  washing  under  a running,  tepid  stream,  thus  enhancing 
cleanliness  as  Avell  as  permitting  economy  in  first  cost  and  maintenance.  The 
number  of  Avashing  positions  at  each  tray  Avas  in  the  same  ratio  as  for  individual 
lavatories.  SlioAvers  were  provided  in  the  ratio  of  1 shoAver  head  to  each  20 
or  30  beds.30  In  the  early  designs  a separate  stall  Avas  provided  for  each  shoAver 
head,41  AAThile  in  later  designs  all  shoAver  heads  Avere  in  one  stall.17  They  were 
supplied  in  some  instances  Avith  hot  water  control,30  and  in  other,  later  in- 
stances, with  tepid  Avater,  controlled  as  Avas  Avater  for  the  wash  trays,  by  an 
automatic  temperature  regulator.30  Each  shoAver  head  had  a self-closing  valve, 
operated  by  a pull  chain.  One  tub  Avith  hot  and  cold  Avater  faucets  Avas  pro- 
vided for  each  ward.30 

Urinals  were  provided  in  the  ratio  of  1 to  each  25  beds;30  the  early  ones 
Avere  of  Avood,  lined  with  galvanized  iron,  and  later  ones  either  an  enameled  iron, 
flushing  type,  or,  later  still,  a vitreous-Avare,  steel  type. 


74 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  the  early  buildings  a dental  lavatory  for  cleansing  the  mouth  and  teeth 
was  installed,41  hut  this  was  omitted  when  the  wash  trays  for  washing  in  running 
water  were  adopted. 

Serving  kitchens  contained  the  usual  equipment  for  serving  food.  Though 
the  special  diets  were  principally  prepared  in  the  main  diet  kitchen,  a part  of  the 
general  kitchen,  and  were  carried  to  the  ward  serving  kitchens  to  be  distributed 
by  trays  from  there  to  the  patients,  there  was  some  preparation  of  minor  special 
diets  in  the  serving  kitchens.  It  was  in  this  room  that  the  patients’  dishes  were 
washed  and  sorted.  In  the  large  wards  (Iv-34)  arrangements  were  made  for 
serving  patients  through  a window  opening  directly  into  the  ward.42  As  a large 
proportion  of  the  patients  were  ambulatory,  hut  at  the  same  time  not  quite  able 
to  go  to  the  main  mess,  they  were  served  in  cafeteria  style,43  and  for  this  purpose 
the  window  proved  very  useful. 

Slop  sink  closets  were  not  at  first  provided  the  wards.  They  were  found  to 
be  necessary,  however,  particularly  to  afford  a place  for  the  storage  of  brooms, 
mops,  cleaners’  pails,  etc.,  and  they  were  installed.44  They  were  equipped  with 
necessary  racks  for  utensils,  and  an  ordinary  slop  sink.45 

A ward  office,  especially  for  the  use  of  the  ward  surgeon,  was  provided 
for  each  ward, 30  except  in  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 and  in  some  other 
converted  buildings,  where,  there  being  several  wards  on  a floor,  the  offices 
were  combined  at  fine  point.46 

A nurses’  office,  or  station,  was  sometimes  placed  in  an  immediately 
adjoining  room,  as  in  the  early  wards,30  but,  in  later  designs,  a station  was 
established  in  the  ward  itself.  This  station  consisted  of  a desk,  placed  near 
the  wall,  with  space  for  the  nurses’  records. 

Quiet  rooms  were  provided,  usually  to  the  extent  of  10  per  cent  of  the  beds 
in  the  ward.30  In  the  earlier  wards  one  of  the  quiet  rooms  was  frequently 
taken  for  treatment  purposes,  and  in  the  later  designs  a special  treatment  room 
was  provided.40 

In  the  earlier  construction  no  ward  laboratories  were  provided;41  but 
later  they  were,  for  minor  or  routine  laboratory  procedures,  at  the  ratio  of  1 
to  each  200  beds.42  The  scope  of  the  work  done  in  the  hospital  laboratory 
increased  to  such  an  extent  that  this  measure  was  a necessity  in  practically 
every  large  camp.47 

Some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  general  wards  commonly  used  during 
the  war  are  shown  as  follows: 


Design. 

One-story. 

Two-story. 

K-l. 

L-l. 

K-20. 

K-5. 

Iv-105. 

K-34. 

K-5S 
(K-l  17). 

Bed  capacity  of  each  ward 

32 

34 

2S 

14 

/ 3S 

\ 32 

j 100 

16 

Bed  eapcity  of  buildings 

34 

72 

32 

64 

■220 

72 

Total  bed  capacity  of  all  construction 

16,  694 

6,  40S 

3, 104 

25,  2S0 

1,053 

3, 174 

432 

Number  of  rows  of  beds 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

4 

o 

Clear  height  of  story  (feet) 

11.3 

11.3 

11.3 

10.2 

10.5 

11.2 

10.4 

Floor  area  per  bed  (square  feet) 

SO 

77 

/ l 

80 

76 

73 

S7 

Air  space  per  bed  (cubic  feet) 

900 

870 

870 

800 

800 

810 

SSO 

Spacing  of  beds,  center  to  center  (feet) 

6.5 

6. 5 

6.4 

6.2 

6.2 

6.3 

6. 5 

Window  area  percentage  of  floor  area 

12 

11 

13 

19 

13 

11 

21 

CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


75 


TUBERCULOSIS  WARDS  (infirmary) 


Fig.  27.  • 


Fig.  28. 


76 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


TUBERCULOSIS  WARDS. 

The  infirmary,  Figure  27,  was  used  for  the  cases  confined  to  bed.48  Here, 
provision  was  made  for  heating  all  parts  of  the  building  and,  at  the  same  time, 
for  good  ventilation  and  easy  access  to  porches.  In  each  hospital  for  the  treat- 
ment of  tuberculosis  about  one-third  of  the  beds  were  placed  in  infirmaries.49 
This  ratio  was  satisfactory  early  in  the  war;  but  later,  however,  nearly  two- 
thirds  of  the  patients,  then  remaining  for  treatment,  required  accommodation 
in  the  special  ward.50 

The  K-107,  ambulatory,  or  fresh  air  ward,  Figure  28,  was  constructed 
with  an  inclosed  and  heated  central  portion.51  The  ward  proper  was  without 
heat  and  was  open  on  one  whole  side,  the  front.  The  central  portion  contained 
the  day  room,  lockers  for  clothing,  a dressing  room,  toilet  facilities,  etc.  The 
buildings  faced  the  south;  the  open  side  of  the  ward  proper  being  fitted  some- 
times with  curtains  of  various  designs,  or  with  hanging  frames  covered  with 
canvas  swung  into  place  from  the  top.  None  of  these  various  arrangements 
for  admitting  the  maximum  of  air  and  light  and  at  the  same  time  excluding 
rain,  snow,  and  high  winds,  was  satisfactory.13  Every  known  variety  worthy 
of  trial  was  used  and  no  one  found  free  from  serious  fault. 

The  semi-infirmary  K-108  was  a compromise  between  the  infirmary  and 
ambulatory  ward.52  Though  similar  to  the  ambulatory  ward,  it  was  only 
moderately  heated  in  the  ward  proper,  was  less  open  in  front,  and  contained 
sometimes  one,  sometimes  two,  rows  of  beds. 

CLASS  III.  SPECIAL  CARE  AND  TREATMENT  BUILDINGS. 

The  laboratory. — Figure  29  (F)  shows  the  original  type  of  laboratory 
built  for  the  National  Army  and  National  Guard  hospitals.53  The  character 
of  the  addition  which  was  later  made  to  all  of  these  laboratories  is  also  shown. 
The  mortuary  (P),  built  when  the  hospitals  were  constructed,  and  the  animal 
house  (F-19)  built  later  for  all  of  these  hospitals,  were  in  the  earlier  days 
separate  buildings,  which,  with  the  laboratory,  made  a total  of  three  buildings 
for  the  laboratory  service,  including  the  X-ray.  Later  laboratory  plans  are 
shown  in  the  same  figure.  In  these  later  plans  all  the  laboratory  activities 
were  included  in  one  building,  and  the  X-ray  department  was  moved  to  the 
surgical  building.13  This  consolidation  of  the  laboratory  activities  brought 
the  autopsy  work  under  easier  and  better  operation,  placed  the  animals  close 
at  hand,  and  reduced  cost.  The  undesirability  of  housing  animals  in  the  same 
building  occupied  by  persons,  particularly  in  summer,  was  known:  hut  the  open 
passage  on  the  first  floor,  separating  the  animals  from  the  remainder  of  the 
building,  minimized  any  objectionable  features. 

Head  surgery  buildings. — Two  types  of  the  original  head  surgery  building 
are  shown  in  Figure  30.  The  smaller  type  (F-6),  for  eve,  ear,  nose,  throat, 
and  dental  work,  was  built  at  the  smaller  camp  hospitals;54  and  the  larger 
type  (F-l),  for  the  same  work  but  providing  greater  space,  was  built  at  the 
larger  cantonment  hospitals.53  In  later  plans  the  activities  of  the  head 
surgery  building  were  consolidated  with  the  general  surgery  in  a single,  larger 
building.56 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


77 


•©  "LADORATORY  F0^ 2,000  btD  HO/PITAL-  •©■ LABORATORY  PMOOO  BLD  MO/PITAL 


78 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IX  THE  UXITED  STATES. 


The  surgical  building. — The  original  surgical  building  (G)  for  the  National 
Army  and  National  Guard  hospitals,  and  the  addition  which  was  made  later, 
are  also  shown  in  Figure  30.  In  the  later  plans  an  effort  at  consolidation  was 
made;  recovery  and  conference  rooms  were  provided  where  possible,  and 
additional  fixed  equipment  installed.  The  consolidation  referred  to  grouped 


© 'SURGICAL-  PAVILION  - 'a?0d!™,n,;tpa;G' 


the  X-ray,  eye,  ear,  nose,  throat,  and  dental  work  in  the  same  building  with  the 
general  surgery.  This  consolidation  would  not  have  been  possible  but  for  the 
use  of  more  fire-resisting  material  permitting  larger  buildings.  A combined 
surgical  department  for  a 1,000-bed  hospital  is  shown  in  Figure  31  (G-8),  and  for 
a 2,000-bed  hospital  in  Figure  32  (G-12,  p.  80) . In  general  terms,  under  the  con- 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


79 


80 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


soliclation  effected  in  these  activities,  two  large  buildings  permitted  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  work  formerly  done  in  five  small  ones. 

All  of  the  above  surgical  and  laboratory  activities  for  a small  hospital 
were  consolidated,57  late  in  the  war  period,  in  a single  building  (G-103,  Figure 
32).  In  addition,  a dispensary  was  included,  but  no  special  provision  was 
made  in  the  building  for  the  few  animals  required  at  such  a small  hospital. 


< 


S 

o 


a 

=c 

6 

o 

w 

cnJ 

at 

o 


3 

cQ 

< 

o 

2 

S 


Physical  reconstruction  buildings. — The  special  buildings  for  physical  recon- 
struction comprised  curative  workshop  buildings,  school  buildings,  and  physio- 
therapy buildings.  Effort  was  made  to  house  physical  reconstruction  activities 
in  new  buildings,  constructed  according  to  prepared  plans.5S  Comparatively 
few  of  them  were  constructed.  The  majority  of  the  general  hospitals  were 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


81 


being  installed  in  buildings  already  existing;  and  as  the  other  activities  of  the 
hospital,  such  as  surgery,  laboratory,  wards,  etc.,  were  being  provided  for  by 
alteration  in  existing  buildings,  this  specialty  was  finally  provided  for  in  the 


•Clear  j\oty  height- ll'-i’ 


3i  fluking  Eim/lop/mrt. 

31. /lop  /ir>K. 

,3  A Lavatory. 

34/hotuer  — 

3.J  Water  cloyet. 

-saWa-rh  /mK  ubth  Dramboartl, 
nce-dino  LightjaWall  light". 
i=£adiatorj- 


AM/CLLLANIOU/- 
1QUIP/ALNT 
4o/htlv«A 
4l  Coun+tr. 

■4lCabm«,f 
-43  Bench. 

44LocKtry 
43.rume  Hooo 
4tPlale  Cac.* 
47/peoal  /hade  Bo* 
4&rreib«.rg  Ventilator 


£12.1  Ceiling 


-./URGICAL-4"  LABORATORY  . PAVILION  • r°*-300  BLD  • HO/PITAL 

Fig.  33. 


same  manner.55  The  construction  of  new  buildings  for  physical  reconstruction 
was  not  authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  War  except  in  some  of  the  early  general 
hospitals.60  Figure  34  (S)  (p.  82)  shows  an  early  plan  for  a physiotherapy  build- 
ing. 

CLASS  IV.  FOR  FOOD,  HOUSING,  SUPPLIES. 

Cooking  and  messing  facilities. — The  vital  character  of  the  cooking  and 
messing  facilities  was  appreciated  from  the  beginning.  The  development  of 
the  designs  for  buildings  for  these  purposes  was,  therefore,  given  the  closest 
attention.  The  patients’  mess  in  the  early  design  included  rooms  for  the 
storage,  preparation,  cooking,  and  serving  of  the  food  for  patients  only,  there 
being  decentralized  kitchens  and  messes  for  officer  patients,  as  well  as  for 
medical  officers,  nurses,  and  the  detachment,  Medical  Department.61  In  the 
later  designs,  and  especially  in  smaller  hospitals,  the  food  was  cooked  for  nearly 
the  entire  hospital  in  the  general  kitchen  building.  There  were,  however, 
separate  mess  halls  for  the  groups  for  which  cooking  was  separately  done 
formerly. 

The  elements  concerned  in  the  preparation  and  serving  of  food,  were: 
In  the  kitchen,  storage,  preparation  of  the  food  for  cooking,  and  cooking;  in 
the  mess,  direct  service  in  the  mess  hall  and  food  service  to  wards,  and  the 
scullery. 

There  were  really  three  marked  developmental  designs  for  the  general 
mess  hall  and  kitchen.  The  first  is  represented  by  the  plan  designated  by  the 
letter  I— 1,  the  second,  a transitional  stage,  by  two  plans,  I— 1 1 for  a relatively 
small,62  and  1-12  for  a relatively  large  hospital;  63  and  the  third,  or  latest  type, 
45269°— 23 6 


1 54 -V 


82 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UKITED  STATES. 


® PHYSICAL  THERAPY  BUILDING 

Fig.  34. 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


83 


by  1-34  for  a 500-bed  hospital 64  and  1-39,  1-42  or  1-43,  and  0-12  for  the  three 
buildings,  kitchen,  mess  and  preparation  building,  respectively,  for  a hospital 
of  2,000  beds.65  The  numbers  of  all  three  types  constructed  were  as  follows: 66 


Type. 

Plan. 

Number 

built. 

Early  type 

I 

49 

Transitional  type: 

I-11-.  . 

4 

Large  size 

1-12 

5 

Latest  type: 

T-34 

4 

Large  size 

1-39  (kitchen) 

1 

Do 

1 

Do 

2 

Do 

1 

Figure  35  shows  the  early  type,  I,  constructed  as  a part  of  all  of  the  large 
camp  hospitals  built  during  the  first  summer  of  the  war,  including  all  National 
Guard  and  National  Army  hospitals,  as  well  as  many  others.67  When  the 
capacity  of  the  hospital  became  overtaxed,  the  refrigeration  space,  which 
was  found  to  be  inadequate,  was  generally  increased.68  A third  long  table 
was  added  through  the  length  of  the  mess  hall;  and  often  the  food  cart  room 
was  used  for  storage  and  office  space,  the  food  carts  being  kept  in  the  corridors 
when  not  in  use.  Cement  floors  a was  laid  in  many  kitchens  to  replace  one 
of  wood.69  With  these  exceptions,  however,  this  building  and  its  equipment 
withstood  usage  remarkably  well.  In  construction  there  was  little  difference 
in  these  early  kitchens  from  any  of  the  other  hospital  buildings.  The  materials 
used  were  the  same  as  those  used  in  the  wards;  the  length  of  the  bay,  the 
porches,  the  ridge  ventilator,  the  sash  size,  all  were  built  from  the  same  detail 
sheet  as  that  sent  out  for  the  wards.  The  plan  shows  the  arrangement  of  the 
elements  and  their  equipment. 

Ambulatory  patients,  figured  at  about  60  per  cent  of  the  total  patients, 
were  provided  for  in  the  mess  hall  by  the  system  of  serving  them  then  in  vogue 
in  Army  hospitals,  called  “set  up  service,”  i.  e.,  dishes  and  food  were  placed 
upon  the  tables  in  preparation  for  the  arrival  of  the  patients;  the  patients 
arrived  at  a given  hour,  ate,  and  left  the  mess  hall.  Tables  were  then  cleared 
by  attendants  and  clean  dishes  placed  for  the  next  meal,  or  for  the  next  sitting 
of  the  same  meal,  if,  as  was  more  frequently  the  case,  there  were  more  ambu- 
latory patients  than  seats  in  the  mess  hall.  Food  for  bed  patients,  figured  at  40 
per  cent,  was  cooked  in  the  main  kitchen  and  in  the  diet  kitchen,  under  the 
supervision  of  the  dietitian.  Food  was  then  placed  in  the  food  carts  which 
were  rolled  to  the  several  ward  diet  kitchens,  whence  it  was  served  under  the 
direction  of  the  ward  nurse. 

In  January,  191S,  the  first  variation  from  the  plan  I was  made,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  the  experience  gained  from  the  many  camp  and  cantonment  hospitals 
that  had  by  that  time  been  in  operation  for  several  months.70  In  a few  steps 
there  was  developed  the  transitional  type  of  general  mess,  represented  by  the 
plans  (I— 1 1 and  1-12),  for  a small  and  a large  hospital,  respectively.71  The 
restriction  to  the  24-foot  width  was  discontinued.15  This  was  the  inevitable 

a Cement  floors  had  been  intended  primarily,  but  through  some  error  wood  floors  were  originally  laid  in  most  camp 
hospitals. 


84 


MILITAKY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


MEJU’&KITCHEN  - 0 - 


Fig.  35, 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


85 


Fig.  36.— Interior  of  a base  hospital  general  kitchen. 


Fig.  37. — Corridor  adjacent  to  patients’  mess,  showing  equipment  for  transporting  prepared  food  to  wards. 


86 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


result  of  the  decision  to  give  up  the  E-shaped  plan  in  favor  of  the  rectangular 
building,  which  was  more  adaptable  to  an  uneven  terrain,  and  more  economically 
constructed.13 

A comparision  of  the  perimeters  and  areas  of  plans  I,  I— 11,  and  1-12 
(Figs.  35,  38,  and  39)  is  as  follows: 


Building. 

Total  ex- 
terior wall 
of  mess 
and  kit- 
chen. 

Area  of 
mess  and 
kitchen. 

Floor  area 
per  foot  of 
outside 
wall. 

I 

1, 190 
430 

12,500 

6,840 

16,400 

Square  feet. 

10 

1-11 

1-12 

790 

21 

The  1-1 1 building  was  planned  for  the  use  of  both  patients  and  attendants, 
and  it  had  a cafeteria  arrangement.  The  set-up  manner  of  feeding,  an  old  cus- 
tom in  the  Army,  had  become  an  unwieldy  method  of  feeding  a really  large  num- 
ber of  men.  The  cafeteria  system  was  made  effective  to  overcome  the  necessity 
of  greatly  increasing  the  seating  capacity  of  the  mess  halls,  or  the  alternative  of 
having  successive  sittings  for  the  same  meal.  • When  intelligently  operated,  it 


Fig.  38. 


had  the  following  advantages:  Hot  food,  faster  service,  less  waste,  operable 
with  fewer  mess  hall  attendants,  greater  flexibility — adaptability  to  sudden 
increase  or  decrease  in  the  number  to  be  fed — greater  construction  economy, 
economy  in  dishes,  etc. 

The  large  general  mess  and  kitchen  of  the  transitional  type  (1-12),  capable  of 
feeding  2,000  men,  shows  a rectangular  kitchen  36  feet  wide,  directly  attached 
to  a mess  hall,  six  12-foot  bays  wide,  divided  into  two  cafeteria  units.  The  kit- 
chen in  construction  was  similar  to  I— 11.  The  mess  hall  was  a larger  building 
consisting  of  a central  nave  of  a 24-foot  span  with  two  12-foot  bays  on  either 
side.  Close  window  spacing  and  a monitor  provided  sufficient  light  for  this 
wider  building.  There  was  no  ceiling  over  the  main  kitchen,  scullery,  and 
grocery  storeroom. 

The  1-12  plan  should  be  compared  with  I.  It  was  designed  to  meet  similar 
requirements.  Each  of  the  two  large  elements,  the  kitchen  and  the  mess,  be- 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


came  simple  rectangles.  The  kitchen  was  designed  to  keep  orderlies,  mess  hall 
attendants,  and  food  carts  out  of  the  cooking  and  preparation  rooms,  all  serving 
being  done  over  a counter.  Access  from  the  mess  service  corridor  to  all  of  the 
various  rooms  was  obtainable  without  passing  through  the  kitchen  proper.  A 
continuous  service  platform,  in  the  rear  of  the  kitchen,  gave  access  to  all  of  the 
rooms.  This  platform  was  left  uncovered  to  afford  the  maximum  of  daylight 
throughout  the  kitchen. 

Directly  abutting  the  kitchen  building  Avere  the  two  cafeteria  service  rooms, 
each  seiwing  a unit  similar  to  that  of  I— 1 1 . 


Fig.  39. 


During  the  summer  of  1918,  plans  for  the  third  and  latest  type  of  kitchen 
and  mess  were  developed.73  The  smaller  of  the  two  representative  buildings  of 
this  latest  type,  1-34  (Fig.  40),  Avas  designed  for  use  either  as  the  general  mess 
and  kitchen  for  a 500-bed  hospital  or  as  a mess  and  kitchen  for  the  medical 
detachment  of  a very  large  hospital.73  It  Avas  really  a sequel  to  1-11  with  a 
double  mess  hall  to  make  it  more  flexible  in  its  usage.  Because  of  the  fire  risk 
and  the  vital  character  of  this  service,  buildings  of  this  type  Avere  made  of  metal 
lath  and  stucco  instead  of  the  Avood  siding  previously  used;  otherwise,  the  con- 
struction Avas  similar.  The  Avashing  room  directly  adjoined  the  cafeteria  coun- 


88 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ters,  thus  eliminating  the  transportation  of  clean  dishes,  which  had  been  found 
quite  a burden  in  buildings  I— 1 1 and  1-12.  A monitor  roof,  over  the  serving 
and  dish  washing  rooms,  provided  an  extra  amount  of  light  and  ventilation  for 
that  busy  portion  of  the  mess  hall.  All  other  sections  of  the  building  were  pro- 
vided with  metal  ridge  ventilators. 

The  elements  covered  in  the  planning  of  the  food  preparing  and  mess 
buildings  were  storing,  preparing,  cooking,  serving,  eating,  and  dish  wash- 
ing. It  was  necessary  to  depart  from  the  ideal,  direct  contact  arrangement  of 


these  elements  in  the  feeding  of  large  numbers  of  men  in  the  military  hos- 
pitals.74 Variations  and  departures  have  been  shown  in  the  different  build- 
ings already  referred  to.  In  the  feeding  of  a still  larger  number,  what  were 
planned  for  and  secured  were:  A kitchen  separate  from,  though  closely  con- 
nected with,  its  storage  and  preparation  facilities,  and  a dining  room  with 
its  service  and  dish-washing  arrangements  in  the  portion  proximal  to  the 
kitchen.  This  typical  large  general  mess  and  kitchen  consisted  of  three  build- 
ings: Preparation  building  (0-12),  kitchen  (1-39),  and  double  mess  hall 
(1-43)  shown  in  Figure  41.  This  group  was  planned  to  take  care  of  the 
patients  and  the  Medical  Department  detachment  for  a hospital  of  2.000  beds. 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


89 


■MEJy  (g)  <5  KITCHEN-©' 

Fig.  41. 


90 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  buildings  were  of  metal  lath  and  plaster  on  wood-frame  construction  with 
a plaster-board  lining,  the  joints  plaster  filled.  The  commissary  stores  building 
(0-12)  was  a simple  building,  32  feet  wide,  with  a cellar  in  which  were  a 5-ton 
refrigerating  plant  and  storage  rooms.  The  first  floor  was  used  for  vegetable 
storage,  a dairy,  vegetable  and  meat  refrigeration,  and  meat  and  vegetable  prep- 
aration. An  inclosed  corridor  connected  it  with  the  cooking  building.  The  1-39 
kitchen  contained  the  cooking  facilities  for  all  regular  and  special  diets.  It  was 
but  slightly  modified  in  construction  from  its  predecessor,  1-12,  by  the  division 
of  its  width,  36  feet,  into  unequal  bays,  the  center  bay  being  20  feet  across  in 
order  that  there  might  be  a wide  aisle  for  the  cooking  equipment.  The  kettles 
and  ranges  were  located  in  a double,  back-to-back  line  running  lengthwise  with 
the  building,  the  ranges  facing  the  foot  cart  corridor.  It  will  be  noticed  that  it 
was  possible  by  this  arrangement  for  the  cooks’  tables,  opposite  the  ranges,  to 
operate  as  a serving  counter  at  meal  times.  The  1-43  mess  hall  was  five  12-foot 
bays  wide,  the  center  bay  running  the  length  as  a monitor.  It  contained  two 
cafeteria  units  with  the  dish-washing  room  adjoining  the  serving  counters. 
This  type  of  mess  hall  caused  both  patients  from  the  wards  and  food  from  the 
kitchen  to  enter  at  the  head  of  the  mess  hall.  It  effected  a considerable  saving 
of  aisle  travel  and,  while  it  entailed  a crossing  of  the  food  line  through  the  in- 
coming patient  line,  this  intermittent  occurrence  was  not  found  to  affect  seri- 
ously the  messing  operation.13  Near,  and  in  constant  communication  with,  the 
kitchen  was  the  reserve  counter  of  the  cafeteria  serving  room.  It  provided  a 
working  counter  for  any  final  preparation,  make-up,  or  dishing  out.  It  also  pro- 
vided counter  and  shelf  area  on  which  reserve  supplies  of  food  and  dishes  could 
be  stocked  from  the  outside  and  kept  there.  In  front  of  the  reserve  counter, 
and  at  a distance  no  greater  than  that  required  by  two  men  working  opposite  one 
another  at  the  two  counters,  was  the  serving  counter.  In  all  standard  designs 
for  serving  counters  an  effort  was  made  to  use  30  feet  as  a minimum  length  and 
35  whenever  possible.  In  the  middle  of  the  length  was  placed  the  steam  table 
with  food  containers  varying  in  number,  depending  upon  the  number  to  be  fed 
and  the  distance  from  the  kitchen.  These  containers  were  adequately  high  to 
obviate  excessive  stooping  of  those  constantly  working  over  them.  Just  in  front 
of  the  row  of  containers  and  on  a level  with  the  main  serving  counter  was  a 
display  shelf  on  which  the  food  servers  placed  the  plates  of  hot  food  as  rapidly 
as  they  could  and  from  which  the  patient  could  help  himself  as  he  passed  by. 
A tray  slide,  slightly  lower  than  the  serving  counter  and  display  shelf,  ran  the 
length;  and  just  near  enough  to  make  passing  possible  was  a rail  of  sufficient 
height  to  make  it  uninviting  and  undesirable  as  a seat. 

In  the  operation  and  the  detailed  arrangement  of  the  cafeteria,  there  was 
considerable  variation  due  to  the  different  needs  of  the  hospitals  and  to  the 
diverse  ideas  of  the  mess  officer.  Very  broadly  speaking,  however,  it  was 
similar  to  the  usual  public  cafeteria. 

In  the  planning  of  a cafeteria  mess  hall  three  closely  related  factors  were 
considered:13  The  rate  of  serving,  the  average  length  of  time  a patient  devoted 
to  eating  his  meal,  and  the  required  seating  capacity  of  the  tables.  It  was 
found  that  the  serving  of  20  men  per  minute  was  entirely  practicable;  a man 
would  seldom  stay  more  than  10,  never  more  than  15  minutes  at  mess;  and, 
by  a computation  from  these  two  facts,  that  from  300  to  325  seats  were  suffi- 
cient to  keep  a single  serving  coimter  unit  in  smooth,  continuous  operation.13 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


91 


To  permit  the  simplification  of  the  service,  a great  deal  of  the  equipment 
was  later  made  interchangeable.13  In  the  later  designs  for  cafeterias  in  leased 
buildings,  the  containers  that  fitted  into  the  steam  tables  were  all  of  a uniform 


size,  15  by  12  inches  by  11  inches  deep.  It  was  found  that  four  of  these  con 
tainers  held  sufficient  dinner  (the  largest  meal)  for  160  men.13  The  containers 
were  partitioned  and  designated  for  use  as  follows:13  Container  No.  1,  undi- 


92 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


vided,  for  soup;  container  No.  2,  undivided,  for  potatoes;  container  No.  3, 
divided  in  center,  one-half  for  meat  and  one-half  for  gravy;  container  No.  4, 
divided  at  third  point,  two-tliirds  for  second  vegetable,  one-third  for  dessert. 
The  same  containers  were  used  in  the  ward  service  food  carts,  and  the  same 
ward  service  food  carts  were  used  in  the  main  mess  hall  in  serving  patients  who 
were  not  quite  active  enough  to  serve  themselves  at  a cafeteria.  The  food 
cart  held  the  four  containers  set  side  to  side  and  into  an  insulated  box,  making: 
the  dimensions  of  the  cart  2 by  6 feet  by  3 feet  high.  A shelf,  underneath  the 
main  box,  was  so  placed  to  hold  extra  containers.  Dish  trucks,  the  necessity 
for  which  was  minimized  by  having  the  cafeteria  patients  carry  their  own 
dishes  to  the  dish-washing  room,  were  built  on  a framework  identical  with  that 
of  the  food  carts.  Thus  the  food  distribution  equipment  was  made  simple, 
flexible,  and  interchangeable. 

Simplification  was  also  accomplished  in  the  cooking  and  the  cafeteria 
serving.  Based  on  experience  in  temporary  hospitals,  the  fixed  equipment  of 
the  main  kitchen,  diet  kitchen,  and  cafeteria  was  standardized,  and  a schedule 
of  standard  equipment  was  prepared  by  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  and  the 
Construction  Division.75  This  schedule  had  about  60  items  of  equipment  and 
gave  the  steam,  water,  and  electric  connections  required,  the  floor  space  occupied, 
and  the  number  and  size  of  each  item  appropriate  for  hospital  messes  ranging 
in  capacity  from  25  to  5,000. 

The  problem  of  installing  mess  halls  and  kitchens  in  the  leased  buildings 
which  were  altered  for  hospital  use  was  a very  indefinite  and  variable  one. 
Usually  the  feeding  system  was  the  fundamental  f actor  of  the  entire  assignment  of 
space.75  Sometimes  there  already  existed  an  adequate  kitchen  and  mess  hall,  as 
in  the  cases  of  some  of  the  institutions  and  hotels  that  were  leased.  At  other 
times,  there  would  be  a fair-sized  kitchen  that  needed  only  some  additional  equip- 
ment. Then  again,  there  were  absolutely  no  facilities  in  a building,  and  the 
possibilities  of  each  floor,  from  the  basement  to  the  roof  , demanded  consideration.76 

Housing. — In  our  hospitals  three  classes  of  duty  personnel  were  provided 
for:  Officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department.77  However, 
before  the  war  was  over  a half  dozen  other  classes,  male  and  female,  had  been 
added  to  the  operating  personnel  of  the  larger  hospitals.  In  the  beginning 
this  housing  included  some  recreational  facilities.78  Soon  the  American  Red 
Cross  took  over  the  housing  of  the  recreational  facilities  for  the  nurses,'9  and 
the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  Knights  of  Columbus,  Jewish  Welfare 
Board,  and  others,  provided  facilities  for  recreation  for  the  enlisted  per- 
sonnel.80 The  officers’  quarters  were  frame  buildings,  like  others  in  the  hos- 
pital, provided  with  a kitchen  and  mess  hall  and  one  room  for  each  officer.sl 
Each  hospital  had  in  addition  a small  staff  officers’  building  of  four  rooms  for 
the  commanding  officer  and  his  staff.82  The  nurses’  quarters  were  similar  to 
those  for  the  officers,  containing  a kitchen  and  mess  hall;  but  part  of  the  nurses 
only  were  provided  for  in  separate  rooms  and  the  remainder  had  dormitory 
space.83  The  dormitory  was  unpopular  and  in  later  construction  a room  was 
provided  for  each  nurse.84  The  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department  were 
provided  for  in  simple  barracks  parallel  to  each  other,  each  building  having 
two  or  three  small  rooms  for  noncommissioned  officers.78  The  kitchen  and  mess 
hall  occupied  usually  a separate  building  in  the  middle  of  the  group.82  Where 
the  hospital  was  small,  a separate  kitchen  and  mess  building  was  not  built. 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


93 


Fig.  43.— Officers’  quarters. 


Fig.  44.— Officers'  diningroom. 


94 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fig.  45. — Nurses’  quarters. 


Fig.  46. — Living  room,  nurses’  quarters. 


Fig.  47. — Fnlisted  men’s  quarters. 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


95 


Fig.  48. — Enlisted  men’s  mess  hall 


Fig.  49. — Typical  Red  Cross  recreation  house  for  nurses. 


96 


military  hospitals  in  THE  united  states, 


Fig.  50— Typical  Red  Cross  convalescent  house 


Fig.  51. — Typical  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  hut. 


CONSTRUCTION'  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


97 


Fig.  52.— Interior  of  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  hut. 


45269°— 23 7 


Fig.  53.— Typical  medical  supply  buildings. 


98 


military  hospitals  in  the  united  states. 


Supply  buildings. — The  supply  buildings  were  simple  storehouses  with  a 
few  separate  rooms.85  They  contained  appropriate  shelving  for  the  orderly 
handling  of  small  articles,  and  counters  and  loading  platforms  required  for 
reception  and  issue  work  for  the  hospital,  or  for  both  the  hospital  and  the  camp 
if  necessary. 

CLASS  Y.  FOR  UTILITIES  AND  PHYSICAL  OPERATION. 


The  following  additional  buildings  were  mainly  used  for  utilities  and  the 
operation  of  the  hospitals:77  Power  house,  shop,  laundry,  garage,  fire  house  and 


DISINrtCTING  BUILDING 


LAUNDRY  Q) 

Fig.  54 


Fig.  55. 


dry  cleaning  (rarely).  Laundries  were  planned  for  the  hospitals  of  National 
Army  cantonments  and  National  Guard  camps.77  The  buildings  were  con- 
structed, but  were  not  equipped;86  so  the  hospital  laundry  was  done  either  by 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


99 


civilian  laundries  or  by  that  operated  by  the  quartermaster  of  the  camp.87  At 
Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  a modification 
of  the  original  laundry  plan  was  used  for  the  construction  of  a laundry;88  and 
later,  after  this  hospital  had  been  built,  a still  further  modified  plan  was  used 
for  laundries  constructed  at  some  of  the  tuberculosis  hospitals  and  at  a few 
large  general  hospitals  which  were  isolated.89  These  utility  buildings  were 


Fig.  56  —Garage  and  cars  at  a base  hospital 


not  closely  connected  with  the  care  of  the  sick  and  in  none  of  them  were  there 
such  distinct  changes  in  plans  as  occurred  in  the  wards,  the  mess  buildings,  and 
the  surgical  pavilion,  where  the  mushroom  growth  of  military  activity  led  from 
one  readjustment  to  another.  The  early  type  garage  constructed  was  changed 
to  a wider,  more  economical  type  of  greater  capacity.90 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Block  plan  A.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(2)  Block  plan  B.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(3)  Block  plan  C.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(4)  Block  plan  D.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(5)  Block  plan  E.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(6)  Letter  from  the  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  September  16,  1918.  Subject: 

Hospital  program.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspondence  File  632  (General). 

(7)  Construction  plans,  Camp  Knox,  Ky.,  Camp  Jackson,  S.  C.,  and  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island. 

On  file,  Hospital  Division.  S.  G.  0. 

(8)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  War  Department,  September 

5,  1918.  Subject:  Hospital  construction,  Camp  Bragg,  N.  C.  On  file,  Hospital  Division, 
S.  G.  0.  (Camp  Bragg,  N.  C.) 

(9)  Plans  of  receiving  buildings.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(10)  Plan  B-9.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(11)  Plan  J-3.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(12)  Original  plan  for  hospital  construction.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(13)  Statement  from  Maj.  Floyd  Kramer,  M.  C.,  April  12,  1922.  to  the  Surgeon  General.  Subject: 

Hospital  construction.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspondence  File  632-1. 

(14)  Plan  K-25.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(15)  Based  on  construction  reports.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O.  (under  camp). 

(16)  Plan  K-105.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(17)  Plan  K-58.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(18)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  July  5,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  O.,  Correspondence  File  176796  (Old 
Files)' . 


100 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(19)  Plan  K-20.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(20)  Plan  L-l.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(21)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  December  26,  1917.  Subject: 

Hospital  increase  at  National  Army  and  National  Guard  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  O.,  Correspondence  File  632-11  (General). 

(22)  Construction  plans,  Fort  McHenry,  Md.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(23)  Camp  hospitals  of  about  2,500  beds  each,  designed.  Plans  on  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(24)  Memo,  from  Lieut.  Col.  Floyd  Kramer,  M.  C.,  to  Brig.  Gen.  Robert  E.  Noble,  M.  D.,  August 

26, 1918.  Subject:  Hospital  construction.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspondence 
File  632  (General). 

(25)  Plans  M and  M-l.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(26)  Plans  M-3.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(27)  PlanM-6.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(28)  Plan  R-2.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(29)  Plan  R-4.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(30)  Based  on  plans  of  various  wards.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0 

(31)  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  W.  D..  1919,  59. 

(321  Letter  from  the  Committee  on  Army  Hospital  Plans  to  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War.  No- 
vember 24,  1918.  Subject:  Report  of  study  of  plans  for  Army  Hospitals.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspondence  File  600.13  (Plans  and  Specifications). 

(33)  Letter  from  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  W.  D..  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  23,  1918. 

Subject:  Length  of  hospital  buildings.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspondence 
File  632  (General). 

(34)  Letter  from  the  officer  in  charge,  cantonment  construction,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  Decem- 

ber 13,  1917.  Subject:  Glass  for  sash.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(35)  Shown  on  detail  plans  of  buildings.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(36)  Second  Annual  Report  of  the  Council  of  National  Defense  for  the  Fiscal  Year  Ended  June 

30,  1918.  Government  Printing  Office,  Washington.  Page  171. 

(37)  Letter  from  the  War  Industries  Board,  Council  of  National  Defense,  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

April  8,  1918.  Subject:  Proposed  building  of  new  hospitals  by  the  War  Department.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspondence  File  632  (General). 

(38)  Medical  and  Surgical  History  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  pari  third,  medical  volume.  Gov- 

ernment Printing  Office,  Washington.  Pages  934,  945,  and  952. 

(39)  Plans  Iv-34  and  Iv-58.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(40)  Memo,  from  Maj.  C.  W.  Richardson,  M.  C.,  to  Lieut.  Col.  E.  P.  Wolfe,  M.  C’.,  December  17, 

1917.  Subject:  Sterilizers.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Correspondence  File  414.4 
(Sterilizers). 

(41)  Plan  K-l.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(42)  Plan  K-34.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(43)  Report  on  Study  of  Mess  Conditions  in  Base  Hospitals,  by  Capt.  E.  L.  Scott,  S.  C.,  April 

29,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  720.1  (Food). 

(44)  Shown  on  first  plans  of  wards  of  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(45)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General.  January  9,  191S.  Subject: 

Slop  sinks.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (General). 

(46)  Shown  on  plans  K-34,  K-58,  K-l  17.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(47)  Letter  from  Chief  of  the  Construction  Division  to  the  Surgeon  General.  March  IS,  191S. 

Subject:  Construction  of  laboratory  additions  at  National  Army  base  hospitals.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632-1  (General). 

(48)  Plans  K-J-fi,  K-LG.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(49)  Shown  on  block  plan  of  General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y.  On  file.  Hospital  Division, 

S.  G.  0. 

(50)  Shown  on  plans  of  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo.  On  file,  Hospital  Division.  S.  G.  0. 

(51)  Plan  K-107.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(52)  Plan  K-108.  On  file.  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(53)  Plan  F.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(54)  Plan  F-6.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(55)  Plan  F-l.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(56)  Plan  G-12.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


101 


(57)  Plan  G-103.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(58)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  November  22, 1918.  Subject: 

Buildings  for  physical  reconstruction.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (General  Hos- 
pitals) K. 

(59)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  December  21,  1918.  Subject: 

Allotment  of  funds  for  alterations  for  physical  reconstruction  buildings.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (General). 

(60)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  November  22,  1918.  Subject: 

Buildings  for  physical  reconstruction.  Indorsements  thereon.  On  file,  Hall  of  Records, 
Fort  Myer,  Va.  (Cr.  652-B.). 

(61)  Plan  I.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(62)  Plan  1-11.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(63)  Plan  1-12.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(64)  Plan  1-34.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(65)  Plans  1-39,  1^12,  1-43,  0-12.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(66)  Based  on  reports  of  authorization  and  construction  from  various  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital 

Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(67)  Construction  reports  (name  of  camp).  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(68)  Letter  from  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  6,  1918. 

Subject:  Allotment  for  refrigeration  at  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 
(National  Army  General  File,  Misc.). 

(69)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  October  11,  1917.  Subject: 

Concrete  or  composition  floors  for  hospital  kitchens.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  633.3. 

(70)  Weekly  report  of  construction  branch,  S.  G.  0.,  for  week  ending  January  11,  1918.  On  file, 

Record  Room,  S.  G.  0..  Weekly  Report  File  (Hospitals). 

(71)  Plans  I— 11,  1-12.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(72)  Weekly  report  of  construction  branch,  S.  G.  O.,  for  week  ending  May  16,  1918.  On  file, 

Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Weekly  Report  File  (Hospitals). 

(73)  Plan  1-34.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(74)  “Report  on  Mess  Administration,”  by  Maj.  R.  G.  Hoskins,  S.  C.,  October  22,  1918.  On  file, 

Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.  Food  and  Nutrition  File  (Hospital  Needs). 

(75)  Schedule  of  ldtchen  equipment.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0.  (Kitchen  Equipment). 

(76)  Shown  in  floor  plans  of  all  buildings  leased  and  used  as  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division, 

S.  G.  0. 

(77)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  May  26, 1917.  Subject:  Esti- 

mate for  base  hospitals  for  cantonments.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176796  (Old  Files). 

(78)  Shown  on  plans  for  hospital  barracks  and  quarters.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(79)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  Director  General,  Military  Relief,  American  National 

Red  Cross, March  22,  1918.  Subject:  Construction  of  recreation  rooms  for  nurses’  home 
at  military  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (General).  Letter  from  the 
Surgeon  General  to  chairman.  Operations  Branch,  General  Staff,  March  20, 1918.  Subject: 
Rest  rooms  in  camps,  for  Army  nurses.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (General). 

(80)  G.  0.  No.  57,  W.  D.,  May  9,  1917;  G.  0.  No.  82,  W.  D.,  July  5,  1917;  G.  0.  No.  2,  W.  D., 

January  7,  1918;  G.  0.  No.  46,  W.  D.,  May  9,  1918;  Bull.  No.  55,  W.  D.,  October  7,  1918. 

(81)  Plans  for  officers’  quarters  at  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(82)  Block  plans  of  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(83)  Plans  of  nurses’  quarters.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(84)  Plans  of  nurses’  quarters  in  late  construction.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(85)  Plans  of  supply  buildings  at  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(86)  Letter  from  the  Acting  Quartermaster  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff.  February  28,  1918. 

Subject:  Laundries.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  633  (General). 

(87)  Second  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General.  March  7,  1918. 

Subject:  Laundries.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O..  633  (General). 

(88)  Plan  of  laundry  at  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Hospital  Division, 

S.  G.  0. 

(89)  Plan  Q-4.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(90)  Plan  of  garage  at  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 


CHAPTER  Y. 


HOSPITALS  PROVIDED. 

HOSPITALS  AT  NATIONAL  ARMY  CANTONMENTS. 

It  was  contemplated  as  early  as  May,  1917,  that  there  would  be  32  camps 
at  which  the  war  army  would  be  mobilized.1  Sixteen  of  these  camps  were 
later  located  in  the  North  and  16  in  the  South.  Generally  speaking,  those 
in  the  South  were  for  National  Guard  troops,  and  those  in  the  North  were 
for  the  National  Army.  Since  there  were  no  modern  hospitals  of  temporary 
construction,  of  a size  comparable  with  the  ones  required  for  the  camps,  whose 
plans  could  be  followed,  the  provision  of  hospital  facilities  for  the  camps 
presented  a problem  of  considerable  magnitude.  The  Letterman  General 
Hospital  at  San  Francisco  was  the  nearest  approach  to  the  type  desired,  and 
the  degree  of  influence  it  exercised  has  already  been  mentioned.  As  all  the 
hospitals  for  the  moblization  camps  were  to  be  alike,  one  plan  was  designed 
to  serve  for  all  the  32  camps;  consequently,  it  was  necessitated  that  the  common 
plan  be  adequate  and  free  from  serious  error  lest  a mistake  be  multiplied 
32  times. 

DELAYED  CONSTRUCTION. 

The  preliminary  plans  which  were  prepared  in  the  Surgeon  General's 
Office  showed  the  arrangement  in  each  of  the  hospital  buildings  and  their  inter- 
relation as  a group.  The  plans  for  the  hospitals  of  the  National  Army  camps 
were  forwarded  to  the  Quartermaster  General’s  Office  and  construction  was 
requested  on  the  following  dates:  On  June  12,  1917,  for  Camps  Devens,  Dix, 
Jackson,  and  Lewis;2  on  June  13,  1917,  for  Camp  Sherman;3  on  June  18,  1917, 
for  Camps  Upton,  Custer,  Lee,  Meade,  and  Taylor; 4 on  June  23,  1917,  for  Camp 
Grant;1  on  July  5,  1917,  for  Camps  Dodge  and  Gordon;6  and  on  July  9,  1917, 
for  Camps  Pike  and  Travis.7 

On  June  22,  1917,  the  Quartermaster  General  acknowledged  by  letter  to 
the  Surgeon  General  the  receipt  of  the  plans  for  the  first  10  camps  which  had 
been  sent,  and  stated  that  the  available  funds  for  the  construction  of  build- 
ings at  the  cantonments  were  not  sufficient  to  cover  the  cost  of  the  erection 
of  hospitals.8  Acting  promptly  on  this  information,  the  Surgeon  General 
submitted  an  estimate  to  cover  the  deficiency,  and  on  June  25,  1917,  forwarded 
the  letter  of  the  Quartermaster  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff  by  an  indorse- 
ment in  which  he  stated  that  the  deficiency  estimate  had  been  made  and  he 
requested  that  the  Quartermaster  General  be  authorized,  in  the  emergency, 
to  proceed  with  construction  of  the  National  Army  hospitals.9  In  passing 
through  The  Adjutant  General’s  Office  an  indorsement  was  added  to  the 
letter  in  which  The  Adjutant  General  requested  the  Quartermaster  General 
102 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


103 


to  delay  action  for  a reasonable  length  of  time  to  determine  if  possible  what 
the  will  of  Congress  might  be.10  To  this  recpiest  of  The  Adjutant  General 
the  Quartermaster  General  replied  on  July  16,  1917,  stating  that  the  time 
had  come  when  a start  must  be  made  in  the  construction  of  the  hospital  part 
of  the  cantonments  if  the  whole  was  to  be  completed  together.11  On  the 
following  day  The  Adjutant  General  forwarded  to  the  Quartermaster  General 
the  instructions  and  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  proceed  with  the 
construction  of  hospital  facilities  for  3 per  cent  of  the  commands,12  and  on 
July  24  and  26  the  necessary  plans  and  instructions  were  sent  to  the  field  by 
the  Cantonment  Division  of  the  Quartermaster  General’s  Office.  Under  this 
authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War  the  construction  of  the  hospitals  at  the 
following  National  Army  cantonments  was  begun:  For  hospitals  of  1,000 
beds  each  at  Camps  Devens,  Dix,  Jackson,  Lewis,  Sherman,  Upton,  Custer, 
Lee,  Meade,  Taylor,  Grant,  and  Travis;  and  for  500-bed  hospitals  at  Camps 
Dodge,  Gordon,  and  Pike. 

The  strengths  of  troops  at  the  National  Army  camps,  with  the  dates 
when  the  first  sick  were  admitted  to  hospitals,13  were  as  follows: 


Camps. 

First  pa- 
tient re- 
ceived in 

Average  number  of 
troops  in  camps. 

canton- 

ment 

hospital. 

September, 

1917. 

October, 

1917. 

Upton 

Sept.  1.. 
Sept.  5.. 
Sept.  5.. 
Sept.  10. 
Sept.  13. 
Sept.  15. 
Sept.  21. 
Sept.  23. 
Sept.  27. 
Sept.  28. 

10,000 

8,500 

22,000 

29.000 

19.000 

28.000 
37,500 

23.000 

32.000 

27.000 

31.000 

Custer. 

Devens 

Lewis 

19,000 

Taylor 

14^ 500 

Sherman 

13 ! 000 

Travis 

13 000 

Lee 

12, 500 

Pike 

23, 000 
6, 000 

24' 000 

Meade 

17;  500 
17,500 

Gordon 

17, 000 
13,500 

Grant 

Oct.  14.. 

28, 500 
16,000 

23.000 

25.000 

Jackson 

Oct.  22. . 

13,000 

Dodge 

Oet.  28.. 

16,000 

Dix 

Oct.  29.. 

9;  000 

ADDITIONS  AND  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  base  hospitals,  as  orginally  constructed  at  the  National  Army  camps, 
were  of  pavilion  type  and  all  buildings  were  one-story,  nearly  all  being  con- 
nected by  corridor  without  steps.  Subsequently,  32  wards  (all  but  the  isola- 
tion and  psychiatric  wards)  were  connected  by  corridor  with  the  administra- 
tion, receiving  and  forwarding,  laboratory  and  X-ray,  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat, 
operating,  mess  and  kitchen,  and  exchange  buildings.14  The  whole  group 
covered  a rectangular  area  of  approximately  1,200  by  1,400  feet,  fronting 
on  a long  side.14  The  wards  were  placed  parallel  to  each  other  in  four  rows 
of  eight  wards  each,  running  from  front  to  rear.  Between  the  inner  two  rows, 
and  from  front  to  rear,  were  the  laboratory  and  X-ray  building,  the  operating 
pavilion,  the  exchange,  mess  hall  and  kitchen,  in  the  order  given.  In  front  of 
the  center  was  the  administration  building  and  to  its  right  the  receiving  anti 
forwarding  buddings.  The  nurses’  quarters  were  on  one  front  corner,  the 
officers’  ward  on  the  other;  the  isolation  and  psychiatric  wards  on  one  rear 


104 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


corner,  and  the  quarters  for  the  enlisted  personnel  on  the  other.  To  the  rear 
of  the  latter  two  were  the  utilities  and  the  storage  buildings.  The  officers’ 
quarters  were  in  front,  but  across  the  street  and  facing  the  hospital.  All 
buildings  were  of  frame;  but  all  had  modern  equipment  and  fixtures,  plumb- 
ing and  sewerage,  steam  heating,  cooking,  and  sterilizing. 

There  were  originally  about  60  or  70  buildings  in  each  National  Army  base 
hospital  group.  Subsequent  conditions  necessitated  augmenting  this  number 
to  80  or  90  and  in  some  instances  even  to  100. 15 


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CAPACITY  SHOWN 

1000  BEDS 


Fia.  57- — Block  plan  of  base  hospitals  as  originally  constructed. 


The  corridors  connecting  the  buildings  were  10  feet  wide  and  in  northern 
cantonments  were  inclosed.  This  corridor  width  was  not  essential  to  normal 
uses,  but  it  was  so  constructed  for  expansion  space  for  personnel  and  convales- 
cents. There  was  a mile  of  linear  corridor  space  in  the  hospital,  so  constructed 
as  to  eliminate  the  necessity  for  steps  up  or  down  into  any  building.11 

The  administration  building  (B)  soon  proved  to  be  too  small  at  most 
places,  mainly  because  administrative  requirements  had  increased  and  extra 
administrative  staffs  had  been  instituted  for  training  for  other  base  and 
evacuation  hospitals.16  It  was  also  found  more  advantageous  to  have  the 
dispensary  located  in  the  receiving  building.  This  was  done  in  later  con- 
struction work,  thereby  necessitating  an  increase  in  floor  space.1  ihe  labor- 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


105 


atory  and  X-ray  building  (F)  soon  became  inadequate  in  size  at  all  the  large 
camps;16  and  it  was  enlarged  to  make  possible  the  growing  scope  of  work,  not 
only  in  connection  with  the  hospital,  but  with  that  in  the  nature  of  public 
health  control  in  the  military  communities.18 


Fig.  58.— Inclosed  corridor,  connecting  buildings. 

The  surgical  pavilion  (G)  was  enlarged  at  all  the  large  camps.19  The 
necessity  for  this  was  occasioned  largely  by  the  acceptance  of  men  for  service 
who  had  disabilities  considered  removable  by  surgical  procedures. 


Fig.  59. — Typical  one-story  ward  of  temporary  construction. 

The  refrigerating  area  and  the  mess  hall  were  enlarged  in  the  larger  hos- 
pitals; and  the  diet  kitchen,  in  newer  designs,  was  placed  nearer  the  passage,  to 
be  of  easier  access  to  food  conveyances.20 

The  single  ward  (K-l)  and  the  double  ward  (L-l)  were  the  wards  which 
cared  for  the  great  majority  of  the  sick.21  The  former  predominated  in  number 


106 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  size.  Little  change  was  made  in  these  wards  during  the  war  except  to 
increase  the  number  of  quiet  rooms,  to  provide  more  doors  giving  access  to  the 
porch,  and  to  bring  the  utility  room  nearer  to  the  ward  proper.22  The  con- 


Fig  • 60. — Portion  of  the  isolation  section  of  a base  hospital. 


struction  of  the  double  ward  (L— 1) , with  common  toilet  and  interior  connection, 
provided  because  of  economy  in  plumbing  at  all  the  camp  base  hospitals,  was 
discontinued,  due  to  the  many  objections  incident  to  a detached  common 


Fig.  61.— Portion  of  the  psychiatric  ward. 


toilet  area  not  under  close  observation.  The  isolation  ward  (M)  was  commonly 
used  at  the  first  camps.  It  was  changed  in  later  construction  to  provide 
smaller  and  a greater  number  of  isolation  rooms  and  to  allow  varied,  and  greater 


CONSTRUCTION'  AND  IMPROVEMENT.  107 

separation  of,  food  and  utensil  service.23  Little,  if  any,  change  was  made  in  the 
original  plan  for  the  psychiatric  ward  (R-2). 

The  two-story  ward  barrack  building  was  developed  and  used  in  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  hospitals  of  the  National  Army  early  in  19 IS.34  The  interior 
arrangement  provided  four  wards,  two  on  each  floor,  each  with  a toilet  room 
and  two  small  rooms.  On  each  floor,  in  the  center  of  the  building  and  between 
the  wards,  was  a common  day  room.  The  plan  was  to  have  these  ward  barracks 
located  as  near  to  the  hospital  group  as  possible,  to  enhance  their  availability 
and  to  reduce  the  distance  between  them  and  the  central  mess  and  kitchen.25 
At  some  hospitals,  however,  the  mistaken  impression  was  gained  that  these 
buildings  were  to  constitute  a separate  convalescent  hospital  and  that  a sepa- 
rate mess  and  kitchen  would  be  built  for  the  group.26  As  a result,  at  some 
cantonments,  they  were  located  at  a distance  from  the  hospital  proper  and  laid 
out  as  a separate  colony  rather  than  as  an  integral  part  of  the  hospital.27 


Fig.  62. — Exterior  of  a typical  ward  barrack. 


In  addition  to  the  provision  of  hospitals  the  appropriation  for  construc- 
tion and  repair  of  hospitals  provided  certain  buildings  in  the  camp  proper.28 
A regimental  infirmary  was  built  for  each  regiment  in  every  cantonment.29 
The  purpose  of  the  regimental  infirmary  was  to  afford  housing  for  the  Medical 
Department  enlisted  personnel  of  the  regiment  and  space  for  offices,  for  physi- 
cal examinations,  for  out-patient  treatment,  and  a dispensary.  It  was  not 
intended  that  sick  be  given  hospital  care  here.  However,  in  the  early  period 
of  the  camps,  when  the  hospital  facilities  were  not  quite  sufficient  to  cope  with 
the  large  number  of  sick  from  the  raw  troops  in  training,16  these  infirmaries, 
in  addition  to  being  used  as  it  was  originally  intended  they  should  be,  were 
also  extensively  used  at  the  cantonments  for  the  hospital  care  of  the  sick.30 
One  dental  infirmary  was  built  for  each  National  Army  cantonment  and  was 
located  centrally  in  the  camp  area.31  In  towns  or  cities  adjacent  to  the  can- 
tonments, ar  at  the  cantonments,  early  treatment  stations  were  provided  for 
the  administration  of  venereal  prophylactic  treatment.  The  stations  varied 
in  number,  and  were  either  constructed  or,  as  was  usually  the  case,  provided  in 


108 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


existent,  buildings.32  In  the  early  period  of  the  camps,  when  the  hospital 
facilities  were  not  quite  sufficient  to  cope  with  the  large  number  of  sick  from 
the  raw  troops  in  training,16  these  infirmaries,  in  addition  to  serving  the  num- 


bers for  which  they  were  built,  were  extensively  used  at  the  cantonments  for 
the  sick  requiring  treatment.30 

HOSPITALS  AT  NATIONAL  GUARD  CAMPS. 

HOSPITALS  NOT  INCLUDED  IN  PRELIMINARY  PLANS. 

On  May  29,  1917,  when  the  Chief  of  Staff  directed  that  the  National  Army- 
cantonments  be  built,  he  stated  that  the  National  Guard  housing  would  be 
made  the  subject  of  a subsequent  communication.33  On  July  13,  1917,  in- 
structions were  issued  to  the  Quartermaster  General  to  proceed  with  the  con- 
struction of  16  camps  for  the  National  Guard,  6 to  be  ready  for  occupancy 
August  1,  6 August  15,  and  the  remainder  September  l.34 

No  early  provision  Avas  made  for  the  construction  of  hospitals  at  the 
National  Guard  camps.35  The  Surgeon  General,  therefore,  requested  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  June  28,  1917,  to  reserve  adequate  tentage  for  tent 
hospitals  for  the  National  Guard  camps.35  Because  of  the  fact  that  no  tentage 
was  available  in  the  Quartermaster  Department,36  it  was  directed  that  the 
tentage  stored  in  the  field  medical  supply  depots  be  used.3.  This  Medical 
Department  tentage  was  a part  of  the  equipment  of  sanitary  units,  namely, 
department  hospitals,  field  hospitals,  etc.,  equipment  which  had  been  slowly 
acquired  after  years  of  planning  and  effort  and  Avliich  Avould  soon  be  needed  in 
actual  service  at  the  front.38  The  tentage  referred  to  was  insufficient  for  the 
16  National  Guard  camps,38  and  for  this  reason,  as  Avell  as  the  disinclination  to 
divert  its  use,  reconsideration  of  the  instructions  was  urgently  requested  and 
further  representation  A\ms  made  by  the  Surgeon  General  that  there  be  proper 
provision  to  shelter  the  sick  at  the  camps. 3S  A period  of  inactivity  followed, 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


109 


and  at  the  end  of  a month  the  Surgeon  General  stated  that  the  question  of 
adequate  hospital  provision  had  been  delayed  to  the  point  of  danger  and 
requested  the  Chief  of  Staff  to  authorize  the  construction  of  frame  hospitals 
and  infirmaries  for  the  National  Guard  troops.39  On  July  26,  1917,  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  authorized  the  construction  of  temporary  hospitals  for  the 
National  Guard.39  Anticipating  the  probability  of  this  authorization,  the 
Surgeon  General,  on  July  17,  1917,  had  provided  the  Quartermaster  General 
with  preliminary  plans  and  form  letters,  for  each  camp,  requesting  con- 
struction.40 The  War  Department  authority  provided  for  the  construction  of 
hospital  facilities  for  3 per  cent  of  the  original  personnel  allotted  to  each  camp.41 
The  authorized  number  of  hospital  beds  for  each  National  Guard  camp,  the 
average  strength  of  the  commands  at  the  camps  for  the  first  two  months,  and 
the  coincident  degree  of  hospital  completion,  were  as  follows:13 


Camps. 

Number 
of  beds 
originally 
author- 

Per  cent  com- 
pleted— 

First  sick 
received  in 
new  camp 
hospital. 

Average  strength  of 
command  for  first 
two  months  after 
opening. 

ized. 

Sept.  15. 

Oct.  15. 

September. 

October. 

500 

25 

80 

Oct.  14,1917 
Aug.  22,1917 

4,500 
15, 000 

7, 500 

800 

54 

99 

31,000 

800 

40 

99 

Sept,  i;  1917 

12;  000 
«12, 000 

22^  000 

800 

25 

66 

623.000 

611.000 

41.000 

28.000 

15. 500 

22. 500 

500 

10 

50 

Jan.  4, 1918 
Sept.  17,1917 
Oct.  14,1917 

500 

Greene 

1,000 

52 

95 

38, 500 
27,000 
5, 000 

800 

20 

75 

500 

10 

50 

Sept.  1,1917 
Sept.  15,1917 
Sept.  12, 1917 
Sept.  27, 1917 
Sept.  21, 1917 
Sept.  26, 1917 
Oct.  9,1917 

500 

80 

100 

14; 500 

800 

95 

98 

5, 500 

27, 500 

1,000 

500 

35 

90 

15.000 

12. 000 

16.000 
16, 000 

24; 000 

23, 500 

Sevier 

25 

95 

500 

83 

100 

23^  000 
21,000 

Sheridan 

800 

20 

50 

1,000 

77 

90 

Oct.  8,1917 
Oct.  17,1917 

22;  500 
5,000 

31',  000 

23,000 

Wheeler 

500 

10 

25 

a January,  1918.  6 February,  1918. 


ADDITIONS  AND  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  hospitals  as  originally  authorized  for  the  National  Guard  camps 
were  similar  to  those  for  the  National  Army  cantonments.  The  block  plan  was 
exactly  the  same.14  The  important  differences  were  that  central  heating, 
steam  cooking,  plumbing,  sewerage,  and  interior  lighting  and  ceiling,  were  not 
authorized.14  These  necessities,  except  central  heating,  were  authorized  by 
the  Secretary  of  War  in  October  and  December,  1917,  and  the  work  of  instal- 
lation proceeded  as  rapidly  as  possible.42  They  were  not  authorized  earlier 
because  of  the  intention  to  evacuate  the  troops  from  these  camps  before  cold 
weather.  The  lack  of  these  necessities  was  sorely  felt  in  the  hospitals  in  the 
early  months  of  their  operation.16 

After  the  hospitals  had  been  completed,  various  additions  and  improve- 
ments were  made  from  time  to  time.  The  most  important  of  these  was  the 
addition  of  ward  barracks,  varying  in  number  at  the  different  camps  to  allow 
for  from  250  to  500  additional  patients,  depending  upon  the  total  strength  of 
the  camp  commands. 

As  in  the  National  Army  cantonments,  the  original  hospitals,  built  at  the 
authorized  bed  capacity  of  3 per  cent,  were  too  small.43  Additional  quarters 


110 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  I1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


for  personnel,  improvements  in  cooking  and  lighting  facilities,  and  additions 
to  laboratory,  receiving  and  operating  buildings,  were  a few  of  the  many  im- 
portant items  of  subsequent  additional  construction.44 

Regimental  infirmaries  similar  to  those  in  the  National  Army  canton- 
ments were  provided  the  National  Guard  camps,  one  to  each  regiment,  and  here, 
even  more  than  with  the  National  Army  troops,  these  buildings,  in  addition 
to  their  regimental  work,  were  used  extensively  until  conditions  were  settled 
in  the  hospitals.30 

Two  dental  infirmaries  were  constructed  at  each  camp  and  located  cen- 
trally, to  make  them  readily  accessible  to  the  training  troops.31 

GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 

Four  general  hospitals  functioned  as  a part  of  the  Army  in  the  United 
States  prior  to  April,  1917.  The  capacity  of  each  of  these  hospitals,  with  the 
exception  of  that  of  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  was  markedly  expanded  by  the  pro- 
vision of  temporary  construction  from  time  to  time.  In  this  temporary  con- 
struction, as  was  the  case  with  each  general  hospital  constructed,  the  projects 
were  individual  in  character  and  for  that  reason  the  subject  of  additions  and 
improvements  will  be  considered  subsequently  in  the  discussion  of  separate 
general  hospital  histories. 

PORT  HOSPITALS. 

Two  ports  were  used  for  embarkation  and  debarkation  :45  One  at  Hoboken, 
N.  J.,  the  other  at  Newport  News,  Va.  The  debarkation  of  sick  and  wounded 
was  provided  for  at  both  places.46 

The  sick  and  wounded  concerned  were  divided  into  two  principal  classes, 
those  from  embarking  troops  and  those  returned  sick  or  wounded  from  over- 
seas. It  was  anticipated  that  the  first  class  would  have  to  be  cared  for  as 
soon  as  embarkation  began;  the  home  care  of  the  second  class  was  not  viewed 
as  a problem  demanding  early  solution.43 

The  following  hospitals  were  provided  at  the  ports  during  the  war:  At 
Hoboken,  N.  J. : General  Hospital  No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  New  York  City  (a  port 
hospital  part  of  the  time);  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Merritt,  Tenafly,  N.  J. ; Base 
Hospital,  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.;  Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1,  New 
York  City;  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1 (formerly  St.  Mary’s  Hospital),  Ho- 
boken, N.  J.;  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Secaucus,  N.  J.;  Embarkation 
Hospital  No.  3,  Hoffman  Island,  N.  Y.;  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  (formerly 
Polyclinic  Hospital),  New  York  City;  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Fox  Hills, 
Staten  Island  (was  General  Hospital  No.  41  part  of  the  time);  Debarkation 
Hospital  No.  3 (formerly  Greenhut  Building),  New  York  City;  Debarkation 
Hospital  No.  4 (formerly  Nassau  Hotel),  Long  Beach,  Long  Island  (was  General 
Hospital  No.  39  part  of  the  time) ; Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5 (formerly  Grand 
Central  Palace  Building),  New  York  City.  At  Newport  News,  Ya. : Embarka- 
tion Hospital,  Camp  Stewart,  Newport  News,  Ya.;  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  51 
(formerly  Soldiers’  Home),  Hampton,  Va.  (was  General  Hospital  No.  43  part  of 
the  time);  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  (formerly  General  Hospital  No.  22, 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


Ill 


Richmond  College),  Richmond,  Va.  All  of  these  hospitals  were  not  in  use  at 
the  same  time;  the  majority  of  them,  however,  were  in  use  simultaneously  late 
in  the  war  period.  The  hospital  at  Camp  Merritt  and  the  embarkation  hospitals 
were  provided  first  and  were  used  to  care  for  the  sick  developing  at  the  ports, 
particularly  among  troops  encamped  and  awaiting  transport.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  which  was  procured  early,  the  debarkation 
hospitals  were  developed  later  to  receive  the  sick  and  wounded  from  abroad. 

Figure  152  (p.  426)  shows  the  available  beds  and  the  number  of  beds  occupied 
in  the  embarkation  and  debarkation  hospitals  at  Hoboken  and  Newport  News. 

As  was  the  case  with  the  general  hospitals  provided,  the  plans  for  embar- 
kation and  debarkation  hospitals  differed  materially  one  from  the  other  and 
will  he  given  further  consideration  in  the  discussion  of  the  separate  hospital 
histories. 

MISCELLANEOUS  HOSPITALS. 

Many  hospitals  were  constructed,  exclusive  of  general,  camp,  base,  and 
port  hospitals.  As  they  do  not  fall  conveniently  into  a simple  classification, 
they  have  been  grouped  as  miscellaneous  hospitals.  These  varied  greatly  in 
size.  Some  were  larger  than  many  of  the  general  hospitals;  others  were  quite 
small;  some  were  really  infirmaries,  provided  for  emergency  work  only;  a few 
consisted  merely  of  room  primarily  intended  for  other  purposes.  They  were 
constructed  at  various  times  during  the  war;  therefore,  some  represent  early 
work,  others  the  most  recent  and  best  hospital  construction  work  that  was  done. 
Many  were  necessitated  because  of  the  establishment  of  separate  camps  of 
instruction  apart  from  other  camps,  cantonments,  or  posts.  Large  storage 
depots,  shell-filling  plants,  temporary  arsenals,  proving  grounds,  chemical 
experiment  stations,  port  terminals,  and  a host  of  other  large  special  military 
activities  required  hospital  or  infirmary  construction.  Of  these  miscellaneous 
hospitals,  eight  were  more  important  than  the  others,  at  least  in  point  of  size. 
These  were:  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex.;  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley 
Ivans.,  which  served  as  a base  hospital  for  the  National  Army  troops  at  Camp 
Funston;  Camp  Hospital,  Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Jacksonville,  Fla. ; Camp 
Hospital,  Edgewood  Arsenal,  Edgewood,  Md.;  Camp  Hospital,  Camp  Abraham 
Eustis,  Lee  Hall,  Va.;  Camp  Hospital,  Camp  Humphreys,  Accotink,  Va. ; Camp 
Hospital,  Camp  Knox,  West  Point,  Ivy.;  and  Camp  Hospital,  Camp  Bragg, 
Fayetteville,  N.  C. 

At  the  following  places  there  were  hospital  facilities,  the  bed  capacity  of 
none  exceeding  200: 13 

Raritan  Arsenal,  Metuchen,  N.  J.,  200-bed  hospital. 

Norfolk  Terminal,  Norfolk,  Va.,  150-bed  hospital. 

Camp  Forest,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Glenburne,  Glenburne,  Md.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Benning,  Columbus,  Ga.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Perry,  Port  Clinton,  Ohio,  small  hospital. 

Camp  Crane,  Allentown,  Pa.,  small  hospital. 

Camp  Greenleaf,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Holabird,  Baltimore,  Md.,  small  hospital. 

Camp  Jessup,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Normoyle,  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  infirmary. 


112 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Camp  Meigs,  Washington,  D.  C.,  infirmary. 

Disciplinary  Barracks,  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kans.,  small  permanent  hospital. 

Aberdeen  Proving  Ground,  Aberdeen,  Md.,  emergency  hospital. 

Port  Newark  Terminal,  Newark,  N.  J.,  infirmary. 

Ordnance  Depot,  Middletown,  Pa.,  infirmary. 

Ordnance  Depot,  New  Cumberland,  Pa.,  infirmary. 

Supply  Base,  Fort  Wood,  N.  Y.,  infirmary. 

Storage  Depot,  Chicago,  111.,  infirmary. 

Storage  Depot,  Columbus,  Ohio,  infirmary. 

Storage  Depot,  Jeffersomdlle,  Ind.,  infirmary. 

Storage  Depot,  New  Cumberland,  Pa.,  infirmary. 

Storage  Depot,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  infirmary. 

Storage  Depot,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  infirmary. 

Storage  Depot,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  infirmary. 

Picric  Acid  Plant,  Little  Bock,  Ark.,  infirmary. 

Supply  Base,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  infirmary. 

Tank  Corps  Camp,  Asheville,  N.  C.,  infirmary. 

Bush  Terminal,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Colt,  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  infirmary. 

Lakehurst  Proving  Ground,  N.  J.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Alexander,  Newport  News,  Va.,  infirmary. 

Delaware  General  Supply  Odnance  Depot,  Pedricktown,  N.  J.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  infirmary. 

Camp  Willoughby,  Ohio,  infirmary. 

HOSPITAL  BEDS  AVAILABLE  ON  ARMISTICE  DAY. 

On  November  11,  1918,  there  were  in  the  United  States,  excluding  hospitals 
of  small  size  and  the  camp  hospitals,  92  large  hospitals  with  a combined  bed 
capacity  of  120,916,  and  additions  authorized,  or  under  construction,  which 
would  have  furnished  a total  capacity  of  147,636  beds.  This  represented  S9 
new  hospitals  which  had  been  opened,  many  completely  constructed.47 

In  addition  to  the  hospitals  already  in  operation,  projects  were  under  way, 
buildings  had  been  leased,  and  work  begun  which  would  have  made  available 
approximately  60,000  more  beds  in  Army  hospitals  in  the  United  States.  Two 
procurement  boards  were  in  the  field  with  a long  list  of  cities  to  be  visited  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  more  hospitals. 

Table  7. — Hospital  beds  available  on  Armistice  Day.*' 


Standard 
capacity 
of  hos- 
pital. 

Bed  situation,  Nov.  11, 191S. 

Additional  capacity 
by  new  construc- 
tion or  by  lease  of 
buildings. 

Occupied. 

Vacant. 

Total. 

Number 
of  beds. 

Per  cent 
of  com- 
pletion. 

GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 

266 

151 

139 

290 

1,046 

1,0S0 

316 

1,796 

i;368 
1,  S50 

1;  917 

4S9 

l'406 

Walter  Reed,  D.  C 

1, 675 

S02 

2;  477 

90 

No.  1.  Williamsbridge,  N.Y.  (under  surgeon,  Port  of  Em- 

No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 

1,200 

392 

1, 150 
1,600 

1,  S40 

1, 600 
322 

1, 185 

415 

287 

35 

322 

No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y 

660 

6S1 

1, 338 
2, 000 

418 

$7 

2,000 

102 

1, 369 

631 

No.  7,  Baltimore,  Md 

29 

73 

102 

CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


113 


Table  7. — Hospital  beds  available  on  Armistice  Day  — Continued. 


Standard 
capacity 
of  hos- 
pital. 

Bed  situation,  Nov.  11, 1918. 

Additional  capacity 
by  new  construc- 
tion or  by  lease  of 
buildings . 

Occupied. 

Vacant. 

Total. 

Number 
of  beds. 

Per  cent 
of  com- 
pletion. 

general  nospiTAis — continued. 

No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y 

579 

570 

9 

No.  9’  Lakewood,  N.  J 

932 

773 

136 

909 

No.  10,  Boston,  Mass 

1,700 

50 

No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J 

700 

598 

102 

700 

No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C 

451 

346 

245 

591 

No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y 

250 

No.  14,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga 

1, 300 

1,845 

0 

1,  845 

No.  15,  Corpus  Christi,"  Tex 

252 

' 165 

109 

'274 

No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn 

500 

530 

0 

530 

No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa 

130 

217 

0 

217 

36 

No.  18,  Waynesville,  N.  C. 

200 

564 

36 

600 

No.  19,  Oteen  (Azalea),  N.  C 

900 

845 

55 

900 

600 

84 

No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz 

328 

351 

18 

369 

No.  21,  Denver,  Colo ' 

380 

163 

217 

3S0 

736 

50 

No.  22,  Richmond,  Va 

1,  000 

319 

6S1 

1,000 

No.  23,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C 

650 

8 

No.  24,  Parkview  Station,  Pittsburgh,  Pa 

200 

8 

192 

200 

1,000 

65 

No.  25,  Fort  Benj.  Harrison,  Ind 

500 

467 

228 

695 

No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa 

1,  224 

1,  428 

0 

1,428 

No.  27,  Fort  Douglas,  Utah 

150 

129 

289 

'418 

568 

0 

No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111 

198 

104 

80 

184 

4,  780 

25 

No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn 

931 

156 

372 

528 

No. 30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y... 

900 

644 

256 

900 

No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa 

35 

9 

26 

35 

500 

50 

No.33,  Fort  Logan  H.  Roots,  Ark 

500 

380 

205 

585 

No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass 

340 

203 

129 

332 

No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind 

1,000 

0 

575 

575 

425 

0 

No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich 

200 

No.  37,  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y 

112 

11 

101 

112 

350 

80 

Total 

24, 156 

19,357 

8,010 

27, 367 

14,  629 

CAMP  BASE  HOSPITALS. 

Beauregard,  La 

1, 178 

743 

687 

1,440 

Bowie,  Tex 

l'  486 

787 

709 

1,  496 

Cody,  N.  Mex 

1,342 

1,265 

0 

1,  265 

Custer,  Mich 

1, 858 

1,535 

323 

1.858 

270 

10 

Devens,  Mass 

1,610 

1,  382 

1,  358 

2,  740 

Dix,  N.  J 

1, 978 

1,232 

'952 

2, 184 

Dodge,  Iowa 

l'  954 

1, 305 

891 

2, 196 

Edgewood  Arsenal,  Md 

'314 

286 

147 

433 

Eustis,  Abraham,  Va 

1,007 

635 

121 

756 

24 

98 

Fremont,  Calif 

1,002 

674 

893 

1,567 

Funston,  Kans.  (see  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Ivans  ) 

Gordon,  Ga 

1,  S22 

1,299 

902 

2,201 

Grant,  111 

1, 978 

1, 139 

1,  419 

2, 558 

1,000 

2 

Greene,  N.  C 

1, 563 

931 

650 

1,584 

Hancock,  Ga 

l'  518 

1,980 

592 

2,572 

Humphreys,  A.  A.,  Va 

'613 

594 

184 

'778 

858 

1 

Jackson,  S.  C 

2,016 

2,  506 

3, 154 

Johnston,  Jos.  E.,  Fla 

833 

'703 

280 

983 

Kearny,  Calif 

957 

1, 074 

876 

1,950 

Lee,  Va 

1,953 

1,  186 

954 

2, 140 

808 

1 

Lewis,  Wash 

1,  997 

2, 195 

5 

2,200 

Logan,  Tex 

' 799 

820 

695 

MacArthur,  Tex 

1, 370 

1, 265 

1,  668 

2;  933 

McClellan,  Ala 

l'  693 

1, 564 

2,078 

3,642 

Meade.  Md 

l'  930 

'977 

'953 

1,930 

Pike,  Ark 

2,  009 

1,  433 

1, 307 

2,740 

Sevier,  S.  C 

l'23S 

1, 020 

' 478 

1,498 

Shelby,  Miss 

' 959 

1,  608 

336 

1,  944 

Sheridan,  Ala 

1, 310 

'925 

1, 131 

2,  056 

Sherman,  Ohio 

i;  833 

1.484 

'790 

2;  274 

428 

0 

Sill,  Fort,  Okla 

894 

417 

817 

1,234 

Taylor,  Ky 

1, 833 

3,709 

1,  416 

Travis,  Tex 

l'  997 

3'  479 

'903 

4,382 

Upton,  Long  Island,  N.  Y 

1,  739 

1,  265 

1, 141 

2,406 

Wadsworth,  S.  C 

l'  634 

l'  169 

'523 

1,  692 

Wheeler,  Ga 

l'  248 

i;  007 

293 

l'  300 

Total 

51, 665 

45, 593 

29, 039 

74,  632 

3,388 

45269°— 23- 


114 


military  hospitals  in  the  united  states. 


Table  7. — Hospital  beds  available  on  Armistice  Day — -Continued. 


Standard 
capacity 
of  hos- 
pital. 


Bed  situation,  Nov.  11,  1918. 


Occupied. 


Vacant. 


Total. 


MISCELLANEOUS  HOSPITALS. 


Under  surgeon,  port  of  embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J. 


General  Hospital  No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  N.  Y 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Merritt,  N.  J 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,  N.  Y 

Auxiliary  Hospital,  Rockefeller  Institute,  New  York  City. 
Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  St.  Mary’s  Hospital,  Ho- 
boken, N.  J 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Secaucus,  N.  J 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Hoffman  Island,  New  York 

Harbor 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  Polyclinic  Hospital,  New 

Y ork  City 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  42,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island, 

N.Y 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Greenhut  Building,  New 

Y ork  City 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach, 

Long  Island,  N.Y 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5,  Grand  Central  Palace,  New 
York  City 


1, 0S2 
3,500 
635 
45 

782 

270 

694 


1, 075 


1,808 


679 

2,264 

1,492 

40 

450 

143 

312 


307 

6S5 


471 

1, 150 

486 

2, 750 

122 

1,614 

5 

45 

350 

800 

214 

357 

382 

694 

76S 

1,075 

1,123 

1,  SOS 

Total 

Under  surgeon,  port  of  embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va. 


9,  S91 


6,572  j 3,921 


10, 293 


Base  Hospital,  Camp  Stuart,  Va 

Department  base  hospitals. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Bliss,  Tex 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Ivans 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. . 

Total 


RECAPITULATION. 

General  hospitals 

Camp  base  hospitals 

Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J 

Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va 
Department  base  hospitals 

Grand  total 


826 


1,544  I 


1, 373  2, 917 


882  519 

3,068  2,374 

1, 655  1, 205 


272  791 

694  3, 06S 

643  1,  S48 


5, 605 


4, 09S 


1,609 


24,156 
51, 665 
9,891 
826 
5, 605 


92, 143 


19, 357 
45, 593 
6,372 
1,544 
4,  09S 


76, 964 


8, 010 
29,039 
3, 921 
1,373 
1,609 


43, 952 


27, 367 
74, 632 
10,293 
2,917 
5, 707 


120, 916 


Additional  capacit  y 
by  new  construc- 
tion or  by  lease  of 
building.' 


Number 
of  beds. 

Per  cent 
of  com- 
pletion. 

500 

3, 130 

1,000 


3,408 
8, 03S 


385 


90 


280  C 

2S0  


14.629 


3,388 

8,038 

385 

280 


26, 720 


REFERENCES. 

(1)  Memorandum  from  Chief, War  College  Division,  General  Staff,  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  May  4, 

1917.  Subject:  Cantonments  for  National  Guard  and  additional  forces.  On  file,  Mail 
and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  O.,  2593945  (Old  Files). 

(2)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  June  12,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176796  (Old  Files). 

(3)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  June  13.  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176796  (Old  Files'). 

(4)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  June  18,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176796  (Old  Files). 

(5)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  June  23,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospital.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176796  (Old  Files). 

(6)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  July  5,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176796  (Old  Files). 

(7)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  Generaly  July  10,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176796  (Old  Files). 


CONSTRUCTION  AND  IMPROVEMENT. 


115 


(8)  Letter  from  officer  in  charge  cantonment  construction,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  22, 

1917.  Subject:  Estimate  for  construction  of  hospitals  at  cantonments  for  the  National 
Army.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  O.,  2637479  (Old  Files). 

(9)  First  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  June  25,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  hospitals.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  0.,  2637479  (Old  Files). 

(10)  Second  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  officer  in  charge,  cantonment  con- 

struction, June  28,  1917.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  0.,  2637479  (Old  Files). 

(11)  Third  indorsement  from  Quartermaster  General  to  Chief  of  Staff,  July  16,  1917.  Subject: 

Hospital  construction,  National  Army  cantonments.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division, 
A.  G.  0.,  632. 

(12)  Fourth  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  officer  in  charge,  cantonment  construc- 

tion, July  17, 1917.  Subject:  Approval.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  O.,  632. 

(13)  Compiled  from  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(14)  Shown  on  block  plans  of  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(15)  Shown  in  construction  requests,  hospitals  concerned.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(16)  Extracts  from  reports  of  sanitary  inspectors  made  during  the  World  War.  On  file,  Record 

Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721-1. 

(17)  Plan  J-3.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(18)  Memorandum  from  Major  Voorhees,  Sanitary  Corps,  S.  G.  0.,  to  Capt.  J.  H.  Clark,  construction 

division,  W.  D.,  September  25,  1918.  Subject:  Addition  to  X-ray  laboratory.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  Lab.  (General). 

(19)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  for  the  officer  in  charge  of 

cantonment  construction,  December  15,  1917.  Subject:  Operative  building  for  eye,  ear, 
nose,  etc.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (General). 

(20)  Letter  from  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  6,  1918. 

Subject:  Allotment  of  refrigeration  at  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Hospital  Division  (National 
Army,  General  File,  Mise.).  Plans  of  kitchen  and  mess  halls.  On  file,  Hospital  Division, 
S.  G.  0. 

(21)  Plan  Iv-25.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(22)  Shown  on  plans  of  different  hospital  wards.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(23)  Shown  on  plans  of  isolation  wards  (M-l).  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(24)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  December  26,  1917.  Subject: 

Hospital  records  at  National  Army  and  National  Guard  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632-11  (General). 

(25)  Telegram  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officer,  National  Army  and  National 

Guard  hospitals,  March  8,  1918.  Subject:  Location  of  two-story  ward  barracks.  On  file, 
Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0.  (National  Army  General  File).  Two-story  ward  barracks. 

(26)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dodge,  Iowa,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

May  8,  1918.  Subject:  Change  in  two-story  wards.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  652 
(Camp  Dodge)  B. 

(27)  Telegram  from  the  commanding  officer,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Custer,  Mich.,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  March  9,  1918.  Subject:  Location  of  two-story  ward  barracks.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Camp  Custer)  D.  Telegram  from  commanding  officer,  Base  Hospital, 
Camp  Gordon,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  9,  1918.  Subject:  Location  of  two-story 
ward  barracks.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Camp  Gordon)  D. 

(28)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  chairman,  Military  Committee,  House  of  Repre- 

sentatives, Washington,  D.  C.,  May  22,  1918.  Subject:  Appropriation  for  construction  and 
repair  of  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (General). 

(29)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  May  26,  1917.  Subject: 

Regimental  infirmary.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S'.  G.  0.,  176796-R  (Old  Files). 

(30)  Reports  from  division  surgeons  to  the  Surgeon  General,  various  dates.  Subject:  Regimental 

infirmaries.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0.  (National  Army  General  File),  Regimental 
Infirmaries. 

(31)  First  indorsement  from  hospital  division,  S.  G.  0.,  to  Finance  and  Supply  Division,  S.  G.  O., 

April  6,  1918.  Subject:  Dental  infirmaries.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Dental 
Infirmaries). 


116 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  TINT  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(32)  Weekly  report  from  section  of  venereal  diseases,  Division  of  Infectious  Diseases,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  October  13,  1917.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  Weekly  Report  File  (Venereal 
Control). 

(33)  Telegram  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  each  department,  May  29, 

1917.  Subject:  Construction  of  cantonments  for  National  Army  and  National  Guard. 
On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  0.,  2613846  (Old  Files  Section). 

(34)  Memoranda  from  the  Chief  of  Staff  to  The  Adjutant  General,  July  13,  1917.  Subject:  Con- 

struction work  at  National  Guard  divisional  training  camps.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record 
Division,  A.  G.  0.,  354.1  (Misc.  Sec.). 

(35)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  June  28,  1917.  Subject:  Tentage 

for  base  hospitals  for  camps  of  militia.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  174959-B  (Old  Files). 

(36)  Second  indorsement  from  Quartermaster  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  July  2,  1917. 

Subject:  Tentage.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  174959-B  (Old  Files). 

(37)  Third  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  July  6,  1917.  Sub- 

ject: Tentage.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  174959-B  (Old  Files). 

(38)  Fourth  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  July  12,  1917.  Sub- 

ject.: Tentage.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  174959-B  (Old  Files). 

(39)  Ninth  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  July  25,  1917.  Subject: 

Authority  to  construct  wood  hospitals  and  infirmaries  for  National  Guard  camps.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  174959  (Old  Files). 

(40)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  July  17,  1917.  Subject:  Hos- 

pitals for  National  Guard  camps.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  174959-B  (Old  Files). 

(41)  Memorandum  from  Chief  of  War  College  Division  to  Chief  of  Staff,  May  29,  1917.  Subject: 

Cantonment  construction  program.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  175339-c-l  (Old  Files). 

(42)  First  indorsement,  Cantonment  Division,  W.  D.,  to  Surgeon  General,  November  5,  1917. 

Subject:  Plumbing,  sewer,  lining,  and  ceiling  of  National  Guard  camp  base  hospitals.  On 
file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0.  (National  Guard  General  Files,  Plumbing  Facilities).  Letter 
from  Engineering  Branch,  W.  D.,  to  Surgeon  General,  April  4,  1918.  Subject:  Assistant 
Secretary  of  War’s  approval  of  installation  of  steam  cooking  for  National  Guard  camp 
hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (General). 

(43)  Memoranda  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  April  2,  1918.  Subject:  Hos- 

pitalization in  the  United  States.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (General  ). 

(44)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  W.  D.,  June  18,  1919.  Sub- 

ject: Record  of  authorization  of  funds.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632-1  (General  i. 

(45)  First  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  July  16,  1917.  Sub- 

ject: Ports  of  embarkation.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  1S8699-A  (Old  Files). 

(46)  Letter  from  surgeon,  port  of  embarkation,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  8,  1918.  Subject: 

Hospital  facilities.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Newport  News,  Va.)  N.  Letter 
from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  31,  1918.  Subject:  Accom- 
modations for  troops  and  other  casuals  returning  from  Europe.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  632  (Hoboken,  N.  J.)  N. 

(47)  Weekly  bed  report,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0.,  for  week  ending  November  11,  191S. 


SECTION  III. 

ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

DIFFERENTIATION  OF  GENERAL,  BASE,  AND  CAMP  HOSPITALS. 

Prior  to  the  war,  provision  had  been  made  for  the  establishment  of  various 
kinds  of  immobile  hospitals,  in  the  event  of  war,  to  care  for  the  sick  and 
wounded.  The  differentiation  of  these  hospitals  was  based  primarily  on  the 
military  reasons  for  their  separate  existence  at  a given  locality,  which  neces- 
sarily also  predetermined  their  character  and  magnitude;  and,  secondly,  the 
character  of  the  care  and  treatment  it  reasonably  could  be  presumed  they  would 
be  enabled  to  furnish  those  admitted  to  them.  The  military  elements  which 
influenced  their  location  and  their  character  placed  them  roughly  into  two 
groups,  viz:  Those  in  the  service  of  the  interior  and  those  in  the  field  of  opera- 
tions.1 The  hospitals  in  the  service  of  the  interior  included  camp  and  general 
hospitals;  base  hospitals  were  intended  for  the  theater  of  operations  in  the 
zone  of  the  line  of  communications.1 

CAMP  HOSPITALS. 

The  designation  camp  hospital  referred  to  a partially  immobilized  unit, 
organized  and  equipped  for  use  in  camps  where  the  care  of  sick  would  other- 
wise result  in  the  immobilization  of  field  hospitals  or  other  sanitary  for- 
mations pertaining  to  organizations.2 

The  equipment  and  personnel  of  a camp  hospit  al  varied  with  the  require- 
ments of  the  situation.  The  essential  feature  to  be  borne  in  mind  is  that  the 
activities  of  a camp  hospital  were  ordinarily  restricted  to  the  camp  in  which 
it  was  located. 

GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 

General  hospitals  were  maintained  for  the  following  purposes:3  (1)  To 
afford  better  facilities  than  could  be  provided  at  ordinary  military  hospitals 
for  the  study,  observation,  and  treatment  of  serious,  complicated,  or  obscure 
cases.  They  were  equipped  with  the  best  and  most  modern  apparatus  for  the 
study  and  treatment  of  such  cases  and  maintained  a specially  qualified  per- 
sonnel. (2)  They  offered  opportunities  for  the  performance  of  the  more  diffi- 
cult or  formidable  surgical  operations,  facilities  for  which  were  ordinarily 
lacking  at  other  classes  of  hospitals.  (3)  To  study  and  finally  dispose  of  cases 
that  resisted  prolonged  treatment  elsewhere  and  to  determine  questions  of 
existence,  cause,  extent,  and  permanence  of  mental  and  physical  disabilities 
of  long  standing  or  unusual  obscurity.  (4)  To  instruct  and  train  junior  medical 

117 


118 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


officers  in  general  professional  and  administrative  duties.  (5)  To  form  a 
nucleus  for  the  development  of  the  larger  hospitals  required  in  the  home  terri- 
tory in  time  of  war. 

General  hospitals  were  under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  Surgeon  General, 
except  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  administration  of  military  justice,  and 
were  governed  by  regulations  prescribed  by  the  Secretary  of  War.4  The  senior 
medical  officer  commanded  and  was  not  subject  to  orders  of  local  commanders 
other  than  those  of  territorial  departments  to  whom  specific  delegation  of  author- 
ity may  have  been  made.4 

The  standard  size  of  general  hospitals,  contemplated  prior  to  the  war, 
was  500  beds.5  Complete  plans  and  specifications  for  the  erection  of  tempo- 
rary hospitals  of  this  capacity,  for  use  in  time  of  war  or  other  emergency, 
were  prepared  and  kept  on  file  in  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General.6  General 
hospitals  were  ordinarily  self-contained:  being  apart  from  concentrated  troops 
they  were  of  necessity  provided  an  independent  water  supply,  sewage  dis- 
posal system,  power  plant,  electric  service,  etc.;  whereas  in  hospitals  erected 
for  local  service,  these  utilities  were  a subsidiary  part  of  those  provided  for 
organizations  served.  Being  established  apart  from  other  troops,  general 
hospitals  cared  for  sick  and  wounded  from  diverse  localities  in  which  commands 
were  operating,  and  for  this  reason  were  known  as  general  hospitals,  rather 
than  from  the  fact  that  within  them  diseases  and  injuries  of  a diversified  char- 
acter were  treated.  In  the  former  sense,  the  term  was  first  used  in  America 
in  application  to  the  general  hospital  instituted  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  for  troops 
of  the  Colonial  Army  during  the  American  Revolution.7 

BASE  HOSPITALS. 

The  designation  base  hospital  was  primarily  intended  for  the  class  of 
hospitals,  of  500-bed  capacity,  normally  established  in  the  line  of  communi- 
cations— a part  of  the  theater  of  operations — for  the  reception  of  patients  from 
the  field  and  evacuation  hospitals,  as  well  as  cases  originating  in  the  line  of 
communications,  and  to  give  them  definitive  treatment.  It  was  intended  that 
they  should  be  well  equipped  for  such  treatment,  so  that  it  would  be  necessary 
to  send  to  home  territory  only  patients  requiring  special  treatment,  or  those 
who  might  be  in  such  condition  as  to  be  regarded  as  either  permanently  disabled 
or  likely  not  to  recover  within  a reasonable  time.8  It  was  presumed  that  these 
base  hospitals  would  remain  more  or  less  fixed,  geographically;  but  provisions 
were  made  for  their  replacement  in  some  more  advanced  situation,  made  essen- 
tial by  the  movements  of  armies.  For  this  reason  the  housing  equipment  was 
normally  tentage,9  but  existing  buildings  were  to  be  used  when  suitable  and 
available.10 

The  first  application  of  the  designation,  in  peace  times,  was  to  the  post 
hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex.,  when,  on  November  3,  1915,  it  was  officially 
designated  a base  hospital  by  the  Secretary  of  War.11  On  September  28,  1916, 
this  hospital  became  the  Department  Base  Hospital  No.  I;12  and  shortly  there- 
after four  more  department  base  hospitals  were  established.  Nos.  2 to  5,  inclu- 
sive, in  the  Southern  Department.13  All  these  base  hospitals  functioned  to 
give  definitive  treatment  to  members  of  variously  situated  commands  within  the 
department  in  which  they  were  located,  which  was  presumed  to  be  more  highly 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


119 


specialized  than  was  possible  of  attainment  in  the  smaller  hospitals.  They 
operated  under  the  supervision  of  the  department  surgeon.  In  this  respect 
they  differed  from  general  hospitals,  which,  as  has  been  mentioned,  were 
supervised  directly  by  the  Surgeon  General,  as  well  as  in  the  fact  that  patients 
might  be  transferred  from  them  to  general  hospitals  for  more  formidable 
operations  or  more  highly  specialized  treatment.  The  general  hospitals  rep- 
resented the  Army’s  ultimate  recourse  in  hospitalization. 

MODIFIED  APPLICATION  OF  THE  DESIGNATION  BASE  HOSPITAL  DURING  THE 

WAR. 

The  plan  for  National  Army  cantonments  14  and  National  Guard  camps  15 
contemplated  the  provision  of  a base  hospital  of  1,000  beds  for  each  cantonment 
and  camp. 

The  numerical  designations  of  these  hospitals  were  selected  from  blocks  of 
numbers  as  follows:16  For  base  hospitals  in  National  Army  cantonments,  in  a 
series  beginning  with  101;  for  base  hospitals  in  National  Guard  camps,  in  a 
series  beginning  with  301.  Later,  this  system  of  designation  was  changed  to 
provide  a single  series  of  numbers  for  all  base  hospitals,  beginning  with  number 
one.17  To  eliminate  the  confusion  that  arose  incident  to  base  hospitals  in  the 
United  States  and  those  intended  for,  or  actually  with  the  American  Expedi- 
tionary Forces,  bearing  the  same  designation  numbers,  instructions  were 
issued  by  the  War  Department  directing  the  designation  of  all  base  hospitals, 
other  than  those  on  or  destined  for  service  overseas,  by  the  locality  in  which 
they  were  situated.18  A numbered  base  hospital  at  a given  cantonment  or 
camp  then  became  officially  known  as  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital, 
Camp  Blank,  by  practice  abbreviated  to  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Blank.  As  a 
class  these  base  hospitals  at  the  large  cantonments  and  camps  were  frequently 
referred  to  as  camp  base  hospitals,  to  distinguish  them  from  the  department 
base  hospitals.19 

DIVIDING  LINE  BETWEEN  BASE  HOSPITAL  AND  CAMP. 

Army  regulations  gave  to  territorial  department  commanders  the  command 
of  all  military  forces  within  the  limits  of  their  respective  commands,  except 
those  exempted  by  the  Secretary  of  War.20  The  War  Department,  in  the 
summer  of  1917,  included  divisions  to  be  organized  among  forces  exempted 
from  departmental  command;21  and,  in  October  of  the  same  year,  added  troops 
“attached  thereto,”  to  the  exempted  list,22  placing  the  latter  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  camp  or  division  commanders.23  This  latter  provision  made  the 
base  hospital  clearly  a unit  of  the  camp;  and  gave  to  the  camp  surgeon,  on  the 
staff  of  the  commanding  general  of  the  camp,  supervisory  control  of  the  sanita- 
tion of  the  hospital.24 

It  was  the  desire  of  the  Surgeon  General  that  camp  surgeons  should  not 
interfere  in  any  way  with  the  internal  administration  of  base  hospitals,25  but 
that  the  commanding  officers  thereof  should  be  given  every  opportunity  to 
function  independently,  as  contemplated  in  Army  Regulations.26  He  there- 
fore issued  instructions  early  in  the  war  period  defining  what  connection  base 
hospitals  would  have  with  the  War  Department,  both  directly  and  indirectly.27 
In  these  instructions  it  was  specified  that  the  sick  and  wounded  reports  should 


120 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


be  forwarded  to  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  direct,  that  the  hospital  fund 
statement  should  be  approved  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital,  that 
no  separate  sanitary  report  would  be  made  by  the  hospital  but  that  the  hospital 
should  be  included  in  the  general  camp  sanitary  report.  It  was  further  speci- 
fied that  commissioned  personnel  of  base  hospitals  would  be  assigned  by  War 
Department  orders,  which  fact  precluded  reassignment  except  by  the  same 
authority. 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916,  par.  586. 

(2)  Ibid.,  par.  602. 

(3)  Ibid.,  par.  283. 

(4)  A.  R.  1439,  1913. 

(5)  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916,  par.  2S9. 

(6)  Plans  and  specifications  for  base  and  stationary  hospitals.  Surgeon  General's  Office,  October 

30,  1906.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(7)  Brown,  H.  E.,  Medical  Department  of  the  United  States  Army,  1775-1S73.  Office  of  the 

Surgeon  General,  1873,  15. 

(8)  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916,  par.  762. 

(9)  Ibid.,  par.  892. 

(10)  Ibid.,  par.  757. 

(11)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  October  9,  1915.  Subject:  Base 

Hospital  at  Fort  Sam  Houston;  and  third  indorsement  thereon.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  O.,  154274  (Old  Files). 

(12)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  September  7,  1916.  Subject: 

Designation  of  base  hospitals;  and  indorsements  thereon.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
154274  (Old  Files). 

(13)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  June  29,  1916.  Subject:  Base 

hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  154274  (Old  Files).  Also,  letterfrom  the  Surgeon 
General  to  the  Department  surgeon,  Southern  Department,  August  26,  1916.  Subject: 
Base  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  154274  (Old  Files). 

(14)  Memo.  No.  1,  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  August  22,  1917. 

(15)  Memo.  No.  2,  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  August  22,  1917. 

(16)  G.  0.  No.  115,  W.  D.,  August  29,  1917. 

(17)  G.  0.  No.  20,  W.  D.,  February  21,  1918. 

(18)  G.  0.  No.  35,  W.  D.,  April  15,  1918. 

(19)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  all  camp  base  hospitals.  (Umdated.)  Subject:  Appoint- 

ment of  morale  officers.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  211,  Medical  Record  Division. 

(20)  A.  R.  91,  1913. 

(21)  G.  0.  No.  96,  W.  D.  July  20,  1917. 

(22)  G.  0.  No.  137,  W.  D.,  October  30,  1917. 

(23)  Bull.  No.  67,  W.  D.,  November  30,  1917. 

(24)  A.  R.  1387,  1913. 

(25)  First  indorsement,  Surgeon  General’s  Office  to  commanding  officer,  Base  Hospital,  Camp 

MacArthur,  December  21,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  B.  II.,  Camp  Mac- 
Arthur  (D). 

(26)  A.  R.  13  to  19,  1913. 

(27)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  division  surgeons.  (Undated)  Subject:  Regulations, 

base  hospitals.  On  file,  Medical  Record  Division,  S.  G.  0.,  188799-27  (7). 


CHAPTER  VII. 


PERSONNEL. 

TABLES  OF  ORGANIZATION. 

The  personnel  contemplated  for  a 500-bed  hospital  in  tables  of  organization 
prior  to  the  war,  was  as  follows:1  20  medical  officers,  1 colonel  (commanding), 
1 major  (operating  surgeon),  18  captains  and  lieutenants  (1  adjutant,  1 quarter- 
master, 1 pathologist,  1 eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  specialist,  2 assistant  oper- 
ating surgeons,  12  ward  surgeons);  1 dental  surgeon,  8 sergeants  first  class 
(1  general  supervisor,  1 in  charge  of  office,  1 in  charge  of  quartermaster  supplies 
and  records,  1 in  charge  of  kitchen  and  mess,  1 in  charge  of  detachment  and 
detachment  accounts,  1 in  charge  of  patients’  clothing  and  effects,  1 in  charge 
of  medical  property  and  records,  1 in  charge  of  dispensary);  16  sergeants  (1  in 
dispensary,  2 in  store  room,  1 in  mess  and  kitchen,  4 in  office,  2 in  charge  of 
police,  6 in  charge  of  wards);  14  acting  cooks;  115  privates  first  class  and 
privates  (68  ward  attendants,  3 in  dispensary,  5 in  operating  room,  1 in  labora- 
tory, 14  in  kitchen  and  mess,  6 in  store  rooms,  4 orderlies,  5 in  office,  4 outside 
police,  1 assistant  to  dentist) ; 46  nurses,  female  (1  chief  nurse,  1 assistant  to 
chief  nurse,  41  in  wards,  2 in  operating  room,  1 dietist). 

Because  of  the  fact  that  the  majority  of  the  larger  mobilization  camp 
hospitals  had  a contemplated  initial  bed  capacity  of  1,000, 2 the  personnel 
referred  to  above  was  necessarily  augmented. 

The  organization  of  these  hospitals  was  based  on  the  fact  that  the  per- 
sonnel— officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  men — was  almost  entirely  drawn  from 
civil  life,  a personnel  new  to  Army  life  and  methods.  Efforts  were  made  to 
assign  a competent  medical  officer  of  the  Regular  Army  in  command  of  each 
hospital,  with  three  or  four  regular  noncommissioned  officers  for  the  training 
of  the  enlisted  force,  and  as  a nucleus  for  an  organization. 

These  hospitals  were  in  reality  large  general  hospitals  planned  for  the 
definitive  care  and  treatment  of  every  sort  of  ailment,  and  experience  soon 
demonstrated  that  the  type  of  work  required  necessitated  a personnel  much  in 
excess  of  that  formerly  contemplated. 

The  following  table  of  organization  for  a permanent  staff  for  a 1 ,000-bed 
hospital  was  adopted:  1 colonel  or  lieutenant  colonel  and  4 majors,  M.  C.; 
1 captain  or  lieutenant,  Q.  M.  C. ; 2 captains  or  lieutenants,  S.  C. ; 12  captains 
and  13  lieutenants,  M.  C.;  2 captains  or  lieutenants,  D.  C. ; 400  enlisted  men; 
100  nurses,  A.  N.  C.3 

OFFICERS. 

Original  assignments  of  medical  reserve  officers  to  base  hospitals  were 
made  by  the  Surgeon  General  in  order  that  these  officers  might  be  detailed 
to  the  duty  most  suitable  to  their  training.  Those  assigned  in  the  various 
specialties  were  carefully  selected  from  among  officers  known  to  he  especially 
qualified.4 


121 


122 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  Medical  Department  had  no  mobilization  camps,  except  the  medical 
officers’  training  camps,  the  total  authorized  quota  of  which  was  only  3, 000. 5 
In  consequence  of  this,  many  medical  officers  went  directly  from  civil  life  to 
camps,6  and  the  policy  was  adopted  of  sending  all  who  could  be  accommodated 
to  the  hospitals  at  camps  for  experience  and  training.7  This  resulted  in 
doubling  and,  in  some  instances,  trebling  the  hospital  staffs;  and  in  over- 
crowding; but  it  was  beneficial  because  of  the  training  received  and  the  pro- 
vision, at  all  times,  of  a staff'  sufficient  for  any  emergency.  A subsequent 
policy  was  adopted  to  assign  to  base  hospitals,  in  general,  only  those  officers, 
except  a certain  number  for  training  in  the  organization  of  base  hospitals  for 
service  abroad,  found  to  be  not  physically  suitable  for  active  field  service.8 

In  the  late  fall  of  1917,  it  became  apparent  that  a certain  proportion  of 
medical  officers  who  had  gone  directly  from  civil  life  into  the  hospitals 
were  not  being  qualified  for  their  duties  as  rapidly  as  desired  by  the  Surgeon 
General.0  It  was  then  directed  that  both  officers  and  enlisted  men  be  given 
training  which  would  best  fit  them  for  base  hospital  work.8  An  outline  of 
instruction  was  promulgated,  specifying  that  as  much  of  it  as  possible  be 
utilized  in  connection  with  the  daily  work  and  duties  so  as  not  to  interfere 
with  the  efficiency  of  the  hospital  work.9  This  established  course  of  instruction 
made  essential  the  recognition  of  the  fact  that  not  all  of  the  newly  commis- 
sioned medical  officers  were  equal  professionally.  The  substandard  grouping 
came  into  existence  and  a simpler  course  of  instruction  was  instituted  for 
medical  officers  found  lacking  in  the  knowledge  of  basic  technique  of  medical 
practice.7 

Many  changes  in  the  professional  personnel  were  required,  largely  due  to 
the  fact  that  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  correctly  grade  the  many  men 
suddenly  brought  into  the  service.  Then,  too,  certain  officers  whose  names 
had  been  requested  for  service  in  Red  Cross  and  evacuation  hospitals  intended 
for  service  overseas  necessitated  staff  changes  when  the  officers  concerned 
joined  their  units.  This  prompted  the  Surgeon  General  to  direct  commanding 
officers  of  hospitals  to  report  the  names  of  those  suitable  for  the  formation  of 
a permanent  staff,  both  administrative  and  professional,  omitting  exempted 
officers.10  The  instructions  provided  for  supplementing  the  permanent  staff 
by  officers  assigned  for  temporary  duty,  upon  the  request  of  the  commanding 
officer  of  a hospital;  and,  in  addition,  the  assignment,  from  tune  to  time,  of 
two  classes  of  officers  for  temporary  duty,  officers  assigned  for  observation 
and  training;  substandard  officers,  or  those  below  par  professionally,  assigned 
for  professional  instruction. 

NURSES. 

Nurses  were  assigned  to  hospitals  in  the  ratio  of  1 to  10  beds,10  the  assign- 
ments being  made  from  time  to  time  on  requisitions  by  commanding  officers 
of  hospitals.10  Certain  of  these  nurses  were  members  of  base  hospitals  organized 
for  duty  overseas,  and  for  this  reason  their  service  at  the  fixed  hospitals  in  the 
United  States  was  modified  so  as  to  except  them  from  duty  in  connection 
with  the  care  of  patients  with  contagious  or  infectious  diseases.10 

The  distribution  of  nurses  within  the  hospitals  was  as  follows:  Chief 
nurse  (with  one  or  more  assistants)  ;11  head  nurses,  designated  by  the  chief 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


123 


nurse,  one  to  each  ward,  including  venereal  and  psychopathic  wards;10  and 
ward  nurses,  for  day  and  night  duty. 

To  supplement  the  supply  of  graduate  nurses  a plan  was  devised  providing 
a constructive  method  of  utilizing  the  services  of  unskilled  women.12  To 
this  end,  in  the  summer  of  1918,  the  Army  School  of  Nursing  was  established, 
with  branch  schools  in  various  military  hospitals  in  the  United  States.13 

The  1,800  student  nurses  placed  in  training  made  no  appreciable  contribu- 
tion, from  the  standpoint  of  numbers,  to  the  nursing  service  in  the  war.  The 
experiment  demonstrated,  however,  its  potential  value  in  the  event  of  a similar 
contingency. 

ENLISTED  PERSONNEL. 

The  enlisted  personnel,  like  the  officers  and  nurses,  was  almost  entirely 
made  up  of  untrained  material  at  the  first,  and  was  acquired  largely  through 
original  enlistments  for  the  Medical  Department,  and  the  instrumentality  of 
the  draft.14 

The  following  table,  showing  the  various  proportions  of  noncommissioned 
officers,  cooks,  privates  first  class,  and  privates,  with  the  total  enlisted  detach- 
ment for  hospitals  of  varied  sizes,  was  used  as  a working  basis  in  determining 
the  enlisted  strength  of  given  hospitals : 


Table  8. — Number  of  enlisted  men  assigned  to  different-si?ed  hospitals .15 


Beds. 

Master 
hospital 
sergeants 
not  to 
exceed — 

Master 

hospital 

sergeants 

or 

hospital 

sergeants. 

Ser- 

geants, 

first- 

class. 

Ser- 

geants. 

Corpor- 

als. 

Total 

noncom- 

mis- 

sioned 

officers. 

Cooks. 

Privates, 

first- 

class. 

Privates. 

Total. 

200 

I 

1 

8 

15 

3-5 

(“) 

12 

127 

31 

200 

500 

1 

3 

10 

22 

10 

45 

14 

201 

40 

300 

800 

1 

3 

13 

27 

12 

55 

17 

240 

48 

360 

1,  000 

2 

4 

16 

28 

12 

(30 

19 

267 

54 

400 

1, 100 

2 

4 

16 

30 

12 

62 

20 

286 

57 

425 

1,200 

2 

5 

16 

30 

13 

64 

21 

305 

60 

450 

1,  300 

o 

5 

17 

31 

13 

66 

22 

323 

64 

475 

1,  400 

2 

5 

17 

32 

14 

68 

23 

341 

68 

500 

1,500 

2 

5 

18 

33 

14 

70 

24 

359 

72 

525 

1,  600 

2 

5 

18 

34 

15 

72 

25 

378 

75 

550 

1,700 

2 

5 

20 

34 

15 

74 

26 

396 

79 

575 

1,800 

3 

6 

20 

35 

15 

76 

27 

415 

82 

600 

1,900 

3 

6 

21 

35 

16 

78 

28 

433 

86 

625 

2,000 

3 

6 

21 

36 

17 

80 

29 

451 

90 

650 

a Limited  to  30. 


It  was  impossible,  of  course,  to  supply  hospitals  with  noncommissioned 
officers  in  the  numbers  allowed  in  the  table;10  and  it  was  expected  that  promo- 
tions to  these  grades  would  be  made  from  the  available  material  in  the 
detachments.* 

Authority  was  given  commanding  officers  to  make  promotions  to  all 
grades,  Medical  Department,  to  and  including  sergeant,  first  class,  within  the 
limits  provided  by  the  table.17  Promotions  to  the  grades  of  master  hospital 
sergeant  and  hospital  sergeant  were  made  by  the  Surgeon  General  on  recom- 
mendations of  commanding  officers  of  hospitals.17 

The  Surgeon  General  appreciated  the  fact  that  no  ironclad  rules  could  be 
established  in  restricting  the  personnel,  and  he  instructed  commanding  officers 


* For  details  of  methods  used  in  determining  assignments  and  promotions  of  enlisted  personnel,  Medical  Department, 
as  practiced  in  base  hospitals,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  the  U nited  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant, 
III3.,  p.  206  of  this  volume. 


124 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


of  hospitals  to  make  application  for  additional  enlisted  men  in  the  event  of  an 
emergency  requiring  larger  numbers.18 

A detachment  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps,  consisting  of  1 officer,  captain 
or  lieutenant,  2 quartermaster  sergeants,  1 sergeant,  first  class,  7 sergeants  11 
stenographer,  1 clerk,  1 overseer,  1 blacksmith,  1 carpenter,  1 engineer),  3 
corporals  (1  storekeeper,  2 chauffeurs),  1 cook,  2 privates,  first  class  (firemen), 
5 privates  (laborers),  was  furnished  by  the  Quartermaster  General  s Office,  for 
duty  about  the  hospital.18 

CIVILIAN  EMPLOYEES. 

Though  the  military  personnel  provided  for  the  hospitals  was  considerable 
and  ordinarily  adequate  to  operate  the  various  hospital  services,  not  all  posi- 
tions therein  were  filled  by  them.  The  base  and  general  hospitals  rapidly 
acquired  a highly  specialized  character  which  could  not  have  been  foreseen,  and 
to  meet  the  demands  of  the  elevated  standards,  as  well  as  to  conserve  personnel, 
especially  officer  personnel,  civilians  possessed  of  the  required  training  were 
employed.  This  was  especially  true  in  the  laboratories,  where  women  techni- 
cians were  employed  19  in  the  proportion  of  1 to  every  250  beds,  for  work  in 
urinalysis  and  clinical  microscopy,  preparation  of  media,  bacteriological  sec- 
tions, Wassermann  and  serologic  reactions,  keeping  records,  stenography,  type- 
writing, etc. 

For  employment  in  connection  with  the  reconstruction  activities  of  hos- 
pitals, women,  trained  in  occupational  therapy  and  physiotherapy,  were  secured 
as  aides.20 

The  dietitian  service  was  an  innovation  in  the  war  hospitals.21  It  consisted 
of  women  employees,  especially  trained  in  the  preparation  of  food,  who  were 
largely  utilized  for  supervising  the  preparation  of  the  special  diets  for  the  sick. 
At  the  time  of  the  signing  of  the  armistice  there  were  272  of  these  dietitians 
distributed  among  97  base,  general,  and  post  hospitals  of  the  United  States. 
Some  of  the  larger  hospitals  had  as  many  as  10  dietitians. 

The  students  of  the  Army  School  of  Nursing,  branches  of  which  were  estab- 
lished in  all  military  hospitals,  were  on  a civilian  employee  status  while  in 
training. 

HOSPITAL  SERVICES. 

Military  hospitals  differed  materially  from  hospitals  in  civil  life,  aside  from 
the  class  of  patients  treated  and  the  character  of  diseases  and  injuries  encoun- 
tered within  them,  in  that  there  was  necessitated  provision  for  quarters  for 
officers  and  barracks  for  enlisted  men,  as  well  as  quarters  for  the  nurses.  In 
addition  to  buildings  used  for  administering  the  hospital  or  for  housing  or  feed- 
ing the  patients,  or  for  heating,  there  had  to  be  buildings  for  other  purposes, 
included  not  only  in  the  professional  division — isolation,  special  therapy,  etc. — 
but  for  the  special  administrative  control,  such  as  a guardhouse,  post  exchange, 
storehouse,  etc. 

It  will  he  readily  appreciated  that  the  services  of  a large  military  hospital, 
when  roughly  divided  into  two  divisions,  formed  groups  of  almost  equal  mag- 
nitude, the  administrative  division,  in  fact,  slightly  overshadowing  the  pro- 
fessional; so,  from  the  experience  gained  in  administering  the  general  hospitals 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


125 


of  peace  times,  the  Medical  Department  was  enabled  to  plan,  fairly  accurately, 
what  would  be  needed  in  the  way  of  the  provision  of  services  for  the  large  war 
hospitals. 

The  following  tabular  statement  was  formulated  to  furnish  a working  plan 
of  administration  and  to  give  an  approximate  idea  of  the  personnel  required:22 

ADMINISTRATION  DIVISION. 

Commanding  office r: 

1 colonel  or  lieutenant  colonel,  M.  C. 

Adjutant's  office  (in  charge  of  administrative  records  and  correspondence,  telegraph  office, 
telephone  exchange,  and  post  office): 

1 major,  M.  C. 

2 sergeants,  first  class,  II . C. 

11  privates,  II.  C. 

1 sergeant,  Sig.  C. 

1 first-class  private,  Sig.  C. 

2 civilian  employees,  M.  D.  (stenographers). 

In  charge  of  medical  and  surgical  records;  commanding  officer,  detachment  of  patients;  in 
charge  of  patients'  money  and  valuables: 

1 major  or  captain,  M.  C. 

2 sergeants,  first  class,  II.  C. 

1 sergeant,  II.  C. 

6 privates,  H.  C. 

Quartermaster’s  office  (in  charge  of  quartermaster,  medical,  ordnance,  and  Signal  Corps  property 
and  funds;  construction  and  repair  of  buildings;  transportation;  police  and  care  of  grounds; 
disinfecting,  laundry,  heating,  lighting  and  ice  plants;  clothing  and  baggage  room  of  patients): 

1 major  or  captain.  M.  C. 

1 captain  or  lieutenant,  M.  C. 

2 sergeants,  first  class,  II.  C. 

5 sergeants.  H.  C. 

22  privates,  H.  C. 

2 quartermaster  sergeants,  Q.  M.  C. 

1 sergeant,  first  class,  Q.  M.  C. 

7 sergeants,  Q.  M.  C.  (1  stenographer,  1 clerk,  1 overseer,  1 blacksmith,  1 plumber.  1 car- 
penter, 1 engineer). 

8 corporals,  Q.  M.  C.  (1  foragemaster,  1 storekeeper,  1 baker,  1 printer,  1 painter,  1 farrier, 
1 saddler,  1 gardener). 

1 cook,  Q.  M.  C. 

7 privates,  first  class,  Q.  M.  C.  (5  teamsters,  2 firemen). 

•5  privates,  Q.  M.  C.  (laborers,  scavengers,  etc.). 

Civilian  employees  (seamstresses,  laundry  employees,  attendants,  scrub  women,  etc.). 
Hospital  mess  (in  charge  of  hospital  messes,  kitchens,  bakery,  and  special  diet  sendee;  post 
exchange;  hospital  fund): 

1 captain  or  lieutenant,  M.  C. 

2 sergeants,  first  class,  H.  C. 

4 sergeants,  II.  C. 

10  acting  cooks,  H.  C. 

30  privates,  H.  C. 

4 Army  Nurse  Corps  (dietists). 

6 civilian  employees  M.  C.  (1  chief  cook,  2 cooks,  2 assistant  cooks,  1 baker). 

Commanding  officer,  detachment,  H.  C.  (in  charge  of  detachment,  H.  C.,  on  duty  at  the  hospital; 

recruiting,  identification  work,  and  sick  call): 

1 captain  or  lieutenant,  M.  C. 

1 sergeant,  first  class,  H.  C. 

4 sergeants,  H.  C. 

2 corporals,  H.  C. 

5 acting  cooks,  H.  C. 

29  privates,  H.  C. 


126 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Officer  of  the  day  (detailed  from  roster  of  medical  officers.  In  charge  of  the  guard;  receiving 
office,  roster  of  patients  and  morning  report  of  admissions  and  losses;  ambulance,  emergency,  and 
fire-alarm  service;  information  office): 

3 sergeants,  H.  C. 

6 privates,  H.  C. 

Officer  of  the  guard  (detailed  from  roster  of  junior  medical  officers.  Commands  the  guard  under 
the  direction  of  the  officer  of  the  day) : 

2 sergeants,  H.  C. 

2 corporals,  H.  C. 

24  privates,  H.  C. 

This  detail  is  made  in  time  of  war  only  and  when  the  guard  is  not  furnished  by  the  line. 
Chaplain  (in  charge  of  chapel,  library,  reading  room,  amusement  hall,  and  post  school): 

1 officer,  Corps  of  Chaplains. 

1 private,  H.  C. 

PROFESSIONAL  DIVISION. 

Chief  of  medical  service  (in  charge  of  medical  service,  receiving  ward,  and  dispensary): 

1 major,  M.  C. 

2 sergeants,  H.  C. 

2 privates,  H.  C. 

Chief  of  surgical  service  (in  charge  of  the  surgical  service,  including  the  operating  and  dressing 
rooms): 

1 major,  M.  C. 

1 captain  or  lieutenant,  M.  C. 

1 sergeant,  H.  C. 

4 privates,  H.  C. 

5 Army  Nurse  Corps. 

Wards  (ward  officers  may  be  assigned  additional  duties  in  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat,  genito- 
urinary and  other  special  services;  assistants  to  operating  surgeon,  etc.): 

12  captains  or  lieutenants,  M.  C. 

6 sergeants,  H.  C. 

70  privates,  H.  C. 

53  Army  Nurse  Corps. 

Laboratory  (in  charge  of  chemical,  bacteriological,  and  X-ray  laboratories,  and  morgue): 

1 captain  or  lieutenant,  M.  C. 

1 sergeant,  first  class,  H.  C. 

2 sergeants,  H.  C. 

4 privates,  H.  C. 

Dental  service  (in  charge  of  dental  service) : 

1 lieutenant,  D.  C. 

1 private,  H.  C. 

Nursing  service  (in  charge  of  nursing  service)  • 

1 chief  nurse,  A.  N.  C. 

1 assistant  chief  nurse,  A.  N.  C. 

1 supervising  night  nurse,  A.  N.  C. 

7 civilian  employees,  M.  D.  (1  cook,  1 assistant  cook,  5 attendants).  (See  also  Wards 
and  Hospital  mess.) 

Convalescent  camp: 

1 captain  or  lieutenant,,  M.  C. 

1 sergeant,  first  class,  H.  C. 

1 sergeant,  H.  C. 

6 privates,  H.  C. 

Note. — The  term  “private,  H.  C.”  is  used  in  the  above  table  to  denote  both  privates,  first 
class,  and  privates,  H.  C. 

(a)  The  allowance  of  the  members  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps  or  their  civilian  substitutes 
and  of  the  civilian  employees  of  the  Medical  Department  will  vary  according  to  the  character 
and  special  work  of  the  hospital,  and  will  be  decided  in  each  case  by  the  proper  authority.  For 


organization,  administration,  and  control.  127 


the  duties  of  the  several  grades  in  the  Quartermaster  Corps  see  “Quartermaster  Corps”  in  the 
Appendix.) 

(6)  In  time  of  war  25  per  cent  of  the  officers  of  the  professional  division,  25  per  cent  of  the 
ward  attendants,  and  75  per  cent  of  the  nurses  might  be  furnished  by  personnel  from  the  American 
National  Red  Cross  Society.  This  corresponds  approximately  to  one  Red  Cross  hospital  column. 

On  November  11,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  issued,  instructions  providing 
for  three  services;  namely,  surgical,  medical,  and  laboratory,  with  a chief  of 
service  for  each;  and  provided,  further,  that  the  services  include  the  following 
special  sections,  to  he  used  in  whole  or  in  part  as  found  necessary  (500-bed 
basis) : 23 

SURGICAL  SERVICE. 


1 chief  of  service. 

4 surgeons — 

General. 

Chest. 

Abdomen. 

Fractures. 

1 surgeon  (orthopedic). 
1 surgeon  (urology). 


4 surgeons  (head  section) — 
Brain. 

Eye. 

Ear,  nose,  and  throat. 
Plastic  (face  and  mouth). 

1 roentgenologist. 

2 dentists. 


MEDICAL  SERVICE. 

1 chief  of  service.  I 1 or  2 psychiatrists  (in  hospitals  of  camps  in 

4 physicians  (including  1 neurologist).  | the  United  States). 


LABORATORY  SERVICE. 

(Pathology,  bacteriology,  serology,  chemistry,  morgue,  and  public  health  laboratory  work  for  the 

command.) 

1 chief  of  service  (pathology,  bacteriology,  and  i 1 assistant, 
serology). 

(All  other  laboratory  workers  to  be  under  the  chief  of  this  service.) 

At  some  hospitals  there  was  a mistaken  policy  of  dividing  the  organization 
into  S or  10  divisions  in  order  to  place  the  specialists  on  the  same  footing  in 
importance  as  the  major  divisions  of  general  surgery  and  medicine.24  This 
impediment  to  efficient  administration  was  soon  corrected,  but  not  until  after 
some  confusion  had  resulted.  In  some  hospitals,  the  organization  was  never 
completely  straightened  out. 

INSTRUCTION. 

It  was  early  provided  that  such  clinics,  lectures,  classes,  and  study  as 
were  found  to  be  necessary  for  the  training  of  commissioned  and  enlisted  per- 
sonnel be  instituted  at  all  hospitals.25 

INSTRUCTION  OF  OFFICERS. 

An  outline  of  instruction  for  use  in  the  training  of  medical  officers  in  their 
duties  at  base  hospitals  was  provided  by  the  Surgeon  General;26  and  it  was 
suggested  that  officers  who  had  been  especially  selected  for  training  in  the  ad- 
ministrative division  be  detailed  as  assistants  to  the  commanding  officer, 
adjutant,  registrar,  mess  officer,  etc.,  to  afford  them  opportunities  to  familiarize 
themselves  with  the  details  of  routine  duty  connected  with  these  offices.27 

Officers  were  placed  in  two  main  classes:28  first,  those  found  by  observation 
to  be  professionally  qualified;  and,  second,  those  who  soon  proved  themselves 


128 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  be  substandard  through  inadequate  professional  education.  No  definite 
period  was  set  for  the  training  of  substandard  men  to  remedy  their  defects. 
It  was  provided  that  the  training  continue  so  long  as  there  was  apparent  profit. 

The  following  outline  of  instructions  was  used  in  the  training  of  profession- 
ally qualified  temporary  officers  in  the  duties  of  medical  officers  at  base  hos- 
pitals, in  connection  with  clinics  and  demonstrations:26 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Lectures  by  the  commanding  officer,  and  such  officers  of  the  base  hospital  staff  as  have  had 
previous  experience  and  training  in  administrative  subjects.  These  lectures  to  deal  particularly 
with  base  hospital  regulations  and  duties,  with  specific  instruction  in  the  duties  of  commanding 
officer,  adjutant,  registrar,  mess  officer,  supply  officer,  commanding  officer  of  detachments,  and 
ward  administration.  Such  courses  of  study  and  recitation  will  be  prescribed  in  Army  Regula- 
tions, Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  and  other  manuals  as  are  necessary  and  practicable. 

MEDICAL  SUPPLY  OFFICERS. 

1.  The  supply  tables: 

(a)  Classification  of  supplies. 

( b ) Nomenclature  of  supplies. 

(c)  Normal  allowance  of  various  medical  department  units.  (Pars.  474-476  and  842-959, 

Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916.) 

2.  Requisitions.  (Pars.  474-495.) 

3.  Transfer  of  medical  supplies.  (Pars.  496-500.) 

4.  Accountability.  (Pars.  501-503.) 

5.  Distribution  of  field  supplies  in  time  of  peace.  (Pars.  504-506.) 

6.  Distribution  in  zone  of  advance.  (See  Field  Service  Regulations.) 

7.  Replenishment  in  combat.  (Pars.  551-554  and  S58.) 

8.  Returns  of  medical  property.  (Pars.  507-50S.) 

9.  Sales  of  medical  property.  (Pars.  509-510.) 

10.  Distribution  of  medical  property  on  abandonment  of  post.  (Par.  511.) 

11.  Use  and  care  of  medical  property.  (Pars.  512-526.) 

12.  Base  medical  supply  depots.  (Pars.  782-786.) 

13.  The  advance  medical  supply  depot.  (Pars.  787-792.) 

INTERNAL  MEDICINE  (BY  CHIEFS  OF  MEDICAL  SERVICE). 

This  course  of  instruction  is  intended  to  familiarize  medical  officers  serving  with  troops  in  the 
field  with  the  more  important  diseases  which  they  may  encounter,  their  diagnosis,  and  the  means 
or  their  prevention  and  treatment,  with  a view  to  seeming  prompt  and  suitable  action  when 
such  cases  arise.  It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  instruction  to  make  regimental  officers  hospital 
specialists,  but  to  indicate  to  them  their  part  in  the  teamwork  of  the  Medical  Department  which 
will  result  in  each  sick  soldier  receiving  promptly  the  best  treatment,  whether  that  be  in  the 
regimental  field  hospital,  at  the  base  hospital,  or  in  special  general  hospitals,  and  will  make  them 
most  efficient  in  preventing  the  spread  of  disease  among  the  troops. 

I.  Examination  of  recruits. 

1.  Methods  of  examination  of  the  heart. 

2.  Principles  of  interpretation. 

3.  Causes  for  rejection. 

4.  Cardiovascular  diseases  which  are  most  often  overlooked  in  recruiting. 

5.  Border-line  cases  and  difficult  decisions. 

II.  Examination  of  the  lungs. 

III.  Disorders  of  the  heart  common  in  soldiers. 

1.  The  soldier’s  heart,  symptoms,  causes,  prevention,  treatment,  including  projected 
special  hospitals,  and  prognosis,  military,  and  individual.  Emphasis  on  the  im- 
portance of  observations  of  recruits  during  training  by  regimental  medical  officers 
and  overseas.  The  importance  of  a sufficient  period  for  convalescence  and  re-training 
after  acute  infections,  in  particular  influenza,  trench  fever,  and  diarrhea. 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


129 


IV.  Tuberculosis  in  the  soldier. 

V.  Lobar  pneumonia.  The  newer  knowledge  of  the  fixed  types  of  pneumococci,  the  means 
of  determination  of  the  type  for  specific  treatment,  treatment  of  Type  I.  infections  by  serum; 
symptoms  and  physical  signs  of  pneumonia  in  the  first  few  days  and  the  importance  of  early 
diagnosis;  prognosis  in  the  different  types. 

VI.  The  acute  respiratory  infections,  sore  throats,  and  diphtheria. 

1.  Importance  of  acute  colds  and  bronchitis  as  forerunners  of  pneumonia;  complications 

of  acute  respiratory  infections,  especially  infection  of  the  accessory  sinuses  and 
middle  ear. 

2.  Tonsillitis,  pharyngitis,  etc.  Importance  of  throat  cultures  in  all  cases;  complications. 

especially  acute  nephritis,  endocarditis,  and  other  forms  of  streptococcus  sepsis; 
importance  of  urine  examination  after  tonsillitis  before  return  to  duty. 

3.  Diphtheria,  diagnosis,  antitoxin  treatment;  carriers  of  the  virulent  and  a virulent  bacilli 

and  modes  of  dealing  with  them.  Carriers  after  an  attack  usually  harbor  bacilli 
in  the  tonsils  and  are  even  rendered  free  by  tonsillectomy.  The  Shick  reaction 
and  its  value  in  determining  the  need  for  immunization  of  a group  of  individuals. 

VII.  Epidemic  meningitis  and  poliomyelitis. 

1.  Importance  of  epidemic  meningitis  among  troops  in  camps  and  barracks. 

2.  Early  symptoms  and  diagnosis. 

3.  Lumbar  puncture  and  exact  diagnosis. 

4.  Serum  treatment  including  strains  of  meningococci  and  bearing  on  failure  of  serum 

treatment  as  in  the  epidemic  among  Canadian  and  British  troops  early  in  the  war. 

5.  Carriers  and  the  great  importance  of  their  detection  and  isolation.  Improved  methods 

for  the  treatment  of  carriers. 

6.  A brief  sketch  of  poliomyelitis  with  reference  to  the  more  acute  forms  and  possibility 

of  confusion  with  meningitis,  either  epidemic  or  tuberculous. 

VIII.  The  exanthemata. 

1.  Measles;  early  diagnosis,  especially  Koplik  spots;  treatment  and  prevention  with 

special  reference  to  Colonel  Munson’s  observations  on  sun  and  air. 

2.  German  measles  and  its  differential  diagnosis  from  measles. 

3.  Scarlet  fever;  early  diagnosis,  prevention;  the  important  complications  in  the  throat, 

heart,  kidneys,  and  joints;  combined  scarlet  fever  and  diphtheria. 

4.  Typhus  fever;  modern  knowledge  of  transmission  by  the  louse;  frequency  in  prison 

camps,  etc.;  symptoms  and  diagnosis  of  mild  and  severe  forms;  prevention. 

5.  Smallpox;  recognition  of  mild  cases  of  varioloid. 

IX.  The  malarial  fevers;  mode  of  treatment  and  prevention. 

1.  Treatment  of  tertian  malaria  and  of  estivoautumnal  with  special  reference  to  the  need 

for  continued  used  of  quinine ; treatment  of  pernicious  malaria,  intravenous  and  intra- 
muscular use  of  quinine  dihydrochloride. 

2.  The  animal  parasites,  especially  hookworm;  treatment  by  oil  of  chenopodium;  pre- 

vention. 

X.  Dysentery  and  diarrhea. 

1.  Bacillary  dysentery,  its  causes,  symptoms,  treatment,  and  prevention. 

2.  Amebic  dysentery;  diagnosis  and  difference  in  symptoms  from  those  of  bacillary  dys- 

entery; treatment  by  emetine ; importance  of  early  treatment  of  acute  stage;  general 
treatment;  amebic  cysts  and  carriers. 

3.  The  nonspecific  diarrheas;  causes,  prevention,  importance  of  treatment  and  safeguard- 

ing for  a few  days  subsequently. 

XI.  Typhoid  and  paratyphoid  fevers  and  trench  fever. 

1.  Typhoid  and  paratyphoid  with  reference  to  modes  of  infection  and  importance  of  gen- 

eral prophylaxis.  Specific  immunization;  diagnosis  in  the  immunized;  carriers. 

2.  Trench  fever;  its  symptoms,  diagnosis,  wholly  favorable  prognosis;  need  for  rest  and 

for  safeguarding  during  convalescence;  theories  as  to  causation  and  transmission. 

XII.  Nephritis,  infectious  jaundice,  and  tetanus. 

1.  Acute  nephritis  as  seen  at  the  Western  Front. 

2.  Infectious  jaundice  and  spirochetal  infections. 

3.  Tetanus;  its  prevention;  symptoms  of  mild  tetanus;  treatment  by  intraspinous  antitoxin. 

XIII.  Gas  poisoning;  its  symptoms,  diagnosis,  prognosis,  and  treatment. 

45269°— 23 9 


130 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


SYLLABUS  OP  INSTRUCTION  IN  STANDARD  METHODS  FOR  TREATING  FRACTURES. 

The  purpose  of  this  course  of  instruction  is  to  familiarize  medical  officers  with  standard  methods 
in  the  treatment  of  fractures.  It  is  intended  that  officers  so  trained  will  not  only  serve  in  the  special 
fracture  hospital,  but  in  field,  base,  and  general  hospitals,  and  as  regimental  officers  as  well,  so  that 
a continuity  in  the  methods  for  treating  fractures  can  be  maintained.  By  this  means,  it  is  proposed 
to  establish  teamwork  on  the  part  of  medical  officers  throughout  the  Army,  in  order  that  the 
wounded  soldier  will  receive  promptly  the  most  efficient  treatment  whether  at  the  regimental  aid 
station,  the  dressing  station,  the  field  hospital,  the  evacuation  hospital,  or  the  base  hospital,  as  well 
as  along  the  lines  of  transportation.  The  logical  result  of  this  cooperation  will  be  to  secure  early 
recovery,  lessen  deformity,  and  reduce  the  number  of  soldiers  permanently  disabled  to  a minimum. 
It  is  realized  that  the  exigencies  of  the  service  in  the  zone  of  the  advance  will  frequently  be  such  as 
to  render  the  standard  methods  impracticable,  but  by  indicating  clearly  the  desideratum  it  is  hoped 
that  the  difficulties  in  the  field  will  act  not  so  much  as  an  obstacle  but  as  a stimulus  to  the  ingenuity 
of  the  medical  officers. 

Fractures  in  war  are  usually  compound  and  will  be  much  more  prevalent  than  the  simple,  so  that 
any  treatment  which  considers  merely  the  fracture  and  not  the  wound  and  the  soldier  would  be 
quite  ineffective.  Consequently,  the  course  of  instruction  will  be  initiated  with  a brief  but  thor- 
ough presentation  of  wounds,  from  a military  standpoint,  their  causes,  and  their  treatment.  This 
will  be  followed  by  the  course  in  standard  methods  for  treating  fractures  proper.  The  instruction 
will  be  intensely  practical  in  nature,  consisting  in  the  demonstration  of  the  splints,  their  adapta- 
bility and  application,  and  in  clinics. 

CAUSES  AND  VARIETIES  OF  WOUNDS. 

1.  Bullet  wounds. 

a.  Shrapnel. 

b.  Rifle. 

c.  Pistol. 

2.  Shell  wounds. 

a.  Shell  fragments. 

b.  Shell  fuse. 

c.  Hand  grenade. 

3.  Bayonet  wound;  sword  wound. 

4.  Burns. 

5.  Gas. 

6.  Varieties  of  wounds. 

a.  Abrasion. 

b.  Contusion. 

c.  Laceration. 

d.  Puncture;  complete  or  incomplete. 

CONDITION  OF  WOUNDED  MEN. 


1.  Hemorrhage,  excessive  (shock). 

2.  Exposure;  wet,  cold.  Hunger. 

3.  Shell-shock. 

4.  Gas. 

5.  Visceral  injury;  abdominal,  thoracic  and  head. 

6.  Infection;  pyogenic,  tetanus,  gas  bacillus. 

7.  Suppuration. 

TREATMENT  OF  WOUNDS. 

General. 

1.  Water  administered. 

a.  Mouth. 

b.  Rectum. 

c.  Hypodermoclysis. 

d.  Intravenous.  Dangers. 

2.  Food  and  hot  drinks. 

3.  Medication. 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


131 


Local. 

1.  Wound  antisepsis. 

a.  Excision,  necrotic  tissue. 

b.  Wound  cleansing,  foreign  body  removal. 

c.  Tincture  of  iodine. 

d.  Dakin-Carrel  method. 

e.  Dichloramine-T. 

2.  Hemorrhage. 

a.  Pressure  by  bandage.  Cautions. 

b.  Packed.  Cautions. 

c.  Tourniquet.  Cautions. 

d.  Ligation  of  artery.  Cautions. 

e.  Amputation.  Indications. 

3.  Dressings. 

a.  Dry  antiseptic. 

b.  Suture.  Indications. 

c.  Drainage.  Indications. 

4.  Infection. 

a.  Suppuration. 

b.  Gangrene. 

c.  Drainage. 

FRACTURES. 


At  the  dressing  station : 

1.  General  treatment. 

2.  Wound  antisepsis.  2 per  cent  iodine  superficial. 

3.  Wound  cleansing. 

4.  Immobilization  and  extension  methods. 

I.  Fractures  of  the  upper  extremity. 

a.  Simplest  splint  arm  to  chest. 

b.  Screen  wire  and  wood  splints. 

c.  If  practicable,  Thomas  arm  splint;  elbow  splint. 

II.  Fractures  of  the  lower  extremity. 

a.  Rifle  down  the  side  of  leg  with  coat  between  legs  and  the  legs  lashed  to' 

gether. 

b.  Screen  wire  and  wooden  splints. 

c.  C.  femur.  Thomas  knee  splint  for  fracture  of  femur.  In  fracture  of  femur, 

the  soldier  once  placed  on  litter  is  not  to  be  removed  therefrom. 

III.  Fracture  of  rib.  Immobilization. 

IV.  Fracture  of  pehis.  Fixation.  Not  removed  from  litter. 

V.  Joints. 

5.  Infections.  Special  treatment. 

a.  Tetanus-serum. 

b.  Gas  bacillus-aeration.  Antitoxin. 

c.  Pyogenic. 

6.  Amputations,  contraindications.  Indications. 

7.  Anesthesia. 

8.  Diagnosis  tags.  These  must  be  kept  up  to  date,  particularly  with  fractures. 


TRANSPORTATION. 


1 . Cases  sorted  into  transportable  and  nontransportable. 

2.  Maintenance  of  immobilization  and  extension,  where  practicable.  Methods.  Not  more  than 

12  hours  should  elapse  without  the  splint  being  inspected  by  a surgeon  and  necessary  ad- 
justments made. 

3.  Femur,  special  treatment  for  fractures  of,  in  transit.  Not  to  be  removed  from  litter.  Thomas 

knee  splint  inspected  once  every  12  hours. 


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EVACUATION  HOSPITAL,  SPECIAL  FRACTURE  HOSPITAL,  BASE  HOSPITAL. 

1.  Early  and  adequate  surgery. 

2.  Wound  antisepsis. 

3.  Wound  cleansing. 

4.  Conservation  of  fragments. 

5.  Immobilization  and  extension.  Standard  methods. 

I.  Fracture  of  upper  extremity. 

a.  Humerus. 

1.  Jones’s  humerus  extension  splint, 

2.  Jones’s  abduction  splint. 

b.  Elbow  splint. 

c.  Radius  and  ulna.  Jones’s  forearm  and  wrist  splint. 

II.  Fracture  of  lower  extremity. 

a.  Femur . Thomas  knee  splint ; Hodgen  splint,  overhead  suspension  and  extension 

from  Balkan  frame  or  on  special  fracture  bed. 

b.  Tibia  and  fibula.  Jones’s  leg  splint  and  Cabot  splint. 

III.  Fracture  of  rib.  Immobilization. 

IV.  Fracture  of  pelvis.  Fixation.  Bradford  frame. 

V.  Joints.  Operative  indications.  Foreign  body  removal.  Drainage. 

6.  Malunion  and  nonunion,  caution;  late  tetanus  and  infection. 

7.  Infections;  special  treatment. 

8.  Operative  treatment,  indications  for.  Standard  methods. 

9.  Amputation.  Special. 

10.  Anesthesia.  Ether  drop  method,  chloroform;  nitrous  oxide:  spinal,  tropococaine. 

11.  Examinations,  special  methods. 

a.  Roentgen  ray. 

b.  Bacteriological. 

12.  Massage  and  baking. 

13.  Hydrotherapy. 

14.  Curative  workshop;  reconstruction. 

THORACIC  WOUNDS. 

I.  Causes  and  varieties  of  wounds. 

1.  Bullet  wounds. 

a.  Shrapnel. 

b.  Rifle. 

c.  Pistol. 

2.  Shell  wounds. 

a.  Shell  fragments. 

b.  Shell  fuse. 

c.  Hand  grenade. 

3.  Bayonet  wound,  sword  wound. 

4.  Varieties  of  wounds. 

a.  Laceration.  Thoracic  wall.  Back. 

b.  Perforating  (puncture)  wounds — complete,  incomplete. 

c.  Concussion  of  spinal  cord — brachial  plexus. 

d.  Pseudo-perforating  wound. 

II.  Pathology. 

1.  Shock. 

2.  Hemorrhage. 

3.  Dyspnea. 

4.  Hemoptosis. 

5.  Vomiting  and  hiccough. 

6.  Death,  immediate  causes  of. 

7.  Infection. 

a.  Pyogenic. 

b.  Tetanus. 

c.  Bacillus — aerogenes. 

8.  Surgical  emphysema. 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


133 


[II.  Clinical  aspects. 

1.  Pneumothorax. 

2.  Hemothorax. 

3.  Pyothorax  (empyema) 

4.  Fracture  of  ribs. 

5.  Pneumonia. 

6.  Pleurisy — effusion. 

7.  Abscess  and  gangrene  of  lung. 

8.  Subphrenic  abscess. 

9.  Pericarditis.  Pneumocardium. 

10.  Paralysis — monoplegia,  paraplegia. 

11.  Sequelae. 

IV.  Treatment. 

1.  Immediate  firing  line,  regimental  aid,  or  dressing  station. 

a.  General  care.  Water.  Hot  drinks.  Blankets. 

b.  Wound  antisepsis. 

c.  Hemorrhage. 

d.  Wound  cleansing;  if  practicable. 

e.  Dressing.  Dry  gauze,  graduated  pressure. 

/.  Posture  of  patient — recumbent  on  affected  side.  If  practicable  not  disturbed. 
No  walking. 

g.  Medication.  Morphine.  Atropine. 

h.  Transportation.  Rest  one  of  main  factors  in  treatment. 

2.  Intermediate.  Regimental  aid.  Dressing  station. 

a.  General  care.  Food.  Water.  Hot  drinks.  Blankets. 

b.  Wound  antisepsis. 

c.  Anesthesia.  Chloroform;  ether;  drop  method. 

d.  Wound  cleansing.  Operation.  Indication  for.  Foreign  body,  removal. 

e.  Dressings.  Immobilization  of  affected  side. 

1.  Fresh  cases. 

2.  Suppurative  cases. 

Dichloramine — T . 

Carrel-Dakin. 

Moist  dressing. 

/.  Medication. 

3.  Field  hospital,  evacuation  hospital,  base  hospital. 

a.  Examination,  special  methods. 

Bacteriological. 

Roentgen  ray. 

b.  Operations.  Special  methods.  Indications. 

c.  Suppuration;  treatment  of. 

d.  Complications,  special  treatment  for. 

ABDOMINAL  WOUNDS. 

I.  Variety  of  wounds. 

1.  Contusions. 

a.  Abdominal  wall. 

b.  Ruptured  viscera,  or  blood  vessels. 

2.  Puncture  wound  of  abdominal  wall  (nonpenetrating). 

3.  Penetrating  wounds  (nonperforative  of  viscera,  or  blood  vessels). 

4.  Perforating  wounds. 

II.  Pathology. 

1.  Shock. 

2.  Hemorrhage. 

3.  Infection. 

a.  Pyogenic. 

b.  Tetanus. 

c.  Bacillus  aerogenes. 

4.  Protrusion  of  viscera. 

5.  Perforation,  visceral. 

6.  Peritonitis. 

7.  Extraperitoneal  infection. 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


III.  Diagnosis.  Early  differential. 

IV.  Clinical  aspects. 

1.  Hemorrhage. 

2.  Perforation  of  hollow  viscus,  early  symptoms 

3.  Extravasation,  urine. 

4.  Peritonitis. 

5.  Abscess;  subphrenic,  perirenal;  pelvis. 

6.  Septicemia. 

V.  Treatment. 

1.  Immediate,  firing  line,  regimental  aid,  or  dressing  station. 

a.  General  care.  Blankets.  No  water.  No  food. 

b.  Wound  antisepsis.  Iodine. 

c.  Dressings.  Dry  gauze. 

d.  Posture  of  patient.  On  back,  thighs  flexed,  head  raised. 

e.  Medication.  Morphine. 

f.  Transportation.  Patient  moved  to  adequate  operating  station  as  expeditiously 

as  possible.  Not  removed  from  litter  till  operating  station  is  reached. 

2.  Mobile  operating  unit,  field  hospital,  evacuation  hospital. 

a.  Wound  cleansing. 

b.  Operation;  methods  and  indications  for. 

c.  Anesthesia;  ether,  chloroform-drop  method. 

d.  Roentgen-ray  examination. 

3.  Base  hospital. 

a.  Infections,  special  treatment  for. 

b.  Complications,  treatment  of. 

c.  Roentgen-ray  examination. 

d.  Operations,  methods  and  indications  for. 

OPHTHALMOLOGY. 

Instructions  in  ophthalmology  should  include  the  following-named  subjects 

1.  Methods  of  testing  visual  acuity. 

2.  Methods  of  testing  pupillary  reaction.  Significance  of  pupillary  abnormalities. 

3.  The  simpler  methods  of  testing  the  ocular  rotations  and  the  associated  movements  of  the 

eye,  including  convergence. 

4.  External  examinations: 

(а)  Method  of  everting  the  lids. 

(б)  Examination  with  oblique  light.  Especial  attention  to  its  importance  in  detect- 

ing abrasions  of  the  cornea,  corneal  ulcers,  the  presence  of  small  foreign  bodies 
and  iritic  adhesions.  Use  of  fluorescin. 

5.  Epiphora  and  its  significance. 

6.  Inflammation  of  the  lacrymal  apparatus. 

7.  Inflammation  of  the  lids  and  globe.  In  general  all  cases  of  inflammation  should  suggest 

the  following  possibilities,  arranged  in  the  order  of  their  importance; 

Glaucoma. 

Iritis. 

Conjunctivitis. 

Foreign  body  in  the  conjunctiva. 

8.  Trachoma  and  other  contagious  diseases  of  the  conjunctiva. 

9.  Importance  and  significance  of  bacteriological  examination  in  conjunctivitis. 

10.  Indications  and  contraindications  for  the  use  of  mydriatics  and  miotics. 

11.  Wounds  of  the  eye  and  orbital  region. 

12.  The  importance  of  a thorough  examination  in  every  case  of  injury  of  the  globe. 

13.  The  importance  of  X-ray  examination  in  all  cases  when  there  is  the  slightest  suspicion 

of  the  presence  of  a foreign  body  in  the  eye. 

14.  The  use  of  magnets  in  military  eye  surgery. 

15.  Methods  of  testing  and  significance  of  increased  intraocular  tension.  Glaucoma  and  its 

varieties. 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


135 


16.  Simple  methods  of  determining  the  field  of  vision. 

17.  The  significance  of  a double  vision. 

18.  The  causes  of  gradual  and  sudden  loss  of  vision,  with  consideration  of  whether  functional 

or  organic. 

19.  Ocular  malingering. 

20.  Eye  symptoms  in  cases  of  increased  intraocular  pressure. 

21.  Ocular  headaches,  vertigo,  and  reflex  gastric  and  nervous  symptoms. 

22.  Ocular  symptoms  of  disease  and  focal  septic  areas,  as  in  alveolar  abscess  or  sinusitis. 

EAR. 

1 . Foreign  bodies  in  the  canal. 

Furunculosis  of  the  canal. 

Acute  otitis  media. 

Acute  mastoiditis. 

Sinus  thrombosis. 

2.  Chronic  otitis  media.  Polypi. 

Brain  abscess. 

Barany  tests  for  vestibular  function. 

Labyrinthitis. 

NOSE  AND  THROAT. 

1.  Acute  and  chronic  tonsillitis. 

Discussion  of  tonsil  operations.  Results  of  operations  in  preventing  absorption. 

Peritonsillar  abscess. 

Nasal  obstruction. 

Deviation  of  the  septum.  Submucous  resection  of  the  septum. 

2.  Acute  and  chronic  sinusitis. 

Antrum,  frontal,  ethmoid,  sphenoid — polypi. 

3.  Epistaxis. 

Fracture  of  the  nasal  bones. 

Correction  of  external  deformities  of  the  nose. 

Catarrh. 

Atrophic  rhinitis. 

Syphilis  of  the  nose  and  throat. 

4.  Acute  and  chronic  laryngitis,  papilloma  of  the  larynx — cancer. 

5 (Optional).  Direct  inspection  of  the  larynx  and  trachea. 

Foreign  bodies  in  the  trachea  and  bronchi. 

The  direct  examination  of  the  esophagus. 

Diseases  of  the  esophagus:  Stricture,  pouch,  cardiospasm,  cancer. 

Foreign  bodies  in  the  esophagus. 

NEUROLOGICAL  SURGERY. 

Skull. 

Fractures. 

1.  Varieties. 

(а)  According  to  mechanism — bending,  bursting,  expansile. 

(б)  Simple  or  compound. 

(c)  According  to  form  of  fragments — fissured,  linear,  comminuted,  diastasis,  de- 

pressed, perforating,  gunshot. 

( d ) According  to  situation — vault,  base. 

( e ) Infection  and  complications. 

(/)  Associated  brain  injuries. 

( g ) Associated  injuries  to  cranial  nerves. 

(h)  Associated  injuries  of  blood  vessels. 

( i ) Associated  injuries  of  nasal  accessory  sinuses. 

2.  Symptomatology. 

3.  Prognosis. 

4.  Diagnosis. 

5.  Treatment. 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Meninges. 

].  Physiology  of  cerebrospinal  fluid. 

2.  Meningitis. 

Traumatic  infective. 

Pathology  and  bacteriology . 

Symptomatology. 

Diagnosis. 

Pi  •ognosis. 

Treatment. 

Brain. 

1.  Localization  of  function. 

(a)  Excitomotor  cortex. 

(b)  Sensory  field. 

(c)  Visual  cortex. 

(d)  Auditory  cortex. 

(e)  Olfactory  cortex. 

(/)  Cortical  speech  centers 

2.  Craniocerebral  topography. 

3.  Symptomatology  of  organic  disease. 

(a)  General  symptoms. 

(b)  Local  symptoms. 

4.  Brain  abscess. 

(а)  Varieties. 

(б)  Pathology. 

(<:)  Symptomatology. 

(d)  Treatment. 

5.  Technic  of  intracranial  operations. 

6.  Roentgenography  and  stereoroentgenography  in  intracranial  disease. 

Spine. 

1.  Surgical  anatomy  of  vertebral  column. 

2.  Normal  and  pathological  physiology  of  the  cord. 

3.  Localization  in  the  cord. 

4.  Symptomatology  of  spinal  disease. 

Cell  destruction. 

Tract  degeneration. 

Root  symptoms. 

Sensory  disturbances. 

Motor  weakness  and  paralysis. 

Reflex  disturbances. 

Bladder  and  rectum. 

5.  Variations  in  symptoms  according  to  level. 

6.  The  operative  technique  of  laminectomy. 

7.  Extraction  of  foreign  bodies. 

N erves. 

1.  Function. 

(a)  Motor. 

( b ) Sensory — epicritic,  protopathic,  deep. 

2.  Results  of  section  of  motor  nerve. 

3.  Results  of  section  of  sensory  nerve. 

4.  Nerve  shock. 

5.  Diagnosis  of  nerve  lesion  (traumatic). 

6.  Technique  of  nerve  suture. 

PLASTIC  AND  ORAL  SURGERY,  SECTION  OF  SURGERY  OF  THE  HEAD. 

1.  Surgical  anatomy  of  the  face  and  jaws,  bones,  teeth,  accessory  sinuses,  soft  parts. 

2.  Sepsis:  Special  forms  of  sepsis  related  to  mouth,  face,  and  neck  treatment.  Peridental  infec- 

tion. Infection  of  antrum  of  Ilighmore  and  other  nasal  accessory  sinuses. 

3.  Wounds  and  injuries  of  the  face  and  jaws,  with  special  consideration  of  injuries  by  projectiles. 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


137 


4.  Fractures  of  the  jaw  bones,  with  special  reference  to  gunshot  fractures.  Displacements. 

Emergency  treatment.  Special  care  of  patient,  tissues,  etc.  Diet.  Special  methods  of 
fixation,  splints,  etc. 

5.  Treatment  of  deformities  of  bony  and  soft  tissues  following  gunshot  injuries  of  face  and  jaws. 

Orthopedic  splints.  Plastic  operations.  Grafting  of  soft  tissues,  bone,  and  cartilage. 

6.  Local  anesthesia  in  surgery  of  face  and  jaws. 

7.  Interpretation  of  dental  and  maxillary  roentgenograms. 

FOOD  AND  NUTRITION. 

1.  The  scientific  background  of  nutrition. 

2.  The  dynamic  effect  of  the  different  foodstuffs. 

3.  The  influence  of  muscular  work  on  metabolism. 

4.  Complete  and  incomplete  proteins. 

5.  Accessory  foodstuffs. 

6.  Governmental  regulation  of  food. 

7.  Feeaing  of  European  armies. 

8.  Protection  against  spoilage  of  foods. 

9.  Gastric  digestion  in  man. 

10.  Work  of  the  Food  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Office. 

ORTHOPEDIC  SURGERY. 

1.  a.  The  human  foot;  its  physiology,  examination,  and  the  significance  of  its  symptoms. 

b.  The  soldier’s  foot  and  the  military  shoe;  prophylaxis. 

c.  The  disabilities  of  the  foot  arising  during  military  service  and  their  treatment. 

Synopsis.  A review  and  an  elaboration  of  the  work  done  in  these  subjects  in  the  course  given 

in  training  camps. 

2.  Injuries  to  joints  and  their  treatment. 

Synopsis.  Also  a review  and  elaboration  of  the  preceding  course. 

3.  a.  Injuries  to  joints  and  their  treatment. 

b.  Special  joints — the  knee-joint,  etc. 

Synopsis.  The  general  subject  will  be  continued  and  elaborated,  and  the  special  peculiarities 
of  the  knee-joint  and  other  joints  fully  discussed. 

4.  Positions  of  election  for  ankylosis. 

Synopsis.  The  pathological  changes  leading  to  ankylosis  and  the  clinical  indications  pointing 
to  it  will  be  fully  explained.  The  positions  of  which  the  various  joints  are  most  serviceable 
will  be  definitely  defined  and  the  reasons  for  choice  of  these  positions  given. 

5.  The  operative  procedures  available  for  restoration  of  function  following  failure  of  repair  after 

nerve  injuries. 

Synopsis.  The  difficulties  involved  in  the  repair  of  nerves  will  be  fully  discussed  and  the 
necessity  for  painstaking  orthopedic  care  in  order  to  secure  a successful  result  after  nerve 
suture  emphasized.  As  alternative  measures,  where  regeneration  has  failed  to  take  place, 
tendon  transplantation,  tendon  fixation,  and  certain  bone  operations  are  available,  and  their 
technic  will  be  explained. 

6.  Nonunion  and  mal union. 

Synopsis.  The  various  causes  for  nonunion  and  malunion  will  be  reviewed  and  the  operative 
procedures  indicated  discussed. 

7.  Bone  grafting. 

Synopsis.  The  danger  of  operation,  and  particularly  of  bone  operations,  until  all  sinuses  have 
been  closed  for  at  least  six  months  will  be  strongly  emphasized.  The  indications  for  bone 
grafting  will  be  defined  and  the  technic  of  the  various  procedures — spinal  graft,  inlay  graft, 
bone  peg — carefully  explained. 

8.  Methods  of  fixation:  Plaster  of  Paris. 

Synopsis.  The  general  principles  of  fixation  will  be  discussed,  and  the  use  of  plaster  of  Paris 
in  military  work  will  be  fully  covered. 

9.  Methods  of  fixation:  Standard  splints. 

Synopsis.  The  standard  splints  will  be  demonstrated  and  their  indications  and  use  carefully 
explained. 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


10.  Methods  of  fixation:  Nonstandard  splints. 

Synopsis.  Other  splints  and  improvised  splints  will  be  demonstrated  and  their  indications 
and  use  explained. 

TUBERCULOSIS  IN  THE  SOLDIER. 

Signs  of  active  lesion.  The  acute  lesion.  The  chronic  lesion;  activity  in  chronic  lesions; 
distinction  between  acute  and  chronic  lesions  by  physical  signs.  Distinction  by  X ray;  broncho- 
pneumonic  focus;  diagnosis  of  large  lesions,  isolated  or  few  in  number;  tuberculous  pneumonia: 
development  of  caseous  lesions;  physical  signs  of  tuberculous  pneumonia  in  first  stage,  in  stage  of 
consolidation;  cavity  signs;  recent  cavitation;  old  and  dry  or  nearly  dry  cavities.  Disseminated 
tuberculosis;  miliary  (vascular)  disseminations.  Peribronchial  tuberculosis;  physical  signs: 
varieties  and  prognosis;  X-ray  diagnosis. 

Physical  examination  in  tuberculosis. — Necessity  of  objective  examination  in  military  practice. 
Importance  of  cough  as  aid  to  diagnosis.  Topical  variations  in  physical  signs  in  the  normal  lung. 
Marginal  sounds.  Diagnosis  by  auscultation;  breath  changes  and  their  significance;  kinds  and 
significance  of  rales.  Role  percussion  plays  in  diagnosis  of  chest  conditions.  Voice  transmission: 
transmission  of  whisper. 

Detection  of  tuberculosis  among  soldiers. — Repeated  weighing  of  recruits;  those  losing  weight 
under  training  to  be  specially  examined.  Tuberculosis  usually  discovered  during  an  exacer- 
bation; distinction  between  exacerbation  of  chronic  tuberculosis  and  incipient  active  tuber- 
culosis. Role  of  X ray  in  the  diagnosis  of  tuberculosis.  Question  of  line  of  duty  (Circular  24,  S.  G. 
0.,  and  its  interpretation).  Infection  between  adults.  What  is  the  danger,  if  any,  of  spread  of 
tuberculosis  among  soldiers  from  contact  with  tuberculosis  individuals?  The  hygiene  of  the 
tuberculous  patient;  feeding;  indications  for  rest  and  exercise;  hardening  methods. 

Examination  of  the  lungs. — Stethoscope;  necessary  to  have  a stethoscope  which  fits  the  ears: 
Ford  stethoscope;  phonendoscope  not  to  be  used  for  routine  work.  Position  of  patient  during 
examination.  Steps  in  examination.  Inspection;  general  appearance  of  patient:  general  shape 
of  chest;  retractions;  lagging;  diminished  expansion;  apex  beat  of  heart;  pericardial  pulsation. 
Palpation;  vocal  fremitus;  normal  variations.  Percussion;  method;  light  percussion  best;  normal 
variations;  outlining  of  apices  by  Kronig’s  method;  best  to  percuss  from  below  upward,  comparing 
sides.  Auscultation;  best  to  auscultate  from  below  upward,  comparing  sides;  vocal  resonance; 
normal  variations;  even  pressure  of  stethoscope  necessary;  whispered  A'oice  transmission:  normal 
variations;  breath  sounds;  instructing  patient  how  to  breathe;  absence  of  breath  sounds:  feeble 
breathing;  rough  breathing;  harsh  breathing;  prolonged  expiration  bronchovesicular  breathing: 
bronchial  breathing;  cavernous  breathing;  amphoric  breathing;  normal  variations;  auscultation 
of  breath  sounds  at  apices;  bronchovesicular  breathing  at  right  apex;  transmission  of  breath  sounds 
from  trachea;  normal  disparity  between  right  and  left  apex;  pulmonary  rales;  extrapulmonary 
sounds  simulating  rales;  classification,  crepitant,  crackling,  bubbling  (so-called  moist  or  subcrepi- 
tant rales),  sibilant  and  sonorous  rales;  gurgling  rales;  consonating  rales;  cavity  rales;  pleural  rales. 
Value  of  “expiration  and  cough”  in  eliciting  rales.  Check  up  one  phase  of  the  examination  with 
the  other.  Value  of  the  localization  and  locality  of  physical  signs. 

INSTRUCTION  OF  SUBSTANDARD  OFFICERS. 

A less  advanced  course  of  instruction  was  promulgated  for  officers  of  the 
substandard  class,  with  the  idea  of  saving  for  the  Service  every  man  capable  of 
developing  into  a useful  officer. 

This  simpler  curriculum  was  as  follows:  ”8 

(a)  Clinical  training  will  be  giv'en  each  day  as  follows,  unless  circumstances  render  a change 
advdsable.  Attendance  is  compulsory. 

Monday:  Chest  clinic,  one  hour.  Discussion  of  cases  and  of  manner  of  their  investigation  and 
presentation. 

Tuesday:  Surgical  clinic,  one  hour.  Discussion  as  abovre. 

Wednesday:  Diseases  of  digestive  system  clinic.  Discussion  as  above. 

Thursday:  Fractures  and  orthopedic  clinic.  Discussion  as  above. 

Friday:  Psychiatric,  neurologic,  ductless  glands  clinic.  Discussion  as  above. 

Saturday:  Medical  or  surgical — Bone  and  joint  clinic.  Discussion  as  above. 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


139 


(b)  Instruction  should  be  given  to  individuals  or  to  classes  small  enough  to  permit  of  individual 
instruction  by  chiefs  of  service  as  follows,  attendance  being  compulsory  on  the  part  of  all  sub- 
standard men. 

Monday:  By  chiefs  of  medical  service.  On  routine  and  thorough  methods  of  physical  exami- 
nation and  history  writing. 

Tuesday:  By  chief  of  surgical  service.  Similar  instruction  in  relation  to  surgical  cases. 

Wednesday:  By  director  of  laboratory.  On  laboratory  aids  to  the  ward  surgeon;  what  may 
be  expected  from  the  laboratory,  how  it  may  be  obtained,  what  it  may  mean,  preparation  of  patient. 

Thursday:  By  director  of  X-ray  laboratory.  On  X-ray  aids,  what  may  be  expected,  how 
obtained,  what  it  may  mean,  preparation  of  patient. 

Friday:  By  adjutant  or  registrar.  Preparation  and  disposal  of  hospital  records.  Importance 
of  them  and  of  their  completeness. 

Saturday:  Repetition  of  most  needed  instruction. 

(c)  Officers  of  known  incapacity  or  doubtful  capacity  will,  so  far  and  so  long  as  it  is  possible, 
be  assigned  to  base  hospitals  or  other  units  in  excess  of  the  quota  of  real  necessity,  for  the  purpose 
of  the  above  instruction  and  will  there  be  under  constant  instruction  and  will  do  a full  day's 
work  each  day  under  the  supervision  of  an  officer  of  known  capacity. 

4.  No  definite  period  is  set  for  this  training  of  substandard  men  to  remedy  their  defects  and 
determine  their  competence.  It  should  be  continued  so  long  as  they  apparently  profit  thereby. 
But  an  officer  who  at  the  end  of  six  weeks  of  intensive  instruction  does  not  give  promise  of  reasonable 
competence  at  an  early  date  is  not  worth  continuing  in  the  sendee. 

INSTRUCTION  OF  NURSES. 

The  Army  Nurse  Corps,  made  up  almost  entirely  of  members  to  whom  the 
military  aspect  of  nursing  was  quite  unfamiliar,  did  not  pass  through  training 
camps,  but  went  at  once  to  the  bedsides  of  the  sick  and  wounded.29 

In  forming  the  personnel  of  the  various  hospitals  an  endeavor  was  made 
to  detail  nurses  who  were  especially  skilled  in  operating-room  technique,  the 
administration  of  anesthetics,  etc.,  and  the  respective  commanding  officers 
were  informed  of  their  special  qualifications. 

Their  instruction  partook  of  the  characteristics  of  experience.  This  expe- 
rience, enhanced  in  value  by  intimate  guidance  on  the  part  of  better  trained 
nurses,  or  of  medical  officers,  permitted  selections  to  be  made  for  newly 
organized  hospitals  in  the  United  States,  as  well  as  for  hospital  units  for 
service  abroad.30 

One  use  of  nurses,  new  in  the  Military  Establishment,  was  as  anesthetists. 
This  proved  most  advantageous,  for  medical  officers  were  thereby  released  for 
other  work. 

Special  courses  in  the  administration  of  anesthetics  31  were  given  in  the 
large  general  and  base  hospitals  and  at  St.  Mary’s  Hospital,  Rochester,  Minn. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  branches  of  the  Army  School  of  Nursing 
which  were  established  in  the  various  military  hospitals.  The  details  of  the 
instruction  given  in  these  schools  may  be  found  in  that  volume  of  this  history 
which  deals  with  Medical  Department  training. 

INSTRUCTION  OF  ENLISTED  PERSONNEL. 

The  wide  scope  of  the  duties  performed  by  the  enlisted  personnel  of  fixed 
hospitals  necessitated  a specialization  which,  in  a twofold  manner,  generally 
prevented  a comprehensive  course  of  instruction  for  that  personnel  as  a whole. 
There  was  close  confinement  to  restricted  details  as  individuals  or  as  groups : and 
organization — which  included  instruction — not  only  had  to  go  hand  in  hand 
with  successively  greater  demands  made  in  the  care  of  the  sick,  but  for  a while 


140 


military  hospitals  in  the  united  states. 


was  a considerable  degree  behind.  Many  of  the  base  hospitals  had  very  small 
beginnings,  and  the  personnel  was  gradually  added  as  the  physical  growth 
of  the  hospital  occurred.  Frequently  in  the  earliest  days  of  organization 
patients  were  considerably  disproportionate  to  personnel,  and  instruction  nec- 
essarily was  limited  to  vital  requisites.  In  general  the  first  essentials  in  training 
were  rudiments  in  the  care  of  the  sick  and  in  the  preparation  of  food  for  both 
patients  and  personnel. 

As  the  hospital  grew  and  its  departments  increased  in  number,  coincident 
with  the  growth  of  the  personnel,  it  was  found  that  many  technically  qualified 
men  could  be  assigned  directly  to  services,32  wherein  they  functioned  very 
satisfactorily  throughout  the  existence  of  the  hospital. 

Instruction  in  hospitals  was  largely  carried  out  in  separate  departments  of 
the  hospitals  and  in  the  main  was  based  on  practical  performance  of  work 
under  the  guidance  of  those  responsible  for  the  integrity  of  given  departments. 
In  this  way  large  numbers  of  men,  both  privates  and  noncommissioned  officers, 
were  trained  in  special  duties  and  made  available  for  the  formation  of  addi- 
tional units  for  service  at  other  newly  organized  hospitals. 

Discipline  and  duties  of  the  soldier  were  subjects  early  imparted,33  though 
in  the  beginning  only  disappointing  results  were  obtained  because  of  the 
impracticability  of  liberating  but  a small  proportion  of  members  of  detach- 
ments from  their  exacting  duties.  Later  on,  however,  with  better  organization, 
it  was  possible  to  form  groups  of  the  detachments  at  hospitals  and  by  drilling 
and  instructing  separate  groups  on  successive  days,  in  the  course  of  a week, 
each  member  of  the  detachment  had  received  instruction. 

TRAINING  DEPARTMENTS  IN  HOSPITALS. 

In  the  winter  and  spring,  following  the  beginning  of  the  functioning  of  the 
large  hospitals,  frequent  complaints  arose  over  men  being  returned  to  duty 
from  hospitals  who  proved  to  be  physically  incapable  of  performing  duty.34 
It  was  noted  that  patients  who  had  been  confined  to  hospitals  for  more  than 
two  weeks  were  rendered  unfit  for  immediate  resumption  of  their  full  duties 
as  the  result  of  such  confinement  and  because  of  the  medical  or  surgical  con- 
ditions for  which  they  had  been  treated.  The  soldiers  then  frequently  broke 
down  on  return  to  duty,  and  their  readmission  to  hospital  for  further  treatment 
was  necessitated. 

The  Surgeon  General  directed  that  hospitals  establish  training  departments 
in  the  convalescent  division  to  which  convalescents  would  be  transferred  by  the 
chiefs  of  the  medical  and  surgical  services  of  the  hospitals.34 

These  training  departments  were  intended  to  be  auxiliary  to  development 
battalions.  The  men  with  whom  they  dealt  were  those  who,  for  various  reasons, 
had  to  be  kept  in  hospitals  and  whose  discharge  to  the  development  battalions 
or  to  duty  could  be  hastened  rather  than  retarded  by  the  training. 

While  undergoing  training  these  patients  were  referred,  for  all  purposes  of 
medical  or  surgical  treatment,  to  the  medical  officers  by  whom  they  were 
transferred. 

A medical  officer  was  designated  by  the  commanding  officer  of  each  hos- 
pital to  have  charge  of  the  training.  This  officer  admitted  and  classified  the 
men  according  to  the  strength  and  condition  of  each — -largely  on  the  recom- 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


141 


mendation  of  the  transferring  officer — and  supervised  their  instruction  in  work, 
exercise,  and  drill.  He  maintained  discipline;  kept  suitable  records  of  all 
members  of  the  department;  and  finally  determined  what  disposition  the  con- 
dition of  the  patients  warranted;  that  is,  their  discharge  to  the  development 
battalion  or  to  their  former  commands. 

Under  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  training  department  there  were  sub- 
ordinate medical  officers  in  sufficient  number  to  supervise  the  convalescent 
wards  and  the  patients  therein.  The  duties  of  these  officers  were  to  have 
immediate  supervision  and  control  of  the  patients  in  their  charge;  to  treat  all 
minor  ailments,  referring  major  illnesses  to  the  proper  service  of  the  hospital: 
to  assist  in  determining  the  physical  capabilities  of  the  patients,  when  to 
advance  or  retard  them. 

The  classes  varied  from  the  lowest,  wherein  men  could  not  exercise  but 
could  attend  lectures,  to  the  highest,  in  which  it  was  found  men  did  more  work 
frequently  than  those  on  full  duty  status.  It  was  found  that  men  went  either 
up  or  down.  If  they  suffered  a retrogression,  they  were  examined  by  the 
physical  disability  board  of  the  hospital  with  a Hew  to  their  elimination  from 
the  service. 

REHABILITATION. 

The  Surgeon  General,  at  the  request  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  January,  1918, 
called  a conference  of  a number  of  governmental  and  civilian  organizations  in- 
terested in  the  problem  of  reconstruction  of  disabled  soldiers  with  the  idea  of  ar- 
riving at  the  best  means  of  administering  this  work  in  all  its  ramifications.35  As 
a result  of  the  work  of  the  committee  in  the  conference,  a report  was  submitted 
to  the  Secretary  of  War.36  Tins  report  outlined  the  functions  of  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  Army  and  the  functions  of  the  civilian  agencies  in  carrying 
on  the  work  of  physical  reconstruction  and  rehabilitation.  The  approved 
policy  for  the  physical  reconstruction  of  disabled  soldiers  contemplated  that 
no  member  of  the  military  establishment  disabled  in  line  of  duty,  even  though 
not  expected  to  return  to  duty,  would  be  discharged  from  the  service  until 
after  he  had  attained  complete  recovery  or  as  complete  recovery  as  could  be 
expected  considering  the  nature  of  the  disability. 

Physical  reconstruction  was  defined  as  the  most  complete  form  of  medical 
and  surgical  treatment  carried  to  the  point  where  maximum  functional  res- 
toration, mental  and  physical,  had  been  secured. 

The  completed  form  of  physical  reconstruction  embraced  the  equipment 
of  the  general  and  base  hospitals,  which  functioned  in  physical  reconstruction, 
with  curative  workshops  and  educational  buildings  properly  equipped  to  carry 
on  curative  work,  physiotherapy  buildings,  including  gymnasia  properly  equipped 
to  utilize  every  physical  means  of  cure. 

The  necessary  personnel  to  administer  the  work  was  obtained  by  Commis- 
sioning educational  officers  in  the  Sanitary  Corps.37  Administration  officers  for 
physiotherapy  were  obtained  from  qualified  members  of  the  Medical  Corps.38 
Enlisted  personnel  were  assigned  to  both  the  educational  and  the  physiothera- 
peutic departments,  and  civilian  women  were  employed  and  designated  reconstruc- 
tion aids,  to  function  in  two  classes:  Occupational  therapy  and  physiotherapy.39 

On  July  31,  191S,  the  Surgeon  General  designated  the  following  general 
hospitals  to  function  in  physical  reconstruction:  40  Walter  Reed  General 


142 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. ; General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md.; 
General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J. ; General  Hospital  No.  4,  Fort  Porter, 
N.  Y. ; General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. ; General  Hospital  No.  7, 
Baltimore,  Md.  (for  the  blind) ; General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y. ; Gen- 
eral Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J. ; General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May, 
N.  J;  General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn.;  General  Hospital  No. 
17,  Markleton,  Pa.;  Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif.: 
United  States  Army  Hospital,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Plattsburg  Bar- 
racks Hospital,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y. ; General  Hospital,  Fort  Bayard, 
N.  Mex. 

Special  provision  was  made  for  the  training  and  education  of  the  blind  at 
General  Hospital  No.  7,  Baltimore,  during  the  year  beginning  July,  1, 
1917. 41  This  hospital  was  completed,  a corps  of  teachers,  including  civilian 
employees  of  the  Army,  augmented  by  volunteers  from  civil  life,  was  ob- 
tained, and  active  work  was  begun  on  May  30.  1918. 

Special  arrangements  were  made  for  the  care  of  soldiers  disabled  by  deaf- 
ness and  by  speech  defects  at  General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J.42 
Deaf  soldiers  were  taught  lip  reading  and  incidentally  were  trained  in  suitable 
occupations.  The  soldiers  disabled  by  speech  defects  were  trained  in  speech 
articulation  and  were  vocationally  trained. 

On  December  19,  1918,  the  Chief  of  Staff  approved  the  Surgeon  General’s 
recommendation  that  the  number  of  centers  to  function  in  physical  recon- 
struction to  meet  the  need  of  rehabilitation  of  the  very  large  number  of  dis- 
abled men  returned  from  overseas,  be  amplified.43  The  amplification  of  the 
centers  of  physical  reconstruction  included  the  alteration  of  existing  buildings, 
available  buildings  in  the  designated  centers,  the  purchase  of  new  or  the  transfer 
of  the  necessary  equipment  already  owned  by  the  Government  for  workshops, 
school  buildings,  farm,  motor  mechanics,  physical  education,  and  the  like. 
To  meet  the  added  work  indicated  the  following  centers  were  designated  to 
function  in  physical  reconstruction:  44  General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore, 
N.  C. ; General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa.;  General  Hospital  No.  35.  Detroit, 
Mich.;  General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich.;  General  Hospital  No.  3S, 
East  View,  N.  Y. ; General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. ; 
General  Hospital  No.  42,  Spartanburg,  S.  C. ; base  hospitals  at  Camps  Gordon, 
Ga. ; Jackson,  S.  C. ; Lee,  Ya. ; Meade,  Md.;  Sherman,  Ohio;  Taylor,  Ky. : 
Funston  (Fort  Riley),  Kans.;  Custer,  Mich.;  Grant,  111.;  Travis,  Tex.:  Pike; 
Ark.;  Dodge,  Iowa;  Lewis,  Wash.;  Dix,  N.  J. ; Devens,  Mass.;  Upton,  Long 
Island;  and  Kearny,  Calif.;  and  on  May  1,  1919,  General  Hospital  No.  43, 
Hampton,  Va. 

REFERENCES. 


(1)  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916,  par.  760. 

(2)  Ibid.,  par.  602. 

(3)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  all  commanding  officers  of  hospitals.  December  18,  1917. 

Subject:  Enlisted  men.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  320.22-1.  Also:  Cir.  Letter 
No.  956,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  February  2,  1918.  Also:  Cir.  Letter  No.  (A-169), 
Surgeon  General’s  Office,  March  7,  1918. 

(4)  Cir.  Letter  No.  201,  Surgeon  General's  Office,  October  15,  1917. 

(5)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  406. 

(6)  Ibid.,  408. 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


143 


(7)  From  a statement  on  the  subject  in  History  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111.,  on  file, 

Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0.  Also:  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding 
officers,  base  and  general  hospitals,  December  14,  1917.  Subject:  Practical  training 
substandard  officers.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(8)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General,  October  15,  1917.  Subject:  Personnel.  Copy  on 

file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(9)  Circular  memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General,  November  15,  1917.  Subject:  Instruction. 

Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(10)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  February  19, 

1918.  Subject:  Administration.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(11)  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916,  par.  315. 

(12)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  312. 

(13)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  August  9,  1918. 

Subject:  Army  School  of  Nursing.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(14)  Bull.  No.  32,  W.  D.,  May  24,  1917;  and  Bull.  No.  43,  W.  D.,  July  22,  1918. 

(15)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals.  (Undated.) 

Subject:  Enlisted  personnel.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(16)  Circular  memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  Febru- 

ary 23,  1918.  Subject:  Enlisted  personnel.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(17)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  March  1,  1918. 

Subject:  Enlisted  personnel.  Also:  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  command- 
ing officers  of  hospitals,  March  27,  1918.  Subject:  Enlisted  personnel.  Copies  on  file, 
Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(18)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  March  1,  1918. 

Subject:  Enlisted  personnel.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(19)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals.  (Undated.) 

Subject:  Women  laboratory  technicians.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(20)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  December  20, 

1918.  Subject:  Status  of  reconstruction  aides.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(21)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1127. 

(22)  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916,  par.  290. 

(23)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  November  11, 

1917.  Subject:  Specialists.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(24)  Circular  memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals.  (Un- 

dated.) Subject:  Recognition  of  sections  representing  specialists.  Copy  on  file,  Historical 
Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(25)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  October  15, 

1917.  Subject:  Personnel.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(26)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  November  1, 

1917.  Subject:  Professional  training  of  medical  officers.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division, 
S.  G.  0. 

(27)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  November  15, 

1917.  Subject:  Detail  of  especially  trained  medical  officers  as  assistants.  Copy  on  file, 
Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(28)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  December  14, 

1917.  Subject:  Practical  training  of  substandard  officers.  Copv  on  file,  Historical  Division, 
S.G.O. 

(29)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Yol.  II,  1122. 

(30)  Ibid.,  1123. 

(31)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  April  15,  1918. 

Subject:  Comments  of  inspectors.  Copy  on  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(32)  G.  0.  No.  46,  W.  D.,  May  9,  1918. 

(33)  From  statements  on  the  subject  in  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals.  On  file,  Historical  Division, 

S.  G.  0. 

(34)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  all  base  hospitals,  July  10,  1918. 

Subject:  Training  departments  in  hospitals.  On  file,  Mimeograph  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  B-431. 

(35)  Memorandum  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  5,  1918.  Confer- 

ence on  physical  reconstruction.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  356  (General). 


144 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(36)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  January  29,  1918.  Subject:  Report 

of  conference.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  356  (General). 

(37)  Regulations  for  the  operation  of  curative  workshops  in  military  hospitals,  March  14,  1918. 

On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  356  (General). 

(38)  Letter  from  the  Division  of  Physical  Reconstruction  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  28,  1918. 

Subject:  Assignment  of  medical  officers  for  physical  reconstruction.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  210.3  (Assignments). 

(39)  Circular  of  Information  concerning  the  women’s  auxiliary  medical  aides,  December  31,  1917. 

On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  231  (Reconstruction  Aides). 

(40)  Release  from  Committee  on  Public  Information  to  newspapers,  July  31,  1918.  Subject: 

Announcement  by  the  Surgeon  General  of  completion  of  plans  for  physical  reconstruction 
of  disabled  soldiers  in  general  military  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  356 
(General). 

(41)  Circular  letter,  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  June  3,  1918.  Subject:  Physical  reconstruc- 

tion of  invalided  and  disabled  soldiers.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  356  (General). 

(42)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  19,  1918.  Subject: 

Modified  program  for  physical  reconstruction  of  disabled  soldiers.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  356  (General). 

(43)  Memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  General  Staff,  attention  of  Operating  Di- 

vision, December  10,  1918.  Subject:  Modified  program  for  physical  reconstruction  of 
disabled  soldiers.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  356  (General). 

(44)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Yol.  II,  1176. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


SUPPLIES  AND  UTILITIES. 

SUPPLIES  FOR  HOSPITALS. 

In  1917  the  Quartermaster  Corps  was  charged  with  the  means  of  providing 
transportation  of  every  character,  except  motor  ambulances  for  the  Medical 
Department,  either  under  contract  or  in  kind,  in  the  movement  of  troops  or 
material.0  It  was  also  charged  with  the  duty  of  providing  clothing,  camp  and 
garrison  equipage,  barracks,  storehouses  and  other  buildings;  supplies,  sub- 
sistence for  enlisted  men  and  others  entitled  thereto;  and  with  the  giving  of 
instructions  for  procuring,  distributing,  issuing,  selling,  and  accounting  for 
all  quartermaster  and  subsistence  supplies.1  The  Medical  Department  was 
charged  with  furnishing  all  medical  and  hospital  supplies.2 

For  the  purpose  of  the  system  of  procurement  of  quartermaster  supplies, 
they  were  classified  under  the  designations  A,  A-l,  B,  C,  and  D,  respectively, 
which  collectively  included  supplies  of  every  kind  furnished  by  the  Quarter- 
master Corps.3  The  supplies  included  under  the  several  classifications  named 
are  as  follows: 

Class  A-l  supplies:  Subsistence  stores  (consisting  of  articles  composing 
the  ration,  those  for  other  authorized  issues,  and  those  furnished  for  sale  to 
officers  and  enlisted  men)  ,4 

The  ration  was  the  allowance  for  the  subsistence  of  one  person  for  one  day.5 

Class  A supplies:  Articles  connected  with  the  use  and  equipment  of  troops. 

Class  B supplies:  All  supplies  required  for  repairs  to  public  buildings, 
including  furniture  and  officers’  quarters  and  messes,  window  screens,  screen 
doors,  refrigerators,  electric-bell  fixtures,  heating  stoves,  ranges,  cooking  stoves, 
steam  cooking  systems,  ovens  and  equipment  pertaining  to  bakeries;  and  all 
repairs  to  the  following  within  the  building,  viz,  plumbing,  lighting  systems 
and  fixtures,  and  steam,  hot-water,  or  hot-air  heating  systems. 

Repairs  to  and  maintenance  of  lighting  and  heating  systems  exterior  to 
buildings,  including  central  plants  pertaining  thereto,  ice  and  refrigerating 
plants. 

Repairs  to  and  maintenance  of  sewer  systems,  including  purification  plants, 
crematories,  and  water  systems,  including  reservoirs  and  pumping  plants. 

Repairs  to  roads  and  walks;  drainage  and  improvement  of  grounds. 

Class  C supplies:  Articles  of  clothing  authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  War 
to  be  issued  to  enlisted  men  and  charged  against  the  established  clothing  allow- 
ance, the  authorized  extra  or  special  issuance  of  such  articles  not  charged,  and 
for  authorized  sales. 

Class  D supplies:  All  other  supplies. 

“For  changes  which  were  effected  in  the  Quartermaster  Corps  during  the  war  the  reader  is  referred  to  Volume  I 
(pp.  115-116)  of  this  history. 


45269°— 23 10 


145 


146 


military  hospitals  in  the  united  states. 


SUBSISTENCE. 

The  Quartermaster  Corps  maintained  in  storage  the  articles  of  the  ration, 
together  with  exceptional  articles  of  food  for  sale.  The  ration  of  the  enlisted 
patient  was  commuted;6  that  of  the  enlisted  personnel  and  others  entitled 
thereto,  on  duty  at  the  hospitals,  was  drawn  in  whole  or  in  part,  the  difference 
between  the  value  of  the  subsistence  drawn  and  the  value  of  the  subsistence 
credited,  if  any,  was  paid  in  cash  to  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  hospital,  some 
time  after  the  end  of  each  month.7  The  commutation  of  rations  was  money 
paid  in  substitution  of  the  ration. 

The  subsistence  stores  drawn  in  kind  from  the  local  quartermaster  usually 
consisted  of  such  articles  as  fresh  beef,  flour,  potatoes,  onions,  coffee,  sugar,  etc.8 

The  list  of  special  articles  varied  in  its  component  elements  and  was  prin- 
cipally an  augmented  supply  of  groceries. 

In  camps  at  which  hospitals  were  located  articles  of  subsistence  were  stored 
in  the  camp  storehouses  maintained  by  the  quartermaster  of  the  camp.  In 
hospitals  located  at  places  where  there  were  no  posts  or  camps,  facilities  for 
handling  the  articles  of  the  ration  were  provided. 

Regulations  for  the  government  of  United  States  Army  general  hospitals 
provided,  in  the  administrative  division,  personnel  for  the  operation  of  the 
supply  department.9  The  regulations  also  governed,  in  so  far  as  they  were 
adaptable,  the  interior  administration  of  base  hospitals. 

Operations  which  pertained  to  the  purchase,  storage,  preparation,  and  dis- 
tribution of  food  to  those  within  the  hospital  entitled  thereto  were  made  the 
function  of  the  mess  officer — an  officer  of  the  Medical  Department. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  mess  officer  to  establish  and  conduct  such  messes 
and  furnish  such  diets  as  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  desired  to 
direct.  He  submitted,  for  the  approval  of  the  commanding  officer,  all  perma- 
nent orders  or  directions  for  the  care  and  conduct  of  his  department.  He 
was  accountable  for  and  expended  the  hospital  fund,  under  the  supervision 
of  the  commanding  officer.  He  purchased  from  the  Quartermaster  Corps 
whatever  kind  of  food  supplies  it  had  on  hand.  When  it  so  happened  that  the 
quartermaster  was  unable  to  till  the  orders  submitted  by  the  mess  officer,  the 
desired  articles  were  purchased  from  local  markets. 

The  value  of  the  ration  to  which  the  enlisted  personnel  on  duty  at  hospitals 
was  entitled  varied  from  time  to  time  and  was  established  monthly  by  the 
quartermaster.8  The  commuted  value  of  the  ration  for  the  enlisted  sick  in 
hospitals  was,  until  December  31,  1917,  at  the  rate  of  40  cents,  except  at  the 
general  hospital,  Fort  Bayard,  where  it  was  commuted  at  50  cents.6 

On  December  31,  1917,  the  ration  for  sick  in  hospitals  was  commuted  at 
the  rate  of  60  cents,  except  at  stations,  posts,  or  camps  where  the  Quarter- 
master Corps  carried  no  stock  or  sales  articles,  the  rate  being  75  cents  a ration.10 

Late  in  the  year  1918,  because  of  the  constant  increase  in  cost  of  food,  the 
commuted  value  of  the  ration  for  sick  in  hospitals  was  modified  on  the  basis 
of  two  considerations.  It  was  recognized  that  feeding  the  tuberculous  was 
ordinarily  more  costly  than  feeding  the  average  patient.  Therefore,  it  was  so 
provided  that  there  would  be  ample  funds  for  the  tuberculous  by  adding  50 
per  cent  to  the  value  of  the  ration,  regardless  of  bed  capacity.  In  all  other 
hospitals  the  added  amount  varied  with  the  bed  capacity.  Hospitals  of  100 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


147 


beds  or  less  received  the  actual  cost  of  the  ration  plus  50  per  cent;  those 
having  a bed  capacity  of  more  than  100  but  less  than  500  received  the  actual 
cost  of  the  ration  plus  40  per  cent;  those  with  a bed  capacity  between  500 
and  1,000,  the  actual  cost  of  the  ration  plus  25  per  cent.11 

One  year  later  the  ration  of  the  sick  in  tuberculosis  hospitals  was  commuted 
at  the  actual  cost  of  the  ration  plus  100  per  cent.12 

OTHER  QUARTERMASTER  SUPPLIES. 

At  all  hospitals  storage  facilities  were  provided  wherein  an  adequate  stock 
of  clothing  and  equipage  was  stored  and  from  which  it  was  issued. 

General  hospital  regulations  contemplated  having  a medical  officer  act 
as  quartermaster  of  the  hospital  and  to  have  charge  of  and  be  accountable  for 
Quartermaster,  Medical,  Ordnance,  and  Signal  Corps  property  and  funds; 
to  have  charge  of  the  construction  and  repair  of  buildings  and  property  and 
the  necessary  shops;  charge  of  transportation;  police  and  care  of  grounds, 
disinfecting  and  sterilizing  plants,  heating,  lighting,  and  ice  plants;  and  charge 
the  clothing  and  baggage  storerooms  of  the  patients.9 

To  assist  him  in  this  work,  the  detail  of  an  adequate  number  of  specially 
trained  noncommissioned  officers  and  privates,  Medical  Department  and 
Quartermaster  Corps,  as  well  as  civilian  employees  of  the  Medical  Department 
were  provided  for.  The  duties  of  the  several  grades  of  the  Quartermaster 
Corps  were  prescribed  in  general  orders.13 

In  practice  during  the  war,  an  officer  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps  was 
assigned  to  duty  at  all  general  and  camp  base  hospitals.14 

CLOTHING  AND  EQUIPAGE. 

Tables  showing  the  price  of  clothing  and  equipage  for  the  Army,  the 
allowance  for  each  year  and  an  enlisted  man’s  clothing  money  allowance 
for  each  year,  month,  and  day,  also  the  allowance  of  equipage  to  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  were  published  in  orders  by  the  War  Department.15 

On  July  11,  1917,  the  President  of  the  United  States  directed  that  during 
the  period  of  the  war  a soldier’s  allowance  for  clothing  would  be  the  quantity 
necessary  and  adequate  for  the  service  upon  which  he  was  engaged.16 

Those  in  hospitals  entitled  to  draw  clothing  from  the  quartermaster  were 
of  two  classes-  nurses  and  enlisted  men  on  duty,  and  enlisted  patients.  The 
enlisted  men  of  each  class  automatically  became  a member  of  the  detachment, 
Medical  Department,  or  detachment  of  patients,  respectively,  both  of  which 
were  under  the  command  of  officers  attached  to  the  hospital  staff. 

When  clothing  was  required , issue  was  made  by  the  quartermaster,  either 
to  the  individual  enlisted  man,  or  in  bulk  to  the  detachment  commander,  or 
officer  representing  him,  for  use  of  the  enlisted  men  of  his  detachment. 

MEDICAL  SUPPLIES. 

Hospital  supplies  during  the  war  were  secured  by  the  Supply  Division  of 
the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  a and  the  medical  supply  depots  under  its  direc- 

a On  Nov.  15,  1918,  Medical  Department  supplies  were  turned  over  to  the  Purchase,  Storage,  and  Traffic  Division, 
General  Staff. 


148 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tion.17  It  was  early  found  that  with  the  establishment  of  the  various  camps 
would  come  the  need  for  the  development  at  each  of  a local  depot,  equipped  to 
meet  all  the  needs  of  the  camp,  regimental  organizations,  sanitary  trains,  and 
base  hospitals.  In  many  instances  supplies  arrived  at  camps  before  there  were 
buildings  to  receive  them,  and  it  was  necessary  to  store  them  wherever  space 
could  be  secured  in  existing  buildings,  farmhouses,  in  the  open,  or  under  canvas. 

The  Sanitary  Corps  was  authorized,  June  30,  1917,  to  provide  technical  and 
nonmedical  personnel  for  the  various  activities  of  the  Medical  Department,18 
and  it  was  for  this  corps  that  officers  for  duty  in  medical  supply  offices  were 
obtained. 

Medical  supplies  included  medicines,  antiseptics,  and  disinfectants; 
stationary,  miscellaneous  supplies  (including  instruments,  appliances,  special 
equipment  for  wards,  operating  rooms,  messes,  etc.),  laboratory,  X-ray,  and 
dental  supplies.19 

Supplies  were  sent  from  one  or  more  medical  supply  depots  for  the  institu- 
tion of  the  hospitals.  Although  the  supply  of  drugs  and  other  remedies  for 
dispensaries  and  ward  equipment  was  not  equal  to  the  demand  for  base  hos- 
pital uses  in  the  early  months  of  the  war,  eventually  these  were  reasonably 
ample,20  with  the  exception  of  a few  substances  from  abroad.  These  latter 
were  superseded  by  domestic  products.20 

AUXILIARY  SUPPLIES. 

By  act  of  Congress  approved  April  24,  1912, 21  organized  voluntary  aid  was 
provided  for  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  American  National  Red  Cross. 

Each  large  hospital  had,  as  a part  of  its  personnel,  one  or  more  representa- 
tives of  the  Red  Cross,  who,  besides  acting  as  a medium  of  communication 
between  the  people  and  their  relatives,  at  the  hospital,  distributed  Red  Cross 
property  intended  for  the  comfort  of  the  patients  or  personnel.  These  Red 
Cross  articles  were  in  the  nature  of  a refinement  and  consisted  of  such  things 
as  sweaters,  mufflers,  woolen  helmets,  socks,  and  comfort  kits. 

Frequently,  in  emergency — or  upon  the  request  or  suggestion  of  an  officer 
in  charge — the  Red  Cross  procured  for  hospitals,  articles  of  medical  supplies 
not  otherwise  obtainable  at  the  time.  These  articles  were  taken  up  and 
accounted  for  on  returns  of  medical  property.22 

UTILITIES. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  the  Quartermaster  Corps  was  charged  not 
only  with  the  erection  of  hospital  buildings  but  with  their  upkeep.  The  upkeep 
included  general  repairs  to  the  buildings  and  to  the  technical,  movable  prop- 
erty within  them;  the  physical  care  of  exteriors;  and  the  operation  of  the 
facilities  which  permitted  the  existence  of  the  institution  as  a whole,  viz,  water- 
supply,  sewerage,  lighting,  heating,  etc. 

Primarily,  the  control  of  upkeep  constituted  a function  of  a local  quarter- 
master, but  with  the  institution  of  means  directed  toward  a more  scientific 
civic  management  on  the  part  of  the  War  Department,  in  various  directions, 
the  Utilities  Department  became  an  entity.23 

A utilities  officer  was  assigned  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  the  camp  com- 
mander, his  duties  being  defined  as  those  formerly  performed  by  a camp  or 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


149 


post  quartermaster,  excluding  the  handling  of  supplies,  finance,  and  the  con- 
servation and  reclamation  service.23  The  operation  of  the  utilities  connected 
with  hospitals — with  the  exception  of  central  heating  plants,  when  such  ex- 
isted— remained  directly  under  the  supervision  of  quartermasters  of  hospitals, 
but  their  control  was  assumed  by  the  camp  utilities  officers,  who  furnished  the 
required  technical  enlisted  men. 

LIGHTING. 

The  electrical  energy  for  hospitals  was  obtained  from  public  service  electric 
companies  in  the  form  of  alternating  current.24  Where  hospitals  were  located 
as  a part  of  a camp,  the  current  was  obtained  through  the  main  camp  source 
of  supply.  In  hospitals  which  were  located  apart  from  the  concentration  of 
troops,  the  electrical  energy  was  obtained  directly  from  public  service  companies. 

In  exterior  lighting,  series  systems  were  used  with  6.6  ampere,  100- 
candlepower  lamps  and  radial-ray  reflectors  on  gooseneck  bracelets  attached 
to  poles.  The  lamps  were  from  250  to  350  feet  apart,  according  to  require- 
ments.24 For  interior  lighting  a standard  arrangement  of  40-watt  lamps  was 
in  general  use.  Those  buildings  requiring  especially  good  lighting  were  fur- 
nished larger-sized  lamps.  The  general  wiring  method  for  the  frame  hospital 
buildings  was  concealed  knot  and  tube;  and  for  buildings  with  fireproof  walls, 
concealed  rigid  conduits.  Ceiling  receptacles  and  sockets  were  of  brass  shell 
with  glass  reflectors  or  opalescent  globes.24 

A nurses’  calling  system,  consisting  of  a set  of  calling  stations  with  reset 
provisions  and  pilots  at  beds,  arranged  to  signal  the  nurse’s  office  and  designed 
to  operate  at  115  volts,  was  installed  in  some  of  the  later  constructed  wards. 
The  lamps  were  of  10- watt  capacity,  color  dipped.  In  the  two-story  buildings 
a set  of  signals  from  the  first  floor  was  installed  in  the  second-floor  office,  with 
a switch  for  disconnections  when  it  was  not  required;  and  similarly  a system 
to  take  care  of  the  first-floor  calls  was  installed  in  the  first-floor  office.25 

HEATING  AND  HOT  WATER  SYSTEMS. 

Two  general  systems  of  heating  hospitals  were  primarily  adopted,  viz, 
steam,  generated  at  a centrally  located  heating  plant;  and  stoves,  placed 
directly  in  buildings. 

Steam  heating  of  the  National  Army  hospitals  was  provided  for  in  the 
original  plans,26  but  because  of  the  primary  intention  to  discontinue  the  use 
of  hospitals  at  National  Guard  camps  at  a comparatively  early  time  stoves 
only  were  provided  them.26  The  disapproval  of  the  Secretary  of  War  of  the 
installation  of  central  heating  plants  of  steam  in  the  base  hospitals  of  National 
Guard  camps  27  was  based  upon  the  fact  that  they  were  located  in  the  southern 
portion  of  the  United  States  where  it  was  expected  a mild  winter  temperature 
would  prevail.  For  heating  the  wards  and  other  buildings,  stoves,  room  fur- 
naces, etc.,  were  utilized.  Later,  the  Secretary  of  War  authorized  the  installa- 
tion of  central  heating  plants  for  portions  of  some  of  the  National  Guard  camp 
hospitals,  viz,  operating  pavilion,  X-ray  laboratory,  administrative  building, 
etc.28 

The  large  central  heating  plants  for  hospitals,  when  installed,  consisted  of 
a battery  of  horizontal,  nonreturn,  tubular  boilers.  The  boiler  plants  were 


150 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Fig.  64. — Central  heating  plant  National  Army  base  hospital. 


Fig.  65. — Method  ol  heating  National  Guard  hospital. 


organization,  administration,  and  control. 


151 


standardized  as  much  as  possible,  those  for  steam  radiation  being  designed  to 
run  at  a low  pressure,  and  usually  one  for  the  purpose  of  steam  sterilization, 
cooking,  etc.,  at  a higher  pressure.29  The  distributing  system  of  piping  usually 
consisted  of  high  or  medium  pressure  mains,  condensation  returns  from  the 
heating  system,  and  steam  line  drip  piping.  The  steam  distributing  lines  were 
overhead,  suspended  from  poles,  and  were  insulated  by  means  of  built-up  cov- 
ering, consisting  of  1-inch  asbestos  air-cell  covering  and  1-inch  hair  felt  or  other 
suitable  material.  The  hair  felt  was  covered  by  2-ply  roofing  paper,  the  whole 
bound  together  with  wire  and  painted  with  asphaltum  paint. 

Experience  demonstrated  the  impracticability  of  the  nonreturn  type  of 
distributing  lines  in  the  central  heating  plants,  and  these  were  generally  changed 
to  the  return  type.30 

The  design  of  hot-water  supply  systems  for  hospitals  presented  a special 
problem,  and  two  methods  of  furnishing  hot  water  to  the  various  parts  of  the 
hospitals  were  used.  In  the  case  of  comparatively  small  buildings,  widely 
separated,  such  as  those  at  general  hospitals  for  tuberculous  patients,  individual 
hot-water  tanks  with  steam  coils  were  provided  for  each  building.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  buildings  were  compactly  grouped,  hot  water  was  usually  fur- 
nished from  the  central  heating  plant — in  the  event  that  there  was  one — from 
large  storage  tanks  with  steam  coils.  In  the  latter  case  water  was  circulated 
to  the  various  buildings  by  centrifugal  pumps.30 

WATER  SUPPLY. 

As  a rule  this  essential  provision  had  already  been  arranged — and  satis- 
factorily— in  hospitals  partially  or  wholly  constructed  before  1917.  Even  sub- 
sequently enlarged  and  converted  buildings  had,  with  rare  exception,  an  abun- 
dant supply  of  pure  water.  The  water  supply  of  the  large  camp  base  hospitals 
was  a part  of  the  main  camp  supply,31  but  almost  as  often  the  source  of  potable 
and  other  water  was  independent  wells,  town  or  village  waterworks,  lake  areas — 
all  these  were  drawn  upon  for  the  supply  of  water  to  hospitals.  Its  distribution 
and  prophylactic  treatment  by  some  form  of  chlorination,  filtration,  or  sedi- 
mentation were,  as  a rule,  satisfactorily  accomplished.  Although  it  was  neces- 
sary in  some  instances  to  husband  the  supply,  and  occasionally  to  ration  it, 
few  proper  criticisms  are  to  be  found  in  the  histories  of  individual  hospitals. 
In  most  cases  the  supply  was  stored  in  reservoirs  or  in  tanks  on  hillsides,  or 
in  some  way  raised  above  the  roofs  of  the  hospital  group,  so  as  to  give  the  needed 
hydraulic  force  for  distribution. 

SEWAGE  DISPOSAL. 

In  new  construction,  and  especially  in  the  base  hospitals  of  camps,  sewage 
disposal  was  usually  a part  of  the  camp  problems  32  and,  in  consequence,  it 
was  variously  treated.  For  the  details  in  connection  with  the  treatment  the 
reader  is  referred  to  Volume  VI  of  this  history.  It  is  of  interest  herein 
merely  to  note  that,  as  an  economic  measure,  no  sewerage  systems  were  pri- 
marily provided  the  base  hospitals  of  the  National  Guard  camps.  Latrines 
were  used  at  these  places  for  the  disposal  of  excretions  until  during  the  year 
1918,  when  sewerage  systems  were  authorized  and  installed.33 


152 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GARBAGE  DISPOSAL. 

Generally  speaking,  kitchen  refuse  and  other  forms  of  garbage  were  care- 
fully collected  in  screened  containers,  awaiting  disposal.  Galvanized-iron  cans 
were  early  employed  for  the  reception  of  the  more  readily  decomposed  material, 
food,  etc.,  and  these  cans  were  duly  sterilized  each  tune  they  were  filled  and 
emptied.34  Sometimes  these  procedures  included  sorting  stations  where  salable 
matter  was  separated  and  sold  to  contractors,  the  remainder  being  set  aside  for 
removal  to  dumps  or  incinerators.  Occasionally  the  methods  formed  part  of 
the  general  camp  disposition  of  garbage;  more  frequently,  however,  a plan 
was  adopted  for  the  hospital  group  alone. 

The  following  are  examples  of  the  greatly  varied  garbage-disposal  methods 
employed  at  the  base  hospitals  of  the  camps:35  At  the  base  hospital,  Camp 
Custer,  a garbage  storage  house  with  cement  floor  and  screened  windows,  8 by 
20  feet,  was  constructed  in  the  rear  of  the  kitchen.  To  this  house  garbage  was 
brought  from  each  ward  and  mess,  weighed  by  an  inspector,  sorted,  and  the 
weights  and  character  of  the  garbage  noted.  A report  of  this  was  then  sent  to 
the  desk  of  the  mess  officer,  the  dietitian,  and  the  commanding  officer.  Undue 
waste  for  any  ward  or  mess  was  noted  and  comment  made  locally  or  at  officers' 
call.  By  thus  fixing  individual  responsibility  the  daily  waste  of  edible  food 
was  reduced  to  as  low  as  0.17  ounce  per  day.  The  waste  in  the  detachment 
mess  was  at  times  as  low  as  0.06  per  ration.  The  garbage,  except  that  from 
the  contagious-disease  wards,  was  hauled  away  in  cans  and  turned  over  to  a 
contractor.  Sputum  cups  and  articles  containing  discharges  of  similar  nature 
were  collected  in  a pail  lined  with  newspapers  and  burned  in  the  furnace,  as 
were  infected  dressings.  Garbage  from  the  isolation  wards  was  separated  and 
burned.  At  the  base  hospital,  Camp  Cody,  the  waste  from  the  kitchen  was 
disposed  of  by  the  reclamation  service.36  Trash  and  other  waste  were  placed 
in  galvanized-iron  containers  for  storage  until  incinerated  at  the  dump.  At 
the  base  hospital,  Camp  Beauregard,  the  kitchen  refuse  was  disposed  of  through 
a contractor,  who  hauled  it  away  each  day  to  a hogpen  some  distance  from  the 
hospital.  If  the  garbage  accumulated  at  any  time  it  was  burned.37 

FIRE  PROTECTION. 

As  many  of  the  hospitals  were  constructed  of  highly  inflammable  material, 
it  was  obvious  that  their  use  would  result  in  an  excessive  conflagration  hazard. 
In  designs  provisions  were  made  for  the  inclusion  of  fire  breaks  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  standards  for  the  individual  separation  of  the  buildings.3S  All  walls 
and  partitions  were  provided  with  fire  stops  at  foundations  and  eave  lines  and 
blind  attics,  with  draft  stops  at  50-foot  intervals.38  Where  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  install  stoves  and  room  heaters,  plans  were  made  for  the  construction 
of  proper  hearths,  consisting  of  fire  brick  or  sand,  and  for  room  heaters,  of  sheet 
metal  or  asbestos.38 

Fire  companies  were  organized,  made  up  of  trained  fire-fighting  personnel, 
as  far  as  practicable,  and  furnished  with  fire-fighting  apparatus  of  the  small 
automobile  type.38 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


153 


First-aid  fire-extinguishing  apparatus  was  also  distributed  throughout  the 
buildings,  including  fire  pails,  chemical  extinguishers,  water  buckets,  and  hand- 
pump  tanks.38 


Fig.  66. — Base  hospital  fire  station. 

Provision  was  made  for  fire-alarm  service,  consisting  of  an  automatic  fire- 
alarm  system.38 

There  was  a remarkable  freedom  from  extensive  fire  losses  in  any  of  the 
larger  hospitals.38 

REFRIGERATION. 

The  base  hospitals  of  National  Army  camps,  except  that  at  Camp  Funston, 
were  supplied  with  small  refrigerating  plants,  each  having  a capacity  of  1 ton 
of  refrigeration  per  day.  Many  of  the  general  hospitals  were  likewise  supplied 
with  refrigerating  plants,  some  of  which  were  equipped  with  ice-making  appa- 
ratus sufficient  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  hospital.39 

Where  refrigerating  plants  were  not  provided,  as  at  the  National  Guard 
hospitals,  ice  boxes  were  used,  the  ice  being  obtained  from  the  camp  refrig- 
erating plant  or  by  purchase  from  local  dealers. 

LAUNDRY. 

It  was  originally  planned  to  have  laundry  units  a part  of  all  semipermanent 
hospitals.  Buildings  were  erected,  and  in  some  instances  partial  laundry 
equipment  was  provided.40  It  was  soon  determined,  however,  that  it  would 
be  more  practical  to  have  the  hospital  laundry  done  by  the  camp  steam  laundries 
or  by  local  contract.  In  a few  instances  the  base  hospitals  equipped  their  own 
laundries  and  managed  the  operation  of  them.41 


154 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


HOSPITAL  GROUNDS. 

The  site  chosen  for  the  hospital  hinged  upon  primary  considerations, 
which,  in  the  instance  of  camps,  and  aside  from  military  reasons,  were  high 
ground,  adequate  detachment  from  the  concentrated  troops  when  present, 
and  a well-drained  area  with  good  sun  exposure.  Frequently  virgin  sites  were 
selected  which  necessitated  much  clearing. 

The  construction  activities — building,  sewerage  system  installation,  etc. — 
left  much  to  be  desired,  from  an  attractiveness  viewpoint;  and  with  the  early 
concentration  of  efforts  on  organization,  and  a correlative,  greater  expenditure 
of  time  on  the  care  of  patients,  little  or  no  time  could  be  devoted  to  the  eradica- 
tion of  the  glaring  ugliness  of  most  of  the  hospital  exteriors.  With  the  advent  of 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1918,  however,  there  was  opportunty  to  grade,  where 
necessary,  or  fill  in,  and  plant  grass  seed,  flower  beds,  and  trees.42  Truck 
gardens  were  made  on  available  neighboring  space,  m many  instances,  which 
proved  of  twofold  value — a considerable  source  of  revenue  for  the  hospital 
fund,  and,  with  the  general  upkeep  of  the  hospital  exterior,  a valuable  recrea- 
tion for  convalescents.43 


Tig.  67. — Portion  of  a base  hospital  farm. 

ROADS  AND  WALKS. 


The  main  road  leading  from  camp  to  hospital  was  unproved  at  a com- 
paratively early  date,  and  usually  consisted  of  a concrete  or  macadam  struc- 
ture.44 Within  the  hospital  area  the  improvement  in  roads  was  left  to  the 
resources  of  the  officer  in  command.  Where  cinders  were  available,  as  from 
the  central  heating  plant,  these  were  used; 43  in  some  instances  crushed  stone 
was  used; 46  and  frequently  they  remained  of  dirt. 

Most  wards  were  joined  together  by  covered  corridors  provided  for  in  the 
original  construction.47  There  were  many  buildings  in  the  hospital  group, 
however,  which  were  not  connected  by  means  of  these  covered  corridors.48  In 
the  early  weeks  of  their  occupancy,  nurses  were  obliged  in  rainy  weather  to 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL.  155 

walk  to  and  from  their  quarters  through  mud  and  water,  and  likewise  the 
officers  encountered  this  trouble  in  visiting  detached  wards,  such  as  those 
of  the  isolation  group.  All  members  of  the  personnel,  as  well  as  visitors, 
tracked  into  the  various  buildings  more  or  less  dirt  from  these  muddy  walks, 


Fig.  68. — Covered,  or  "umbrella”  walk. 

all  tending  to  make  it  difficult  or  impossible  to  keep  corridors,  wards,  etc., 
reasonably  clean. 

These  difficulties  were  eventually  overcome  by  the  construction  of  foot- 
paths of  various  materials,  or  sidewalks  of  boards.49 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  A.  R.  1,000,  1913. 

(2)  A.  R.  13S6,  1913. 

(3)  Manual  for  the  Quartermaster  Corps,  1916,  Vol.  II,  2223. 

(4)  A.  R.  1195,  1913. 

(5)  A.  R.  1202,  1913. 

(6)  A.  R.  1212,  1913. 

(7)  A.  R.  1220,  1913. 

(8)  A.  R.  1221,  1913. 

(9)  Regulations  for  the  Government  of  United  States  Army  General  Hospitals,  War  Department, 

Surgeon  General’s  Office,  1914. 

(10)  A.  R.  1212,  1913  (C.  A.  R.  No.  66,  W.  D.,  1917). 

(11)  A.  R.  1212,  1913  (C.  A.  R.  No.  82,  W.  D.,  1918). 

(12)  A.  R.  1212,  1913  (C.  A.  R.  No.  99,  W.  D.,  1919). 

(13)  G.  O.,  No.  40,  W.  D.,  Oct.  25,  1912. 

(14)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  of  the  Army  to  the  Quartermaster  General  of  the  Army, 

September  6,  1917.  Subject:  Quartermasters  for  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  O.,  211  (Quartermasters,  Base  Hospitals)  ,1. 

(15)  Special  Regulations  No.  40,  W.  D.,  1917. 

(16)  G.  O.,  No.  89,  W.  D.,  July  11,  1917. 

(17)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  320. 


156 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(18)  G.  0.,  No.  80,  W.  D.,  June  30,  1917. 

(19)  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  1916,  Art.  XVII. 

(20)  Supply  Letters,  Nos.  1 to  23,  W.  D.,  S.  G.  0.,  December  5,  1917. 

(21)  37  Stats.,  90. 

(22)  Supply  Letter  No.  28,  W.  D.,  S.  G.  O.,  October  9,  1918. 

(23)  G.  O.,  No.  72,  W.  D.,  August  6,  1918. 

(24)  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  W.  D.,  1919,  12. 

(25)  Manual  of  the  Construction  Division  of  the  Army,  Section  C,  Engineering  Division,  1918,  91. 

(26)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  317. 

(27)  Second  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  officer  in  charge  Cantonment  Con- 

struction Division,  July  8,  1918.  Subject:  Disapproval  of  heating  plants  for  National 
Guard  camp  base  hospitals.  On  file  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  0.,  674.1  (Mi so  Sec.). 

(28)  From  statements  on  the  subject  of  heating  in  the  separate  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals  at 

National  Guard  Camps.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(29)  Manual  of  the  Construction  Division  of  the  Army,  Section  C,  Engineering  Division,  1918, 106. 

Also:  From  statements  on  the  subject  of  heating  in  the  separate  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals 
at  National  Army  Camps.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(30)  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  W.  D.,  1919,  21. 

(31)  Ibid.,  15. 

(32)  Ibid.,  30  to  35. 

Ibid.,  14. 

Ibid.,  36. 

History  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Custer,  Mich.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

History  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Cody,  N.  Mex.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

History  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Beauregard,  La.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 
Report  of  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  W.  D.,  1919,  16  to  19. 

Ibid.,  24. 


(33) 

(34) 

(35) 

(36) 

(37) 

(38) 

(39) 

(40)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  318. 

(41)  From  statements  on  the  subject  in  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals  at  Camp  Cody,  N.  Mex.,  and 

Camp  Grant,  111.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

From  statements  on  the  subject  in  the  separate  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals. 

Division,  S.  G.  0. 

From  statements  on  the  subject  in  the  separate  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals. 

Division,  S.  G.  0. 

Report  of  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  W.  D.,  1919,  24. 

From  statements  on  the  subject  in  the  separate  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals. 

Division,  S.  G.  0. 

From  statements  on  the  subject  in  the  separate  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals. 

Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(47)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General.  May  26,  1917.  Subject: 
Estimates  for  base  hospitals  for  cantonments.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176796  R. 
Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  December  26, 1917.  Subject: 
Hospital  increase  at  National  Army  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632-11 
(General). 

From  statements  on  the  subject  in  the  separate  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals.  On  file,  Historical 
Division,  S.  G.  0. 


(42) 

(43) 

(44) 

(45) 


(46) 


(48) 


(49) 


On  file,  Historical 
On  file,  Historical 

On  file,  Historical 
On  file,  Historical 


CHAPTER  IX. 


COORDINATION  OF  MEASURES  FOR  THE  IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE 
ADMINISTRATION  OF  HOSPITALS. 

SANITARY  INSPECTORS. 

A group  of  specially  trained  medical  officers  of  long  service  was  constantly 
engaged  in  making  routine  and  special  inspections  of  large  camps,  cantonments, 
hospitals,  and  other  stations.1  Their  duties  primarily  pertained  to  sanitary 
and  administrative  matters  within  camps  and  cantonments,  though  they  in- 
cluded the  inspection  of  hospitals. 

The  scope  of  the  inspections  which  these  sanitary  inspectors  made  differed 
materially  from  those  made  by  the  Inspector  General’s  Department;1  less 
stress  was  laid  on  details  of  a purely  military  nature  and  more  emphasis  was 
placed  on  matters  largely  technical,  such  as  nursing  and  the  professional  care 
of  the  sick,  the  competency  of  medical  officers,  the  handling  of  infectious 
diseases,  the  quantity  and  quality  of  medical  supplies,  hospital  construction, 
laboratories,  and  special  diets. 

After  each  inspection  a report  was  made  by  the  sanitary  inspectors;  and 
pertinent  abstracts  were  furnished  the  hospital  division  of  the  Surgeon  General’s 
Office,  for  the  information  of  the  administrative  officers  on  duty  therein.  Per- 
sonal conferences  were  had  with  officers  on  duty  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office, 
when  necessary  in  the  correction  of  deficiencies  which  had  been  made  of  note 
at  one  of  the  inspections. 

The  following  improved  form  was  used  in  making  inspections  of  hospitals: 
Report  of  Sanitary  Inspection  of  Hospital * 


At on 1919. 

By  Colonel M.  C. 

1.  Situation: 

(а)  Condition  of  roads. 

(б)  Improvement  of  grounds. 

2.  Construction: 

(а)  Progress  on  authorized  projects. 

(б)  Additional  required  or  recommended. 

3.  Organization  and  administration: 

(а)  Name  and  efficiency  of  C.  0. 

(б)  Adjutant’s  office,  including  personnel  adjutant. 

(c)  Hospital  regulations,  adequacy  of  same. 

(d)  Officer  of  the  day.  Duties. 

(e)  What  action  to  eliminate  unfit  officers? 

(/)  What  course  of  instruction  given  to  officers?  How  many  hours? 

( g ) Adequacy  of  officers’  quarters. 

(h)  Amount  and  sufficiency  of  transportation,  including  ambulances.  Is  ambulance  service 

satisfactory? 

*[  Asterisks  signify  answers  to  be  prepared  prior  to  arrival  of  inspector], 

157 


158 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


4.  Nurses: 

(а)  Number,  sufficiency,  efficiency. 

(б)  Name  and  efficiency  of  chief  nurse. 

(c)  Adequacy  and  suitability  of  quarters. 

( d ) Administration  of  nurses’  mess. 

5.  Detachment  enlisted  men,  M.  D.: 

(a)  C.  0.  and  organization  of  office. 

( b ) Condition  of  records. 

(c)  Number  and  efficiency  of  N.  C.  0. 

(d)  Strength,  sufficiency,  and  efficiency  of  detachment. 

(e)  Sufficiency  of  clothing  and  equipment.  Are  there  white  suits  for  all  entitled  to  wear 

them? 

(/)  Instruction  and  drills.  Character  and  efficiency  of  guard 
(g)  Operation  of  venereal  prophylactic  station. 

(A)  How  often  are  physical  inspections  held? 

6.  Barracks  and  squad  rooms: 

(а)  Adequacy. 

(б)  Ventilation  and  heating. 

(c)  Equipment. 

(d)  Operation  of  mess  and  kitchen. 

(e)  Character  and  condition  of  guardhouse. 

7.  Registrar’s  office: 

(a)  Organization  and  administration. 

( b ) Status  of  records  and  returns. 

(c)  Average  number  of  days  in  hospital  per  patient  during  past  month. 

(d)  Mean  daily  number  of  cases  in  hospital  each  month  since  hospital  opened  (not  to  cover 

more  than  1 year). 

8.  Dispensary  service: 

(a)  Compliance  with  pars.  240-244,  M.  M.  D. 

( b ) Are  common  drinking  cups  used  to  administer  medicine? 

*9.  Dental  service. 

*10.  Medical  service. 

*11.  Surgical  service. 

*12.  Eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department. 

*13.  Laboratory,  including  ward  laboratories. 

*14.  Genitourinary  service. 

*15.  Psychopathic  service. 

16.  Communicable  diseases. 

(a)  Administration  of  isolation  and  other  wards.  (Memo.  S.  G.  0.,  Jan.  1,  1918). 

17.  Wards  and  care  of  patients: 

(а)  Ward  capacity. 

(б)  Number  of  patients  present. 

(c)  How  admitted?  Operation  receiving  ward. 

(d)  Care  of  valuables  and  other  effects  (pars.  293  and  303-304,  M.  M.  D.). 

( e ) Efficiency  of  ward  service;  including  nursing,  bathing  of  patients,  cleanliness  of  linen 

and  clothing,  and  food  service  to  bed  patients. 

(/)  Do  chiefs  of  service  report  daily,  names  of  men  dangerously  ill? 

(g)  Are  nearest  relatives  notified  direct  from  hospital  regarding  seriously  ill? 

(A)  Are  letters  from  relatives  promptly  answered? 

(i)  Are  post  cards  sent  to  relatives  on  arrival,  departure,  and  discharge? 

(/)  Care  of  dead  (pars.  87,  162£,  167,  824,  A.  R.). 

( k ) Percentage  of  dead  which  are  autopsied. 

*18.  Kitchen  and  mess  management: 

(а)  Organization  and  efficiency  personnel. 

(б)  Source  and  quality  of  supplies. 

(c)  System  of  storage  and  issue. 

( d ) Diets  and  bill  of  fare. 

(e)  System  of  feeding  in  mess  hall. 


*[ Asterisks  signify  answers  to  be  prepared  prior  to  arrival  of  inspector]. 


ORGANIZATION",  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


159 


*18.  Kitchen  and  mess  management — Continued. 

(/)  Handling  of  hospital  fund;  amount  ( pars . 24S-262.  M.  M.  D.). 

( g ) Can  any  of  the  fund  be  spared? 

(h)  Have  cooks  and  other  food  handlers  been  examined  for  carriers? 

(i)  Adequacy  of  mess  halls,  kitchens,  and  equipment. 

( j ) Condition  of  food  served  to  wards. 

(F)  Does  nurse  supervise  serving  in  wards? 

(?)  Food  carts,  number,  efficiency. 

(m)  Efficiency  of  dish  washing. 

(n)  Condition  of  bakery,  cleanliness  of  bakers,  and  character  of  bread. 

(o)  Adequacy  of  fly  prevention  (Cir.  133,  W.  D.,  1919,  and  Cir.  Letter  No.  14S,  S.  G.  0., 

1919). 

19.  Exchange: 

(а)  Organization  and  administration. 

(б)  Sanitary  condition  of  food  supplies. 

(c)  Operating  under  W.  D.  Exchange  regulations? 

(d)  Records  and  dividends. 

20.  Laundry: 

(a)  Organization  and  administration. 

(b)  Number  and  duties  of  civilian  employees. 

(c)  Quality  of  work,  complaints. 

(d)  Adequacy  of  equipment  and  supplies. 

(e)  Disinfection  department. 

(f)  Clean  linen  and  issue  department. 

( g ) Arrangements  for  outside  work,  prices. 

21.  Medical  supply  department: 

(а)  Are  loan  cards  in  use  and  checked? 

(б)  System  of  issuing  supplies. 

(c)  Sufficiency  of  supplies. 

( d ) Are  hospital  requisitions  promptly  filled? 

(e)  Are  medical  supplies  on  hand  in  accord  with  balances  on  stock  cards? 

(/)  How  often  are  narcotics  and  alcoholics  checked,  and  by  whom? 

22.  Supply  and  utilities: 

(a)  Number  of  enlisted  men  in  supply  and  utilities  detachments.  Number  of  civilians 

Are  numbers  adequate? 

( b ) Status  of  records  and  property  returns. 

(c)  Sufficiency  of  supplies. 

(d)  Operation  of  power  plant,  heating  system,  and  hot-water  system. 

( 6 ) Water  supply. 

(/)  Sewerage  system  and  plumbing. 

( g ) Electric  lights,  other  electrical  appliances. 

*23.  Fire  protection : 

(a)  Description  of  system,  adequacy. 

24.  Disposal  of  wastes : 

25.  General  police  of  buildings  and  grounds. 

26.  Remarks: 

(a)  Condition  of  morale,  both  of  officers  and  enlisted  personnel. 

(b)  Efficiency  of  morale  organization. 

(c)  Apparent  causes  of  poor  morale  if  noted. 

27.  Resume. 

28.  Re  commendations  made  to  commanding  general. 

29.  Recommendations  now  made  to  Surgeon  General. 

MEDICAL  INSPECTORS. 

It  was  felt  that  the  routine  inspections  made  by  the  sanitary  inspectors  of 
the  Surgeon  General's  Office  left  much  uncovered  that  pertained  to  the  care  of 
the  patient  and  the  quality  of  the  professional  services  rendered. 


* [Asterisks  signify  answers  to  be  prepared  prior  to  arrival  of  inspector]. 


160 


military  hospitals  in  the  united  states. 


In  organizing  the  base  hospitals  throughout  the  country,  the  officers  in 
charge  of  the  various  divisions  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  selected  the 
principal  medical  officers  to  function  in  the  respective  services  of  hospitals.2 
To  obtain  an  adequate  check  on  the  manner  in  which  these  newly  selected 
officers  were  performing  their  duties,  as  well  as  to  determine  the  best  methods 
of  instituting  courses  of  instruction,  the  chiefs  of  professional  divisions,  or 
assistants,  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  personally  visited  many  of  the 
hospitals,3  or  detailed  traveling  instructors  to  impart  special  instruction.4 

With  a view  to  improving  the  medical  service,  each  chief  of  a medical 
service  of  a hospital  was  ordered  to  visit,  during  February  and  March,  1918, 
three  other  base  hospitals.5 

In  August,  1918,  a comprehensive  system  of  consultation  tours  of  chiefs  of 
surgical  services  was  inaugurated.6  These  consultation  tours  were  of  great 
advantage  to  commanding  officers  and  chiefs  of  service  as  well  as  to  the  Office 
of  the  Surgeon  General,  in  that  they  encouraged  the  mutual  exchange  of 
ideas,  the  consultant  being  prepared  to  give  all  the  information  which  he  had 
gathered  from  various  hospitals  visited,  and  he  in  turn  was  able  to  carry  away 
much  that  was  helpful  in  the  perfection  of  the  system  of  careful  professional 
demonstration.  Most  of  the  defects  found  by  the  consultants  on  their  visits 
were  due  to  lack  of  knowledge  as  to  the  necessity  of  certain  requirements  of 
the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  and  were  readily  corrected  by  such  conferences. 
Consultants  were  assigned  groups  of  camps,  in  geographic  relation,  and  were 
instructed  to  cover  all  possible  topics  pertaining  to  every  phase  of  surgery. 
Each  consultant,  on  his  return,  submitted  a report  covering  his  consultation, 
appending  a special  estimate  of  the  professional  qualifications  of  the  surgical 
personnel  of  the  various  camps  visited.6 

INSPECTING  NURSES. 

Several  well-trained  nurses,  of  large  executive  experience  in  the  best 
civil  hospitals,  were  assigned  to  duty  as  inspecting  nurses.  They  visited 
the  various  Army  hospitals  systematically,  inspecting  them  thoroughly,  partic- 
ularly with  reference  to  nursing,  but  made  of  note  any  ward  administrative 
feature  requiring  corrective  comment. 

The  reports  they  obtained  did  much  to  stimulate  a perfected  organization 
and  better  care  of  the  sick.7 

BOARDS. 

Boards  of  medical  officers  whose  functions  were  the  perfection  and  coordi- 
nation of  administration  and  professional  care  and  treatment,  were  variously 
organized.  These  boards  were  both  fixed  and  mobile. 

Efficiency  boards  were  appointed  at  each  hospital. s consisting  of  the  com- 
manding officer  and  the  chiefs  of  the  medical,  surgical,  and  laboratory  services. 
They  met  twice  monthly  to  consider  questions  of  policy  and  needs  of  the  hos- 
pital, a stenographic  report  of  their  meeting  being  forwarded  to  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office  with  recommendations  regarding  policy,  equipment,  accomoda- 
tions, and  general  administration. 

During  the  period  in  which  epidemic  diseases  were  prevalent,  three  mobile 
medical  units  were  organized,9  each  composed  of  three  officers  selected  for  their 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


161 


knowledge  of  infectious  diseases.  These  units  were  moved  from  one  hospital  to 
another  to  assist  in  the  care  of  cases  of  infectious  diseases. 

During  the  early  months  of  1918  cases  of  pneumonia  in  large  numbers 
were  reported  from  all  the  camps  in  the  South.  Accompanying  this  epidemic 
of  Avhat  was  termed  pneumonia,  many  cases  of  empyema  were  reported. 
To  determine  the  best  operative  means  of  treating  this  complication,  local 
boards  were  appointed,  consisting  of  a surgeon,  an  internist,  and  a bacte- 
riologist.10 Information  resulting  from  these  board  studies  was  collected  in 
the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General  and  disseminated  to  the  various  camps. 

A board  of  five  officers  was  sent  to  Camp  Funston  in  July,  1918,  to  make 
a thorough  and  complete  study  of  the  acute  respiratory  diseases  at  that  camp, 
including  epidemiological,  bacteriological,  and  pathological  investigation.11 
Upon  the  conclusion  of  their  survey  at  Camp  Funston,  the  group  was  transferred 
to  Camp  Pike,  arriving  about  three  weeks  before  the  outbreak  of  the  great 
epidemic.  These  studies  were  rich  in  results  and  gave  a picture  of  the 
respiratory  disease  condition  both  before  and  after,  as  Avell  as  during,  the 
epidemic,  made  in  a similar  way  by  the  same  group  of  men.  Their  reports 
Avere  published  in  the  medical  literature. 

CIRCULAR  LETTERS  AND  LITERATURE. 

To  the  personnel  of  hospitals,  desirable  information  was  imparted  by 
means  of  circular  letters.12  These  contained  not  only  original  instructions,  hut 
features  obtaining  at  one  hospital  belieA*ed  to  possess  sufficient  value  to  warrant 
bringing  them  to  the  attention  of  commanding  officers  of  hospitals  in  general. 

To  maintain  professional  efficiency,  medical  journals,  and  carefully  selected 
practical  treatises  were  furnished  medical  officers.  It  was  realized  that  the 
exigencies  of  the  service  afforded  comparatively  little  time  for  extensive  reading 
or  extensive  study.  Therefore,  a carefully  prepared  digest  of  all  important 
American,  English,  French,  Italian,  and  German  (when  obtainable)  contributions 
to  surgery  and  medicine  was  distributed  monthly  as  the  Review  of  War  Surgery 
and  Medicine.13  A Manual  of  Surgical  Anatomy  Avas  prepared  for  distribution.14 
This  manual  Avas  a volume  of  anatomical  plates,  Avithout  text,  selected  because  of 
their  use  in  Avar  surgery.  The  British  Official  Manual  of  the  Injuries  and 
Diseases  of  War  Avas  widely  distributed,15  as  was  Abstracts  of  War  Surgery,16 
furnishing  abstracts,  topically  arranged,  of  all  the  important  surgical  articles 
published  by  the  allies  from  the  declaration  of  war  to  the  time  of  American 
participation. 

The  Division  of  Infectious  Diseases  and  Laboratories,  at  the  ATery  beginning 
of  its  AA'ork,  instituted  measures  tending  to  standardize  technique  throughout 
the  laboratories  of  the  Army  to  such  a degree  as  would  make  results  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country  similar  and  at  the  same  time  permit  individual 
officers  to  use  their  oaati  ingenuity  and  any  particular  ability  they  might  possess 
to  simplify  accepted  methods  and  elaborate  neAV  methods  which  might  be 
found  of  value  in  diagnosis  and  treatment.  The  Rockefeller  Institute  published 
Monograph  No.  7 of  that  institution,  on  the  subject  of  “ Acute  Lobar  Pneumonia, 
Prevention  and  Serum  Treatment,”  aiming  at  standardization.17  Early  in  1917, 
a monograph  Avas  published  by  the  same  institution  on  request  of  the  Surgeon 
45269°— 23 11 


162 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


General,  entitled  “Mode  of  Infection,  Means  of  Prevention,  and  Specific  Treat- 
ment of  Epidemic  Meningitis.”18  At  a somewhat  later  date,  following  a confer- 
ence at  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  a standard  procedure  and  technique  for 
the  isolation  of  meningococcus  was  adopted,  and  pamphlets  describing  these 
procedures  were  distributed.19  As  a result  of  a subsequent  conference  a similar 
circular  was  distributed  describing  the  technique  for  isolating  the  types  of 
streptococci.20 

During  the  same  period  and  continuing  throughout  the  year  1917,  data 
were  accumulated  for  a manual  to  be  distributed  to  Army  laboratories  and 
to  cover,  in  a comprehensive  manner,  the  technique  of  the  more  important 
procedures  to  be  used  in  laboratory  diagnosis.21  From  time  to  time,  as  new 
methods  of  laboratory  procedure  were  developed,  and  their  value  demonstrated, 
reprints  of  articles  describing  them  were  distributed  to  the  service  laboratories, 
while  circulars  describing  recent  advances  and  suggested  methods  of  procedure 
were  occasionally  sent  out  from  the  Surgeon  General's  Office. 

With  the  purpose  of  using  all  preventive  aids  and  of  applying  modern 
scientific  methods  to  the  cure  of  such  venereal  diseases  as  did  occur,  the  Surgeon 
General  appointed  a committee  of  specialists  in  genitourinary  diseases  and 
syphilis,  which,  in  addition  to  other  labors  with  which  it  was  concerned,  pre- 
pared a manual  for  the  use  of  medical  officers,  giving  a brief  summary  of  existing 
knowledge  on  the  subject.22 

The  Division  of  Head  Surgery  distributed  books  dealing  with  special  sur- 
gery of  the  head  and  all  its  branches;23  and  the  Division  of  Orthopedic  Surgery 
furnished  special  books  for  the  guidance  of  officers  concerned  with  that 
specialty.24 

In  the  Division  of  Physical  Reconstruction,  all  available  literature  on 
reconstruction  and  rehabilitation  of  the  disabled  was  analyzed  and  compiled. 
Four  mimeographed  and  illustrated  bulletins  giving  the  complete  account  of 
the  rehabilitation  of  soldiers  in  all  the  belligerent  countries  were  prepared  and 
distributed  chiefly  to  medical  officers  of  the  Army.25  With  the  issue  of  May, 
1918,  these  bulletins  were  discontinued  and  their  place  was  taken  by  Carry 
On — a monthly  magazine  edited  by  a board  created  by  the  Surgeon  General.26 

Instructional  moving-picture  films,  including  among  the  more  important, 
the  diagnosis  of  tuberculosis,  eradication  of  louse  infection,  mosquito  eradica- 
tion, reconstruction,  and  training  of  a medical  officer,  were  produced  by  the 
Surgeon  General’s  Office  for  general  exhibition.27 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  V.  S.  Army,  1918,  273. 

(2)  Ibid.,  344,  347-348. 

(3)  Ibid.,  350-351. 

(4)  Ibid.,  344. 

(5)  Ibid.,  347. 

(6)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Yol.  II,  10S6. 

(7)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  309. 

(8)  Circular  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officers  of  hospitals,  February  19, 

1918. 

(9)  Minutes  of  the  meeting  of  the  pneumonia  board,  August  16,  1918.  On  tile,  Record  Room. 

S.  G.  0.,  334.7-1  (Boards'). 

(10)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  351-352. 


163 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 

(11)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1043. 

(12)  Ibid.,  1153. 

(13)  Review  of  War  Surgery  and  Medicine,  Vol.  I,  Nos.  1 to  10  (March  to  December),  1918;  Vol.  II, 

Nos.  1 to  6 (January  to  June),  1919.  Government  Printing  Office. 

(14)  Manual  of  Surgical  Anatomy,  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918. 

(15)  Injuries  and  Diseases  of  War.  A manual  based  on  experiences  of  the  present  campaign  in 

France.  January,  1918.  Reprint  of  the  Official  British  Manual.  Government  Printing 
Office,  Washington,  1918. 

(16)  Abstracts  of  War  Surgery.  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  1918. 

(17)  Monograph  No.  7.  Acute  Lobar  Pneumonia,  Prevention  and  Serum  Treatment.  The  Rocke- 

feller Institute  for  Medical  Research,  1917.  Waverly  Press,  Baltimore,  Aid. 

(18)  Alode  of  Infection,  Aleans  of  Prevention,  and  Specific  Treatment  of  Epidemic  Meningitis. 

Simon  Flexner.  The  Rockefeller  Institute  for  Aledical  Research,  1917. 

(19)  Circular  letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  officers  in  charge  of  laboratories,  1917.  Subject: 

Technique  for  detecting  meningococcus  carriers.  On  file,  Laboratory  Section,  Division  of 
Sanitation,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  730  (Laboratory  Technology). 

(20)  Recommendation  of  the  Committee  on  a Standard  Routine  Method  for  the  Detection  and 

Isolation  of  Hemolytic  Streptococci  from  Throats,  Sputa,  Pathological  Exudates.  On  file 
Laboratory  Section,  Division  of  Sanitation,  S.  G.  O.  730  (Laboratory  Technology  i. 

(21)  Aledical  War  Manual  No.  6.  Laboratory  Methods,  TJ.  S.  Army.  Compiled  by  the  Division 

of  Infectious  Diseases  and  Laboratories.  First  edition,  1918:  second  edition,  1919.  Surgeon 
General's  Office. 

(22)  A Manual  of  Treatment  of  the  Venereal  Diseases.  Prepared  under  the  direction  of  the  Surgeon 

General  of  the  Army.  First  edition,  1917;  second  edition,  1918;  third  edition,  1919.  Chi- 
cago American  Aledical  Association. 

(23)  (a)  Manual  of  Ophthalmology.  Prepared  by  the  Subsection  of  Ophthalmology,  Section  of 

Surgery  of  the  Head,  Division  of  Surgery,  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  War  Depart- 
ment. Government  Printing  Office,  1917. 

(6)  Aledical  War  Alanual  No.  3.  Lea  and  Febiger,  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  1918. 

(c)  War  Surgery  of  the  Nervous  System.  Compiled  by  the  Division  of  Brain  Surgery, 

Section  of  Surgery  of  the  Head,  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  War  Department,  Wash- 
ington, August  26,  1917. 

(d)  Surgery  and  Diseases  of  the  Mouth  and  Jaws.  V.  P.  Blair.  Third  edition.  C.  V.  Alosby 

Co.,  St.  Louis,  AIo.,  1917. 

(e)  Aledical  War  Alanual  No.  8.  Lea  and  Febiger,  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  1918. 

(/)  Survey  of  Head  Surgery.  Prepared  by  the  Division  of  Surgery  of  the  Head  in  the  Office 
of  the  Surgeon  General.  August,  1918,  to  January,  1919. 

(g)  Alanual  of  Neuro-Surgery.  Prepared  under  the  direction  of  the  Neuro-Surgical  Section 
of  the  Division  of  Surgery  in  collaboration  with  the  Sections  of  Head  Surgery,  General 
Surgery,  Orthopedic  Surgery  and  Neuro-Psychiatrv,  the  Army  Neuro-Surgical  Labora- 
tories, and  the  Instruction  Laboratories  of  the  Army  Aledical  Aluseum.  Government 
Printing  Office,  Washington,  1919. 

(24)  (a)  Alinor  Foot  Ailments,  Shoe  Fitting.  A manual  for  noncommissioned  officers  and  selected 

enlisted  men.  Prepared  under  the  Direction  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army. 

(b)  Aledical  War  Alanual  No.  4,  Alilitary  Orthopedic  Surgery.  Prepared  by  the  Orthopedic 
Council,  Aledical  Department,  H.  S.  Army.  Lea  and  Febiger,  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  1918. 

(25)  Reconstruction  Bulletin  Nos.  1 to  4 ‘January,  March,  April,  May,  1918).  Copy  on  file, 

Journal  Reprint  Section,  S.  G.  O. 

(26)  Carry  On.  Published  for  the  Surgeon  General  by  the  Red  Cross  Institute  for  Crippled. 

New  York  City.  Vol.  I,  Nos.  1 to  7,  June  to  December,  1918,  inclusive.  Vol.  II,  Nos. 
8 to  10,  January  to  March,  1919,  inclusive. 

(27)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  IT.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1064. 


CHAPTER  X. 

CORRELATED  ACTIVITIES. 

POST  EXCHANGES. 

Post  exchanges  were  established  and  maintained  at  practically  all  the 
large  hospitals,1  under  regulations  promulgated  by  the  War  Department.2 
They  were  provided  to  afford  opportunities  to  both  members  of  detachments 
and  patients  to  purchase  at  reasonable  prices  articles  in  ordinary  use,  wear, 
and  consumption  not  supplied  by  the  Government,  as  well  as  means  of  rational 
recreation  and  amusement.3 

Though  the  War  Department  provided  buildings  for  exchanges,  initial 
stock  was  obtained  on  credit.4  This  necessarily  caused  a modest  beginning  on 


Fig.  69.— A post  exchange  building. 


such  articles  as  candy,  soft  drinks,  and  tobacco.  Essential  fixtures  for  the  ade- 
quate  storage  or  display  of  the  stock,  as  well  as  for  adjuncts  like  the  barber 
shop,  were  gradually  obtained  as  business  grew. 

The  features  of  post  exchanges  included  a well-stocked  general  store,  in 
which  such  goods  were  kept  as  those  usually  required  at  military  posts,  and  a 
barber  shop. 

164 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


165 


The  exchanges  accomplished  considerable  in  aiding  the  upkeep  of  the 
morale  of  those  in  hospitals  during  the  war  period. 

The  system  of  operating  them  provided  for  the  extension  of  credit  through 
the  use  of  checks  or  coupons  representing  values  and  exchangeable  for  mer- 
chandise or  other  charges  at  the  exchange  to  the  enlisted  man.5  The  author- 
ized credit  could  not  exceed  one-third  of  the  pay,  of  the  soldier  to  whom  it 
was  given,  for  any  one  month. 

Each  hospital  exchange  was  directly  in  charge  of  an  officer  detailed  from 
the  personnel  of  the  hospital  and  operated  by  enlisted  men  from  the  detach- 
ment. A council  of  administration,  which  met  at  least  once  monthly  and 
which  comprised  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  exchange  and  officers  in  charge  of 
the  detachments  of  the  hospital,  audited  the  financial  records  of  the  exchange, 
checked  the  stock  and  funds  on  hand,  outlined  the  business  policy  to  be  pur- 
sued, and,  with  the  approval  of  the  commanding  officer,  determined  the  dis- 


Fig.  70. — Interior  of  a post  exchange. 

position  of  profits;  that  is,  that  portion  which  would  be  given  the  general 
mess  or  otherwise  utilized  for  recreational  benefit  of  the  enlisted  men  of  the 
hospital.5 

RELIGIOUS  AND  FRATERNAL  AGENCIES. 

Immediately  after  war  was  declared  by  the  United  States  the  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association  tendered  its  services  for  the  promotion  of  the  social, 
physical,  intellectual,  and  moral  welfare  of  the  enlisted  men.  As  a result  of 
this,  official  recognition  of  the  association  was  given  in  an  order  of  the  Presi- 
dent issued  in  May,  1917. 6 The  scope  of  the  duties  accomplished  by  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  included  the  Army  as  a whole,  but  among  its  features  were  regu- 
lar forms  of  service  to  the  patients  and  duty  personnel  of  hospitals,  promoted 
through  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hospital  buildings  or  visits  made  by  secretaries,  the  use 
of  Y.  M.  C.  A.  buildings  for  overflow  sick,  and  the  institution  of  a system  of 
rehabilitation  gymnastics.7  There  were  variations  in  the  geographic  location 
of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  in  the  groups  of  structures  representing  the  liospi- 


166 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tals,  as  well  as  the  use  to  which  it  was  put.  The  following  description  of  the 
activities  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hut  at  the  base  hospital,  Camp  Devens,  Mass., 
may  be  taken  as  a fair  sample  to  picture  the  accomplishments  of  the  associa- 
tion in  the  military  hospitals  of  this  country:8 

The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  is  a building  about  50  by  75  feet,  located  opposite  the  enlisted  men’s  barracks 
and  connected  with  the  wards  by  a covered  corridor.  This  building  has  been  freely  used  by  both 
the  enlisted  men  and  the  patients.  Basket  ball  and  other  indoor  sports  were  carried  on  during 
the  winter,  and  an  hour  for  the  officers  was  reserved  twice  a week.  Entertainments  of  some  sort 
are  given  nearly  every  evening,  such  as  moving  pictures,  addresses,  concerts,  and  an  occasional 
dramatic  entertainment.  On  Sundays  religious  services  are  held  in  this  building  by  the  chaplain 
or  some  visiting  clergyman.  There  is  also  a room  for  reading  and  writing. 

Other  religious  or  fraternal  organizations  were  also  desirous  of  performing 
a service  largely  concerned  with  the  recreation  of  both  patients  and  personnel 
of  hospitals.  These  organizations  had  been  given  an  official  standard  by  the 
Secretary  of  War  in  January,  1918. 9 

The  Knights  of  Columbus  established  social  service  “huts”  at  a few  of  the 
hospitals  and  at  others  maintained  its  social  service  through  representatives 
from  neighboring  clubs.10  The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  likewise  contributed  its 
share  to  recreational  facilities,  by  erecting  buildings  in  some  of  the  hospital 
groups  or  by  the  establishment  of  recreational  centers  in  the  vicinity  of  a hos- 
pital.11 These  organizations  provided  special  ward  entertainment  for  men 
confined  to  bed,  and  distributed  fruits,  lemonade,  and  other  refreshments. 

THE  RED  CROSS. 

Red  Cross  convalescent  houses  were  built  by  the  Red  Cross,  in  connection 
with  each  hospital,  to  provide  a place  of  recreation  and  amusement  for  sick 
and  wounded  who  were  convalescent.  In  these  convalescent  houses  personnel 
was  provided  for  Red  Cross  work  among  the  patients.12  This  work  included 
all  manner  of  personal  service  to  the  men,  entertainments,  games,  and  the  teach- 
ing of  handicraft.  The  Red  Cross  houses  were  turned  over  to  the  commanding 
officers  of  hospitals,  and  became,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  wards  of  the 
hospital,  intended  primarily  for  the  use  of  convalescents. 

There  was  also  built,  in  connection  with  each  of  the  larger  hospitals,  a 
recreation  house  for  the  nurses.13 

AMUSEMENTS  AND  RECREATIONS. 

Amusements  and  recreations  were  variously  evaluated  by  the  commanding 
officers  of  hospitals  and,  though  amusements  were  systematized  somewhat  by 
the  correlated  activities,  there  were  ample  opportunities  for  the  display  of 
initiative  in  the  provision  of  both  of  these  features.  Moving  pictures,  band 
concerts,  phonographs,  and  entertainments  played  a prominent  part  in  the 
amusement  of  those  in  hospitals  generally,  and  though  there  were  some  in 
which  there  was  a paucity  of  variety,  many  reports  evince  earnest  and  highly 
successful  efforts  made  to  provide  every  available  form  of  amusement  suit- 
able not  oidy  for  patients  but  duty  personnel  as  well.  Social  activities  were 
intelligently  managed  at  many  of  the  hospitals,  with  a view  to  maintaining 
the  highest  possible  degree  of  morale.  Athletic  fields  were  an  adjunct  of  most 
of  the  hospitals,14  whereon  baseball,  football,  track  meets,  etc.,  were  participated 
in.  At  some  hospitals  bowling  alleys  were  constructed15  and  at  others  swimming 
pools  were  installed.16 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


167 


Fig  71 —A  base  hospital  bowling  alley. 


Fig.  72. — A swimming  pool  at  Base  Hospital,  Camp  MaeArthur,  Texas. 


168 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


THE  AMERICAN  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION. 


In  the  hospitals  of  this  country,  the  American  Library  Association 
developed  a well-organized  service  which  provided  for  free  distribution  of 
library  books  to  both  duty  personnel  and  patients.17  Books,  magazines,  and 
newspapers  were  supplied  to  approximately  150  hospitals,  in  each  of  which 
expert  administration  or  supervision  was  provided  by  trained  librarians. 
In  reconstruction  hospitals  the  association  strongly  supported  educational 
work  by  supplying  every  technical  hook  for  which  patients  demonstrated  a 
real  need. 

HOSPITAL  NEWSPAPERS  AND  MAGAZINES. 


Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1918  a distinct  need  was  felt  for  some 
means  of  disseminating  items  of  news,  not  only  to  the  patients,  now  beginning 
to  return  to  the  United  States  from  hospitals  abroad,  to  their  relations  and 
friends,  but  to  the  personnel  of  the  hospitals  as  well.  To  fulfill  this  need  the 
publication  of  newspapers  and  magazines  by  the  hospitals  was  encouraged;  and 
in  November,  1918,  the  General  Publicity  Board  of  the  Surgeon  General's  Office 
was  charged  with  the  duty  of  the  establishment  and  supervision  of  newspapers 
at  Army  hospitals.18 

On  December  5,  1918,  the  first  of  these  papers  The  Come-Back,  was  pub- 
lished at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C.  In  rapid  suc- 
cession other  hospital  publications  appeared;  and  ultimately  there  were  those 
which  are  shown  in  the  following  list: 


Publication. 

Biand-Foryu 

The  Chevron 

The  Caduceus 

The  Base  Hospital  Daily  Bulletin 

The  Cure 

The  Fort  Bayard  New? 

Fort,  Porter  Reporter 

Gee  Aitch  43 
The  Orphan 
Keep  the  Cadence 

Fort  Des  Moines  Post 

The  Hospital  Breeze 

The  Fort  Sheridan  Recall 

The  Mess  Kit 

McPherson  Booster 

The  Listening  Post 

The  Oteen 

The  Open  Window 

The  Hustler 

Over  Here 

The  Stimulant 

’ Tenshun  21 

The  West’s  Recall 

Up  Grade 

Under  the  Dome 

Whizz-Bang 

The  Ward  Healer 

The  Trouble  Buster 

The  Right  About 


Hospital. 

General  Hospital  No.  42,  Spartanburg,  S.  C. 

General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind. 
Base  Hospital,  Camp  Greene,  N.  C. 

Base  Hospital.  Camp  Custer,  Mich. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Upton,  Long  Island.  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital,  Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex. 

General  Hospital  No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  43,  Hampton,  Ya. 

General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Kans. 

General  Hospital  No.  28.  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

Base  Hospital.  Camp  Merritt,  N.  J. 

General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  19,  Oteen  (Azalea),  N.  C. 

General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Rahway,  N.  J. 

General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J. 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo. 

General  Hospital  No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz. 
General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind. 

General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston,  Mass. 

General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C. 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry.  Md. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Greenkut  Building.  New 
York.  N.  Y. 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


169 


Publication. 

The  Come-Back 

As  You  Were 

The  Plattsburg  Reflex 

The  Star  Shell 

The  Pill  Box 

Ontario  Post 

The  Hospital  Review .... 
Base  Hospital  Journal.  . . 
Home  Again 

Over  the  Top 

Heads  TJp 

Azuwer 

The  Reclaimer 

D -Barker 

The  Hospital  Records 

The  Post  Post 

The  Reveille 

Here  and  There. 

The  Silver  Chev’ 

Weekly  Inspection 

The  Camouflage 

About  Face 

The  Bomb  Proof 


Hospital. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital.  Takoma  Park.  D.  C. 
General  Hospital  No.  24,  Parkview  Station,  Pittsburgh, 

Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y. 
General  Hospital  No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario.  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  New  York  City. 
Camp  Sherman,  Ohio. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island, 
N.  Y. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Zachary  Taylor,  N.  Y. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  Richmond  College,  Va. 
General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich. 

General  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass. 
Debarkation  Hospital  No.  51,  National  Soldier’s  Home. 
Va. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Cody,  Deming,  N.  Mex. 

General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J. 

General  Flospital  No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Meade,  Md. 

Camp  Hospital.  Camp  Grant,  111. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lewis,  Wash. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wheeler.  Ga. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

General  Hospital  No.  18,  Waynesville,  N.  C. 


Many  of  the  names  of  these  newspapers  suggest  the  implied,  cheerful  nature 
of  the  contents  of  the  pages  they  captioned.  Indeed,  cheerfulness  was  the  con- 
sistent watchword  of  all  of  them  without  exception.  Within  their  pages  were 
to  be  found  interesting  articles  which  dealt  with  the  Medical  Department  at 
large,  with  the  hospitals  concerned,  and  with  the  individuals  within  them.  They 
were  used  for  the  more  serious  purpose  of  affording  the  opportunity  to  patients 
to  mentally  or  manually  benefit  themselves  by  the  training  and  education 
embraced  in  any  branch  of  printing  and  the  mechanical  operations  of  newspaper 
work,  as  well  as  in  reporting,  advertising,  circulating,  editorial  writing,  illus- 
trating, cartooning,  and  story  writing. 

The  newspapers  were  aided  by  the  General  Publicity  Board  in  obtaining 
an  advertising  patronage  which  resulted  in  making  it  possible  to  issue  an  attrac- 
tively appearing  publication  that  could  not  but  be  appreciatively  welcomed 
by  those  for  whom  it  was  intended. 


REFERENCES. 

(1)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1918,  318. 

(2)  A.  R.  345,  1913. 

(3)  S.  R.  No.  59,  1917,  Par.  12. 

(4)  Ibid.,  Par.  15. 

(5)  Ibid.,  Par.  22. 

(6)  G.  0.  No.  57,  W.  D.,  May  9,  1917. 

(7)  Galley  proof  of  Official  Report  of  War  Activities  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association. 

On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(8)  Taken  from  a statement  in  History  of  Base  Hospital . Camp  Devens.  Mass.  On  lile,  Record 

Room,  S.  G.  O.,  314.7  (Base  Hospital,  Camp  Devens)  D. 

(9)  G.  O.  No.  2,  W.  D.,  January  7,  1918. 


170 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(10)  “Medical  Care  Provided  by  National  Catholic  War  Council.’’  On  file,  Historical  Division, 

S.  G.  O. 

(11)  A Handbook  of  Economic  Agencies  of  the  War  of  1917.  Memo.  No.  3.  Historical  Branch, 

War  Plans  Division,  General  Staff,  1919,  240-241. 

(12)  The  American  Red  Cross  Assistance  to  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Army  in  the  United 

States,  by  Lieut.  Col.  C.  H.  Connor,  M.  C.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(13)  The  American  National  Red  Cross  Annual  Report  for  the  Year  Ending  June  30,  1918,  65. 

(14)  Taken  from  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals  at  Camps  Jackson,  Lee,  McClellan,  Sevier.  Shelby, 

and  Taylor.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(15)  Taken  from  History  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Jackson.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(16)  Taken  from  Histories  of  Base  Hospitals  at  Camp  Bowie  and  Camp  MacArthur.  On  file,  His- 

torical Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(17)  Special  Report  from  the  American  Library  Association,  War  Service.  On  file,  Historical 

Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(18)  Memo,  of  conference  with  General  Munson,  chief  of  Morale  Branch  of  the  General  Staff, 

November  15,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.  250-2  (Morale). 


CHAPTER  XI. 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  OVERSEAS  PATIENTS. 

Early  in  1918,  preparations  were  made  to  care  for  the  return  of  a large 
number  of  overseas  sick  and  injured.1  Shortly  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice, 
information  was  received  indicating  that  the  sick  would  be  evacuated  to  the 
United  States  at  an  estimated  monthly  rate  of  about  10, 000. 2 As  it  subse- 
quently developed,  this  estimate  proved  to  he  too  low,  for  in  January,  1919, 
20,847  patients  were  returned;3  in  February,  the  number  was  15.0S6;3  and  in 
March  it  exceeded  27,000.3 

During  the  period  from  April  1,  1918,  when  the  first  patients  were  received 
from  abroad,  to  December,  1919,  147,868  patients  had  been  debarked  at  the 
ports.3  Of  this  number,  108,337  arrived  at  the  port  of  Hoboken,  39,341  at 
Newport  News,  and  190  at  Boston. 

Boston  was  not  a regular  port  of  debarkation;  the  reception  of  patients 
at  that  port  was  occasioned  by  the  fact  that  in  August,  1918,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing September,  ships  returning  to  the  United  States  were  diverted  thereto 
as  a military  measured 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  patients  arriving  at  Hoboken, 
Newport  News,  and  Boston,  by  month,  from  April,  191S,  to  December,  1919 :3 


Table  9. — Number  of  overseas  'patients  arriving  at  Hoboken , Newport  News,  and  Boston. 


Boston. 

Hoboken. 

Newport 

News. 

Total. 

1918. 

April 

121 

66 

1S7 

May 

135 

271 

406 

June 

339 

330 

669 

July 

484 

346 

S30 

August 

42 

854 

292 

1, 146 

September 

14S 

890 

800 

1,690 

3. 967 

5.967 

October 

2, 547 
3, 191 

1, 420 

November _ 

2,  776 

December 

9, 143 

2,768 

9,912 
4, 543 
6,374 
2, 8S6 
2.754 

11*  911 

1919. 

January 

10, 935 
10,543 
20, 825 
17, 726 

20,847 
15,086 
27, 199 

February 

March 

20;  612 
15, 004 
10, 391 
4,739 
2, 175 
1, 305 
1, 726 
1,  623 
198 

12, 250 
7, 724 

June 

2, 667 
917 

July 

3, 822 

August 

1, 974 
1,2S7 

201 

IS 

September 

October 

1,726 

1,623 

198 

November 

December 

Total 

190 

10S,  337 

39, 341 

147,868 

In  the  distribution  of  these  cases  there  were  two  determining  factors: 
The  desire  of  the  War  Department  and  of  the  patients  concerned  that  their 
distribution  be  made  to  hospitals  as  near  their  homes  as  possible;  and  the  neces- 
sity for  assigning  certain  cases  to  special  hospitals  planned  and  equipped  for 
their  care.  It  was  essential,  therefore,  that  before  proper  distribution  of 

171 


172 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


173 


patients  could  be  made,  they  all  be  classified  in  accordance  with  their  places 
of  residence  and  the  character  of  tlie  disease  or  injury  for  which  treatment  was 
indicated. 

The  list  given  below  shows  the  classification  decided  upon  and  the  hospitals 
which  were  suitable  for  the  reception  and  care  of  the  various  kinds  of  cases:5 


Character  of  cases. 


Amputations. 


Arthritis,  chronic  (nontraumatic) . 


Blindness  (partial  or  total). 


Epileptics  and  mental  defectives. 


Eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  (wounds  and 
injuries  or  diseases  requiring  surgical 
treatment  of  importance) 

Insane 

Maxillofacial  (injuries  of  the  face  and 
jaw) 


Medical  cases,  general  (including  cardio- 
vascular, diabetes,  and  gassed  cases)  . 


Designated  hospitals. 

Arriving  at  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  to  Gen- 
eral Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J. 

Arriving  at  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to 
Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J. 

General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

.General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Aid. 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

(Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calit'. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

General  Hospital  No.  43,  Hampton,  Va. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

Post  Hospital,  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C. 

General  Hospital  No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  24,  Parkview,  Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind. 
General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

General  Hospital  No.  27,  Fort  Douglas,  Utah. 

General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

General  Hospital  No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn. 

General  Hospital  No.  30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y. 
General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich. 

General  Hospital  No.  38,  East  View,  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 
Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley.  Ivans. 


174 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Character  of  cases. 


Nervous  system  (organic  disease) 


Neuroses  (functional) 

Orthopedic  cases 

1.  Deformities  of  extremities  due  to 

or  associated  with  contractures 
of  muscles,  ligaments,  and  ten- 
dons. 

2.  Derangements  and  disabilities  of 

joints,  including  articular  frac- 
tures. 

3.  Deformities  and  disabilities  of 

the  feet 

4.  Cases  requiring  tendon  trans- 

plantation  


Peripheral  nerve  injuries  and  paralyses 
(including  healed  or  unhealed  wounds 
with  or  without  fracture) 


Speech  defects  and  hearing 

Surgical  cases,  general 

1.  Unhealed  wounds  of  soft  parts  in 
general 


2.  All  fractures  of  upper  extremi- 
ties, except  articular  fractures, 
where  the  joint  lesion  was  the 
major  condition.  This  in- 
cluded unhealed  or  healed 
wounds,  nonunion,  delayed 
union,  or  malunion 


Surgical  cases,  fractures  of  the  lower  ex- 
tremities, where  the  joint  lesion  was 
the  major  condition.  This  included 
unhealed  or  healed  wounds,  non- 
union, delayed  union,  or  malunion.. 


Designated  hospitals. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 
General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

.Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

General  Hospital  No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  X.  Y. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 

Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
'General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 


General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  X'.  I. 
General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 


General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 
[General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 
iGeneral  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  X.  Y. 
| Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Kans. 

I Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston.  Tex. 

'Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  X.  Y. 
.Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  X.  Y. 
Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 

Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia  (Rahway),  N.  J. 
General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

General  Hospital  No.  24,  Parkview,  Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind. 
General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

General  Hospital  No.  27,  Fort  Douglas,  Utah. 

General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

General  Hospital  No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn. 

General  Hospital  No.  30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y. 
General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich. 

General  Hospital  No.  38,  East  View,  X.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  X.  Y. 
Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Kans. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  X’.  J. 

General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

General  Hospital  XTo.  28,  Fort  Sheridan.  111. 

General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

General  Hospital  No.  41.  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  X.  \ . 
Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


175 


Character  of  eases. 


Tuberculosis,  pulmonary. 


Venereal  disease  and  its  sequelae,  where 
venereal  disease  was  major  disability. 


Wounds  or  injuries  of  the  skull  or  brain 
(including  traumatic  epilepsy) 


Patients  benefited  by  waters  of  Hot 
Springs,  Ark 


Designated  hospitals. 

General  Hospital,  Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex. 

General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

General  Hospital  No.  19,  Oteen  (Biltmore),  N.  C.. 
General  Hospital  No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz. 
General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo. 

General  Hospital  No.  42,  Spartanburg,  S.  C. 

Any  hospital  caring  for  medical  cases. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D.  C. 
Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif. 
General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. 

General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga. 

General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 
General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 

Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex. 

Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark. 


No  attempt  was  made  to  classify  these  cases  in  a scientific  manner;  the  list 
was  provided  merely  to  enable  port  surgeons  to  determine  where  to  send  cases.6 

Prior  to  November,  1918,  the  base  hospitals  which  had  been  established  at 
each  of  the  32  camps,  as  well  as  the  larger  post  hospitals,  could  not  be  used 
for  the  treatment  of  overseas  sick.  For  this  there  were  two  reasons:  The 
hospitals  were  practically  taxed  to  their  capacity  to  care  for  the  sick  of  their 
respective  commands;  and  it  was  believed  inadvisable  to  send  sick  and  wounded 
from  the  battle  fields  of  Europe  to  home  hospitals  where  they  would  come  in 
contact  with  troops,  practically  all  recruits,  who  were  being  trained  for  service 
in  the  field.  Therefore,  no  attempt  was  made  to  send  overseas  sick  to  these 
hospitals  until  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice  and  home  activities  had  been 
changed  from  mobilization  to  demobilization.7 

By  November,  1918,  the  strength  of  commands  at  various  camps  had  been 
materially  reduced  by  the  hurried  departure  of  troops  for  duties  overseas ; 8 and 
as  demobilization  proceeded  it  was  found  that  the  objections  to  the  use  of  hos- 
pitals, at  mobilization  camps,  for  overseas  patients  no  longer  obtained.  It  was 
then  determined  to  utilize  these  hospitals  for  the  treatment  of  those  whose  homes 
were  in  the  vicinity  of  the  respective  camps,  cantonments,  and  the  larger  Army 
posts.9  By  sending  to  these  hospitals  patients  whose  disabilities  were  of  such 
a nature  as  not  to  require  special  treatment,  the  Medical  Department  was  able  to 
distribute  a greater  percentage  of  sick  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  their  homes. 10 

In  June,  1919,  demobilization  of  the  Army,  which  naturally  included 
Medical  Department  personnel,  had  proceeded  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  the 
maintenance  of  camp  base  hospitals  at  full  capacity  impractical  and  fortunately 
unnecessary.11  The  incidental  reduction  of  the  strengths  of  camp  commands 
was  such  that  in  some  instances  their  hospitals  could  be  maintained  at  one-fourth 
normal  capacity  and  still  provide  sufficient  accommodations  for  sick  of  the 
command.11  By  this  time  the  number  of  additional  overseas  sick  to  be  cared 
for  was  relatively  small,  as  90  per  cent  of  them  had  already  been  returned  to 
the  United  States.12  It  was  therefore  decided  that,  after  May  31,  1919,  all 
overseas  sick  would  be  sent  to  general  hospitals  only.13  The  following  table  shows 
what  disposition  was  made  of  the  136,097  American  Expeditionary  Forces 
sick  and  wounded  arriving  at  Hoboken  and  Newport  News  during  the  period 
April  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1919.  It  shows  also  to  what  extent  the  hospitals 
in  the  camps  were  used  for  the  various  classes  of  these  cases  after  the  armistice. 


Table  10. — Patients  from  American  Expeditionary  Forces  transferred  to  general  and  base  hospitals  from  ports  at  Hoboken  and  Neivport  News,  April  1,  1918, 

June  30,  1919,  inclusive — Classification  of  cases  transferred.  a 


176 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


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ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


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178 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Figure  74  shows  not  only  the  distribution  to  June  30,  1919,  but  that  up 
to  November  11,  1919 — one  year  after  the  armistice.  It  exhibits,  in  a way 
impossible  by  any  other  method,  the  relative  part  played  by  the  various 
hospitals  in  the  care  of  these  cases  numerically.11  It  must  be  remembered, 
however,  that  not  all  cases  admitted  to  a hospital  completed  their  convalescence 
there. 

REFERENCES. 


(1)  Memo,  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  April  2,  1918.  Subject:  Hospitaliza- 

tion in  the  United  States.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (General). 

(2)  Cablegram  No.  1908  from  General  Pershing,  November  19,  1918.  Subject:  Estimate  of 

average  number  of  sick  and  wounded  evacuations  to  be  made  to  United  States.  On  file 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.  (Cablegram  File.) 

(3)  Table  showing  number  of  patients  arriving  from  overseas.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 

721.6-2  (Sick  and  Wounded  Reports). 

(4)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  Nov.  26,  1918.  Subject:  Return 

of  wounded.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.9  (Ports  of  Debarkation). 

(5)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U,  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1164-1167. 

(6)  Memo,  from  Lieut.  Col.  Edgar  King,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  April  15,  1918.  Subject: 

Evacuation  of  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721.6  (Sick  and  Wounded, 
A.  E.  F.)  Y. 

(7)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  November  21,  1918.  Subject: 

Transfer  of  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721.6  (Patients  from  Overseas). 

(8)  Shown  on  strength  cards.  On  file,  Statistical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(9)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  November  21,  1918.  Subject: 

Transfer  of  overseas  patients  to  base  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721.6 
(Sick  and  Wounded,  Overseas). 

(10)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  surgeon,  port  of  embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  Feb- 

ruary 24,  1919.  Subject:  Assignment  of  overseas  cases  to  interior  hospitals.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721.6-2  (Sick  and  Wounded  Reports). 

(11)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Yol.  II,  1159. 

112)  Based  on  compilation  of  weekly  reports  of  patients  returning  from  overseas.  On  file,  Hospital 
Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(13)  Memo,  from  Lieut.  Col.  Floyd  Kramer,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  24,  1919.  Sub- 

ject: Conclusions  arrived  at  in  reference  to  hospitalization.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
632  (General). 

(14)  Chart  showing  distribution  of  overseas  sick  to  November  11,  1918.  On  file,  Hospital  Division, 

S.  G.  0. 


ORGANIZATION,  administration,  and  control. 


179 


Fig. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


TRANSPORTATION  OF  SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 

HOSPITAL  TRAINS. 

Shortly  after  the  United  States  declared  war  it  was  recognized  that  it  would 
lie  necessary  for  the  Medical  Department  to  provide  some  means  of  evacuating 
and  distributing  the  sick  and  wounded  from  the  ports  to  hospitals  in  the  in- 
terior. There  was  only  one  hospital  train  in  the  possession  of  the  Medical 


Fig.  75 — Hospital  Train  Xo.  1. 


Department  at  this  time.1  This  train  consisted  of  ten  cars,  comprising  one 
kitchen  and  personnel  car,  three  16-section  patient  cars,  one  operating  car,  one 
storage  and  baggage  car,  three  bed  cars,  and  one  officers'  car.  These  cars  were 
all  of  wooden  construction,  except  the  kitchen  car  and  the  officers’  car,  which  had 
steel  underframes.  They  were  remodeled  from  old  Pullman  cars,  August,  1916, 
by  the  Pullman  Co.,  for  service  on  the  Mexican  border,  and  were  leased  by  the 
Government  on  a per  diem  basis,  with  the  understanding  that  they  could  be 
purchased.1  The  train  had  a capacity  of  225  patients  and  accommodations 
for  31  personnel.1  In  October,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  requested  an  appro- 
1S0 


organization,  administration,  and  control.  181 

priation  sufficient  to  construct  three  additional  trains  of  six  cars  each.1  On  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1918,  authority  was  obtained  for  the  purchase  of  these  additional 
18  cars,  and  in  June,  1918,  the  cars  had  been  purchased,  remodeled,  and  placed 
in  service.1  Three  bed  cars  were  taken  from  Train  No.  1,  thus  reducing  it  to  a 
7-car  train;  and  one  bed  car  was  added  to  each  new  train. 


Fig.  76.— A I6-section  patient-car,  Train  No.  1. 

There  were  now  4 trains  of  7 cars  each,  with  a capacity  of  141  patients 
and  31  personnel  for  each  train.  Pending  the  arrival  of  overseas  patients  at 
the  ports,  these  trains  were  distributed  as  follows:1  Train  No.  1 to  Port  of  Em- 
barkation, Hoboken,  N.  J. ; Train  No.  2 to  the  Medical  Officers’  Training  Camp, 


182 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.,  for  instruction  purposes  until  October,  1918,  when  it 
was  sent  to  the  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J. ; Train  Xo.  3 to  Fort  Riley, 
Ivans.,  for  instruction  purposes  at  the  Medical  Officers’  Training  Camp,  at  that 
place,  and  then  to  the  Port  of  Embarkation  at  Hoboken,  N.  J. 


Fig.  77. — Car  for  sick  officers,  Train  No.  1 . 

It  was  estimated  in  October,  1918,  that  the  three  hospital  trains  at  Hoboken, 
with  a patient  carrying  capacity  of  423,  could  make  a minimum  of  three  round 
trips  per  month  each  from  the  port  to  interior  points,2  averaging  a distance 
of  1,000  miles. 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 


183 


It  was  apparent  that,  even  if  increased  in  carrying  capacity  by  the  addi- 
tion of  three  Pullman  cars  to  each,  these  trains  would  be  totally  inadequate 
to  distribute  large  numbers  of  sick  and  wounded.  The  most  crying  need 
was  for  cars  with  kitchen  facilities,  and  after  a careful  study  of  the  situation 
a request  was  made  in  October,  191S,  for  authority  to  purchase  20  cars  and 
to  have  them  remodeled  into  unit  cars.3  This  authority  was  granted  on 
October  25,  1918, 4 and  the  necessary  arrangements  were  immediately  insti- 
tuted with  the  Pullman  Car  Co. 

It  was  found  that,  owing  to  the  increased  cost  of  material  and  labor,  the 
original  estimate  of  $25,000  each  for  these  cars  no  longer  obtained,  and  that 
the  cars  would  cost  $27,000  each,5  including  remodeling.  Nor  could  the  Pull- 
man Co.  promise  delivery  of  them  under  three  or  four  months.  It  was  dis- 
covered though  that  20  steel  underframe  Pullman  parlor  cars  were  available 
and  could  be  remodeled  and  be  made  ready  for  service  within  a very  short 
time.6  The  offer  of  these  cars  was  accepted  and  the  order  given  the  Pullman 
Co.  to  remodel  them  and  the  cars  were  all  completed  and  in  service  on  January 
31,  1919. 2 

The  remodeling  of  the  cars,  including  removal  of  the  interior  fittings  and 
the  installation  of  Glennan  adjustable  bunks,  large  kitchens,  refrigerators, 
axle  devices  and  lighting  systems,  the  cost  of  each  added  to  the  original  cost, 
was  $326,000  for  the  20  cars.7  Ten  were  sent  to  the  Port  of  Embarkation  at 
Hoboken  and  10  to  Newport  News,  Ya. 

In  using  these  cars  the  plan  adopted  was  to  attach  one  of  them  to  six  or 
seven  standard  Pullman  or  tourists  cars,8  thus  forming  a hospital  train  of 
seven  or  eight  cars.  The  patients  from  the  entire  train  were  subsisted  from  the 
kitchen  in  the  unit  car,  and  were  cared  for  by  the  medical  personnel  assigned 
to  that  car.  The  plan  was  found  to  be  very  satisfactory  in  that  it  was  practi- 
cable to  furnish  hot  meals  for  250  patients  from  each  unit  car.8  There  was 
room  for  sufficient  personnel  to  care  for  all  their  needs  and  it  was  unnecessary 
to  pay  return  mileage  on  the  Pullman  cars  used  as  they  were  simply  dropped 
at  their  destination  8 and  the  unit  car  alone  returned  to  the  port.  This  made 
possible  a considerable  saving  over  the  use  of  a hospital  train,  in  which  case 
mileage  had  to  be  paid  for  the  entire  train. 

The  arrangement  for  the  evacuation  of  the  large  number  of  patients  from 
the  ports  and  while  awaiting  the  delivery  of  the  unit  cars,  made  it  imperative 
that  some  cars  be  obtained  for  immediate  use.  Authority  was  therefore 
obtained  to  lease  from  the  Railroad  Administration  20  cars  at  $15  per  diem.9 
In  the  latter  part  of  November,  1918,  2 kitchen-tourist  cars,  2 hotel  cars 
with  kitchens,  and  6 private  cars  with  kitchens  were  leased  10  and  were  sent 
to  the  Port  of  Embarkation  at  Hoboken.  At  the  same  time  7 kitchen-tourist 
cars,  1 hotel  car  with  kitchen,  and  2 private  cars  with  kitchens  were  leased  10 
and  sent  to  the  Port  of  Embarkation  at  Newport  News.  These  leased  cars 
were  used  in  the  same  manner  it  had  been  planned  to  use  the  unit  cars.  The 
tourist  kitchen  and  hotel  cars  were  the  usual  tourist  and  standard  sleeping 
cars,  with  added  facilities  for  cooking  at  one  end.  Each  had  a feeding  capacity 
of  250  patients.10  The  private  cars,  on  the  other  hand,  varied  in  interior 
design  and  had  a considerably  less  feeding  capacity.  They  were  the  best 
obtainable  for  the  time  being,  however,  and  provided  a reasonably  satisfactory 
substitute.  It  was  intended  that  these  leased  cars  would  be  used  only  until 
delivery  was  made  of  the  unit  cars;  but  when  the  unit  cars  were  obtained,  it 


184 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


was  found  that  the  influx  of  patients  was  so  great  that  it  was  necessary  to 
retain  the  cars  in  service  for  a considerably  longer  period — until  June,  1919 — 
when  they  were  returned  to  the  Railroad  Administration.11  The  use  of  the 
unit  cars  in  conjunction  with  ordinary  Pullmans  demonstrated  their  efficiency 


Fig.  78. — Hospital  unit  car  fitted  with  Glennan  adjustable  bunks,  showing  manner  of  adjustment. 


in  hospital  train  service.  They  were  decidedly  economical  to  operate  and 
maintain  and  the  initial  cost  per  patient  carried,  or  per  car,  or  per  train  unit, 
was  considerably  less  than  would  have  been  the  case  had  complete  hospital 
trains  been  provided. 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL, 


185 


Fig.  79.— Hospital  unit  car  interior. 


186 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fig.  SO. — Hospital  unit  ear  in  use. 


ORGANIZATION,  ADMINISTRATION,  AND  CONTROL. 

HOSPITAL  SHIPS. 


187 


At  a very  early  stage  of  the  war  the  problem  of  how  best  to  return  the 
sick  and  wounded  to  America  arose.  The  Army  had  no  hospital  ships  and  the 
plan  considered  was  the  use  of  the  Navy  ship  Solace,  with  its  carrying  capacity 
of  returning  200  casualties  a month;  and  the  use  later  of  two  other  Navy 
hospital  ships,  the  Mercy  and  Comfort,  with  a carrying  capacity  of  300  each 
a month.12  The  estimate  of  a minimum  of  5,000  returnable  casualties  per 
month  showed  these  resources  to  be  utterly  inadequate,  even  had  these  three 
vessels  not  been  required  for  their  original  and  legitimate  purpose  of  caring  for 
the  Navy  sick.  Out  of  this  suggestion  developed  the  arrangement  by  which  the 
Navy  transports  would,  on  the  westward  passage,  serve  to  the  limit  of  capacity 
for  the  return  of  Army  sick  and  wounded,  and  a schedule  of  each  ship’s  carrying 
capacity  was  prepared  and  promulgated  for  the  guidance  of  all  concerned.13 

The  schedule  given  below  shows  the  classified  sick-carrying  capacity  of 
the  great  majority  of  transports  in  service  on  December  1,  1918.  The  figures 
fluctuated  more  or  less  with  alterations  in  internal  structural  details,  made  for 
better  ventilation  or  other  sanitary  considerations.  In  every  case  the  number 
of  different  types  that  could  be  treated  with  gratifying  results  depended 
absolutely  upon  the  type  and  general  structure  of  the  ship,  which,  in  the  main, 
was  fixed  and  not  susceptible  to  modification.14 


Table  11. — Revised  table  for  rated  capacity  for  troops  invalided  home  September  5,  1918;  on  prin- 
cipal naval  transports. 14 


al  bed- 
den  in 
bunks. 

Able  t o 
walk,  re- 
quiring 
surgical 
dressings; 
in  troop 
standees. 

Mental 

cases. 

Tubercu- 
losis in 
isolation 
or  on  open 
decks. 

Able  to 
walk,  re- 
quiring no 
attention 
in  rooms 
for  officers. 

Convales- 
cent, re- 
quiring no 
special  at- 
tention; in 
troop 
standees. 

24 

100 

10 

30 

145 

2, 5S0 

38 

130 

20 

60 

230 

3;  000 

59 

140 

12 

25 

215 

3,600 

40 

110 

5 

25 

100 

1,660 

42 

100 

5 

20 

80 

1,100 

12 

150 

20 

50 

i;ooo 

40 

200 

6 

30 

150 

3,350 

60 

500 

s 

50 

500 

4,600 

40 

400 

45 

38 

116 

2,200 

20 

550 

3 

40 

38 

200 

5 

25 

100 

2,200 

50 

350 

8 

16 

64 

1,164 

38 

110 

5 

25 

140 

2,250 

24 

300 

2 

30 

80 

1,500 

40 

200 

16 

20 

150 

2,600 

100 

1,000 

360 

55 

400 

1,000 

20 

100 

10 

44 

1,000 

45 

300 

5 

30 

100 

1.800 

40 

100 

5 

25 

105 

1,750 

20 

100 

10 

40 

1,200 

38 

300 

22 

40 

175 

2,850 

50 

150 

25 

30 

100 

2;  250 

16 

100 

5 

10 

90 

2,000 

30 

100 

5 

10 

100 

2, 000 

44 

110 

20 

25 

120 

2,300 

33 

300 

5 

25 

170 

2,850 

40 

130 

25 

25 

140 

1,800 

44 

510 

45 

90 

120 

1,700 

40 

500 

25 

190 

2,000 

25 

100 

15 

50 

1,000 

38 

200 

10 

45 

100 

2,000 

38 

120 

5 

25 

130 

2,  ISO 

40 

300 

10 

25-150 

57 

1,400 

55 

110 

5 

25 

200 

4,400 

35 

150 

5 

16 

150 

3,000 

50 

1,000 

10 

40 

155 

USOO 

50 

500 

25 

90 

2,000 

30 

200 

5 

25 

100 

1,300 

45 

130 

5 

25 

105 

1,850 

40 

100 
b 200 

3 

20 

60 

10 

42 

103 

100 

1,150 
a 650 
1,500 

20 

100 

5 

27 

500 

5 

30 

76 

1, 100 

Name  of  ship. 


Aeolus. 

Agamemnon 

America 

Antigone 

Calamares 

De  Kalb 

Finland 

George  Washington 

Great  Northern 

Hancock 

Harrisburg 

Henderson 

Huron 

Konigen  der  Nederlanden. 

Kroonland 

Leviathan 

Lenape 

Louisville 

Madawaska 

Mallory 

Manchuria 

Martha  Washington 

Matsonia 

Maui 

Mercury 

Mongolia 

Mount  Vernon 

Northern  Pacific 

Orizaba 

Pastores 

Plattsburg 

Pocahontas 

Powhatan 

President  Grant 

Princess  Matoika 

Rijndam... 

Siboney 

Sierra 

Susquehanna 

Tenadores 

Von  Steuben 

Wilhelmina 

Zelandia 


a Hammock. 


f>  Cot. 


188 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Upon  the  signing  of  the  armistice  and  with  the  initial  movement  of  the 
return  of  our  troops  from  abroad,  steps  were  taken  to  utilize  German  ships  15 
which  had  been  unable  to  go  to  sea  owing  to  the  preponderance  of  allied  naval 
power,  and  were  still  in  German  harbors.  One  of  the  first  of  this  class  was  the 
Imperator,  which  was  rapidly  converted  for  transport  purposes  and,  like  the 
rest,  was  manned  by  a Navy  crew.  Other  vessels  of  this  type  were  the  Graf 
Waldersee,  Cap  Finisterre,  Kaiserine  Augusta  Victoria,  Mobile,  Patricia,  Philip- 
pines, Pretoria,  Prince  Frederick  Wilhelm,  and  Zeppelin. 

The  various  types  or  classes  utilized  in  the  transporting  of  sick  and  wounded 
from  abroad  may  be  classified  as  follows:16  (1)  Navy  transports,  (2)  cruisers 
and  battleships,  (3)  merchant  vessels  of  German  register  assigned  to  the  service 
of  the  United  States  by  the  provisions  of  the  armistice,  (4)  cargo  vessels  belong- 
ing to  the  United  States  Army  Quartermaster  Department,  having  complete 
Navy  standard  equipment  for  the  Medical  Department  and  manned  and  navi- 
gated by  Navy  hospital  ships. 

AMBULANCES. 

The  onus  of  transferring  the  majority  of  the  patients  from  camps  to  their 
base  hospitals  was  a duty  of  the  motorized  ambulance  companies  of  the  camp. 

The  average  distance  of  the  base  hospitals  from  the  population  centers  of 
camps  was  approximately  one  mile  and  a quarter.17  To  economize  on  time, 
efforts  were  made  to  transfer  most  patients  on  a prearranged  schedule,  that  is, 
shortly  after  sick  call.  Emergency  cases  were  provided  for,  however,  and  in 
this  class  was  included  the  transfer  of  all  patients  suffering  from,  or  suspected 
of  having,  a communicable  disease. 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1154. 

(2)  Ibid.  1155. 

(3)  Letter  from  the  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  October  17,  1918. 

Subject:  Hospital  cars.  Onfile,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  531.4-1  (Hospital  Trains  and  Cars). 

(4)  Memorandum  from  Director  of  Finance  to  Director  of  Purchase  and  Storage,  October  25, 1918. 

Subject:  Hospital  cars.  Onfile,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  531.4-1  (Hospital  Trainsand  Cars). 

(5)  Letter  from  the  Pullman  Co.,  manufacturing  department,  office  of  the  sales  manager,  Chicago, 

to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  3,  1918.  Subject:  Unit  cars.  On  file,  Historical 
Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(6)  Letter  from  Mr.  Edward  Hanson  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  29,  1918.  Subject: 

Construction  of  new  hospital  car.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  531.4-1  (Hospital 
Trains  and  Cars). 

(7)  Letter  from  U.  S.  Railroad  Administration  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  9,  1919.  Subject: 

Statement  of  Pullman  Car  Co.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  158  (Pullman  Co.,  Chicago). 

(8)  Report  Relative  to  Food  Problems  on  Hospital  Trains,  by  Maj.  Don  Joseph,  M.  C.,  July  10, 

1919.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.  (Food  and  Nutrition  Files.) 

(9)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  Purchase,  Storage  and  Traffic  Division, 

November  20,  1918.  Subject:  Leasing  of  cars  for  movement  of  sick.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.2-4  (Hospital  Cars). 

(10)  Letter  from  the  Pullman  Co. , to  the  Surgeon  General.  November  29,1918.  Subject:  Leasing 

of  Cars  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.2-4  (Hospital  Cars). 

(11)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Transportation  Service,  W.  D..  June  23, 

1918.  Subject:  Leased  cars.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  531.4  (Port  of  Embarka- 
tion, Hoboken,  N.  J.),  N. 

(12)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Navy,  1918,  69. 

(13)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Navy,  1919,  48. 

(14)  Ibid.,  50. 

(15)  Ibid.,  53. 

(16)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Navy,  1920,  19. 

(17)  Plans,  National  Armv  cantonments  and  National  Guard  camps.  Construction  Division, 

W.  D.,  1918. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


DEMOBILIZATION. 

Immediately  subsequent  to  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  it  was  possible 
to  consider  a readjustment  of  the  hospital  program.  Two  principal  factors 
influenced  this  readjustment — the  number  of  sick  and  wounded  in  France,  for 
which  hospital  beds  in  the  United  States  would  have  to  be  reserved;  and  the 
rate  of  demobilization  of  the  troops  in  the  United  States.  Both  factors  were 
further  influenced  by  subsidiary  conditions;  that  is,  the  rate  of  return  of  patients 
from  abroad  and  the  changing  number  of  available  beds  in  the  hospitals  of  the 
United  States. 

The  rapid  demobilization  of  reserve  troops  in  the  United  States  released 
thousands  of  beds  in  the  cantonment  hospitals  and  made  it  possible  to  designate 
hospitals,  at  the  camps  to  be  abandoned,  for  overseas  patients.  This  per- 
mitted the  first  step  in  retrenchment — the  practical  abandonment  of  all  pro- 
curement projects  not  yet  begun  or  completed.1 

All  hospitals  not  designated  for  overseas  patients  were  reduced  in  capacity 
and  personnel  at  intervals  during  the  demobilization  period,  as  circumstances 
warranted.1 

After  the  first  few  months  of  1919,  during  which  the  greater  number  of 
sick  and  wounded  from  France  was  returned  home,2  and  the  pressure  became 
less  acute,  the  policy  was  adopted  of  abandoning  as  rapidly  as  possible  all 
leased  properties,  and  concentrating  activities,  so  far  as  possible,  in  Government- 
owned  property.  By  the  end  of  May,  1919,  most  hospitals  on  leased  properties 
had  been  discontinued.3 

About  the  1st  of  May  the  sending  of  overseas  patients  to  the  base  hospitals 
at  the  camps  was  stopped.1  This  was  done  to  permit  the  limitation  of  the 
activities  of  these  hospitals  to  camp  necessities,  which  was  made  possible  by 
the  fact  that  there  was  no  longer  a necessity  for  the  conservation  of  space  in 
general  hospitals.  Later,  in  June,  the  overseas  sick  at  base  hospitals  in  camps, 
requiring  prolonged  treatment,  were  transferred  to  general  hospitals;  so  that  by 
the  end  of  June,  the  hospitals  at  camps  were  caring  for  practically  only  the 
sick  of  the  camp  commands. 

There  had  been  a coincident  gradual  reduction  in  the  number  of  general 
hospitals.  On  May  24,  1919,  the  following  hospitals  were  selected  as  being 
those  possessing  the  greatest  probable  degree  of  permanence:  1 


Hospital. 

Location. 

Date 

abandoned. 

Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital 

Hot  Springs,  Ark 

Oct.  15,1919 

Letterman  General  Hospital.  T 

San  Francisco,  Calif 

General  Hospital  No.  6." 

General  Hospital  No.  11 

Oteen.  N.  C 

General  Hospital  No.  26 

General  Hospital  No  31 

189 


190 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Those  which  follow  were  selected  as  the  next  most  permanent  hospitals 
which  would  operate  for  a sufficient  time  after  July  1,  1919,  to  care  for  the 
greater  number  of  chronic  cases  remaining  in  hospitals : 1 


Hospital. 


Location. 


I 


Date 

abandoned. 


General  Hospital 

General  Hospital  No.  2. 
General  Hospital  No.  3. 
General  Hospital  No.  8. 
General  Hospital  No.  20 
General  Hospital  No.  28 
General  Hospital  No.  30 
General  Hospital  No.  41 
General  Hospital  No.  42 
General  Hospital  No.  43 
Base  Hospital 


Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex 

Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md 

Colonia,  N.  J.' 

Otisville,  N.  Y 

Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz 

Fort  Sheridan,  111 

Plattsburg,  N.  Y 

Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y 

Spartanburg,  S.  C 

Hampton,  Va 

Fort  Riley,  Kans 


Oct.  15,1919 
Do. 

Nov.  15,1919 


Sept.  30,1919 
Oct.  10,1919 


While  circumstances  developed  from  time  to  time  necessitating  changes  in 
the  decisions  in  reference  to  the  hospitals,  as  has  been  indicated  by  showing 
in  the  above  tables  the  dates  when  the  hospitals  were  abandoned  prior  to  the 
end  of  1919,  in  the  main  the  plan  was  adhered  to. 

The  most  important  considerations  which  influenced  the  abandonment  or 
retention  of  hospitals  were  adequate  care,  economy  of  personnel,  location  in 
reference  to  population,  and  cost  of  maintenance. 

In  cooperation  with  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service,  which  was 
charged  with  the  care  and  treatment  of  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors  who 
became  beneficiaries  of  the  War  Risk  Insurance  Bureau,4  the  War  Department 
had  turned  over  to  the  Public  Health  Service,  by  July  30,  1919,  the  following 
hospitals  intact: 5 


Hospital. 

Bed 

capacity. 

Hospital. 

Bed 

capacity. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Beauregard,  La 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Cody,  Deming,  N.  Mex. . . 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Freemont,  S.  C 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Hancock,  Ga 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Fla. . 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Logan,  Tex 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sevier,  S.  C 

2,144 
1,  2S9 
1, 156 
1,604 
SI  6 
1, 156 
1,396 
7.50 

General  Hospital  No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y 

General  Hospital  No.  15,  Corpus  Christi,  Tex. . . 

General  Hospital  N o.  24,  Parkview,  Pa 

General  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass 

General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo 

N onvegian  Deaconesses  Hospital,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Total 

2SS 

262 

700 

350 

531 

250 

13,222 

A priority  schedule  for  abandoning  some  hospitals  and  reducing  beds  in 
others  was  tentatively  prepared  on  August  18,  1919,  when  there  were  33,414 
beds  available  in  general  hospitals.6  At  that  time  it  was  planned  to  hold 
permanently  3,750  beds  in  general  hospitals  as  follows: 


Hospital. 

War 

capacity. 

Reduction. 

Designated 

permanent 

capacity. 

2,000 

.500 

1.500 

2,200 

1,500 

700 

266 

16 

250 

General  Hospital  No.  19,  Oteen.  N".  C t . . . T 

1,300 

800 

500 

1,603 

803 

800 

7.369 

3, 619 

3.750 

This  reduction  was  gradually  effected  until  by  October  30,  1920,  the 
number  of  available  beds  had  been  reduced  to  3,750.' 


191 


REFERENCES. 

(1)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  IT.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1159. 

(2)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Navy,  1919,  48. 

(3)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  XI.  S.  Army,  1920,  259. 

(4)  Bull.  No.  9,  W.  D.,  March  3,  1919. 

(5)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General,  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Vol.  II,  1160. 

(6)  Tentative  priority  schedule  for  abandonment  and  reduction  in  general  hospitals.  On  file, 

Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3. 

(7)  Bed  Report,  October  29,  1920.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  O.,  705.1  (Admission  to  Hospital), 

General. 


SECTION  IV. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

BASE  HOSPITALS  AT  CANTONMENTS  AND  CAMPS. 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  GRANT,  ILL.a 

PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

Geographic  location. — The  hospital  was  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  military  reservation  of  Camp  Grant,  Winnebago  County,  111.,  on  the  banks 
of  Rock  River,  about  3 miles  from  the  center  of  the  city  of  Rockford. 

Terrain. — The  country  surrounding  the  site  of  the  hospital  is  gently  rolling 
along  the  Rock  River,  into  which  it  drains. 

Soil. — The  soil  is  a sandy  loam  containing  deposits  of  gravel.  Because  of 
the  character  of  the  soil  there  was,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  hospital, 
very  little  high-flying  dust  in  dry  weather;  and  what  little  there  Avas  was  largely 
eliminated  by  means  of  grass  grown  on  the  neighboring  unoccupied  land.  The 
soil  became  very  muddy  after  rains,  but  the  subsequent  provision  of  cinder  and 
board  walks  prevented  the  carrying  of  mud  into  the  hospital  corridors  and  Avards 
by  the  personnel,  patients,  and  visitors. 

Roads. — The  roads  for  transportation  Avere  three  in  number:  One  running 
northwest  and  southeast  (the  Kishwaukee  Road) ; one  running  north  and  south; 
and  one  encircling  the  hospital.  The  Kishwaukee  Road,  extending  to  Rock- 
ford, was  a well-built  concrete  road  (about  20  feet  AAride) ; the  road  running  north 
and  south  Avas  of  macadam;  and  that  encircling  the  hospital  Avas  of  cinders. 

Climate. — Extremes  of  heat  and  cold  Avere  experienced.  The  mean  tem- 
perature during  the  summer  Avas  80°  F.;  hi  Arbiter,  15°.  During  the  summer, 
however,  there  Avas  usually  a pleasant  breeze  from  the  southeast  bloAving  up 
the  river. 

Sanitary  status. — The  sanitary  status  of  the  neighborhood  of  the  hospital 
Avas  good.  The  Rock  River,  floAving  along  the  western  boundary  of  the  hospital, 
is  a very  beautiful,  rapidly  running  stream,  shallow  and  not  navigable,  varying 
in  breadth  and  containing  wooded  islands.  Into  this  stream  the  entire  sewage 
of  the  camp  emptied. 

STAGE  OF  DEVELOPMENT. 

Organization. — The  organization  of  the  hospital  may  be  divided  into  tAVO 
periods,  the  first  being  that  in  Avhich  temporary  quarters  Avere  occupied  for 
hospital  purposes;  and  the  second,  from  the  time  when  the  base  hospital  officially 
assumed  control  of  the  buildings  designed  for  its  permanent  occupancy.  The 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111.,”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  H.  C.  Aiichie,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  AVashington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

13 


45269°—  23- 


193 


194 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


organization  was  gradual  and  part  of  its  history  is  intimately  associated  with 
the  period  prior  to  the  time  when  the  hospital  was  officially  designated  a base 
hospital,  and  before  the  mobilization  of  the  divisional  troops  had  occurred. 
The  events  of  that  early  period  will  be  given  to  complete  the  historical  descrip- 
tion of  the  hospital  and  to  show  the  metamorphosis  of  the  camp  into  the 
base  hospital. 

During  the  earliest  construction  period  information  was  received  at  the 
camp  that  troops  would  be  assigned  to  that  place  commencing  about  September 
1,  1917.  The  contractors  promised  the  camp  surgeon  that  the  base  hospital 
would  be  in  readiness  for  occupancy  on  August  26,  1917 ; but  as  the  plans  for  it 
were  not  received  from  the  War  Department  until  about  the  middle  of  August, 
and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  special  building  materials  were  required,  none  of 
which  was  yet  on  hand,  a further  delay  was  necessarily  caused. 

At  this  time  there  was  a small  number  of  troops  in  camp  who  had  been 
provided  as  guards  during  the  construction  period.  These  troops  required 
hospital  facilities  of  some  sort,  and  early  in  August  the  building  contractors 
were  requested  by  the  camp  surgeon  to  build  an  infirmary  (regimental)  building 
as  soon  as  possible.  To  equip  this  building  a 24-bed  camp  hospital  was  requi- 
sitioned by  the  camp  surgeon,  and  on  August  12,  1917,  a small  hospital  of 
24  beds  was  opened  in  Zone  I of  the  camp.  Nine  patients  were  admitted  at 
that  time  and  were  carried  as  “sick  in  quarters.”  There  were  no  cooks  for  this 
newly  organized  hospital  and  in  order  to  hurriedly  provide  this  necessary  per- 
sonnel two  promising  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department  detachment 
were  assigned  to  one  of  the  guard  companies  for  one  week  to  receive  training 
in  cooking. 

The  personnel  of  the  Medical  Department  at  that  time  included,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  camp  surgeon,  two  medical  officers  and  five  enlisted  men. 

When  it  became  obvious  to  the  camp  surgeon,  about  the  middle  of  August, 
that  the  base  hospital  would  not  be  in  readiness  at  the  time  mobilization  was 
scheduled,  a complete  field  hospital,  with  the  exception  of  transportation,  was 
requisitioned.  This  equipment  was  promptly  received  and,  when  put  into  use, 
augmented  the  bed  capacity  of  the  hospital  to  240.  An  adjacent  regimental 
infirmary,  together  with  six  recently  finished  barrack  buildings,  were  tem- 
porarily taken  over  for  use  as  hospital  buildings.  One  of  the  two  infirmary 
buildings  was  used  as  headquarters  of  the  hospital,  and  contained,  in  addition, 
the  medical  supply  room,  dental  office,  and  the  genitourinary  wards.  The  other 
infirmary  building  was  used  as  a kitchen  and  contained,  in  addition,  the  officers' 
ward  and  operating  room,  surgical  wards,  and  space  for  the  special  medical 
examiners  who  had  been  detailed  to  duty  at  the  cam])  in  connection  with 
physical  examination  of  the  registrants  of  the  draft. 

Twenty-one  additional  Medical  Department  enlisted  men  were  assigned 
to  duty  at  the  camp  before  the  draft  registrants  had  arrived.  A course  of 
instruction,  which  comprised  nursing  and  operating-room  technique,  was  begun 
in  the  hospital  for  them.  For  the  operating  room  technique,  mock  operations 
were  conducted. 

By  the  end  of  August,  1917,  there  were  19  officers  on  duty  at  the  camp 
hospital,  in  which  there  were  27  patients.  The  chief  of  the  medical  service, 
together  with  nine  of  his  assistants,  had  reported  in  compliance  with  M ar 
Department  orders. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


195 


No  heat  had  as  yet  been  installed  in  any  of  the  buildings  being  used  for 
hospital  purposes,  and,  as  at  that  time  the  weather  was  cold  and  wet,  a request 
was  forwarded  to  the  War  Department  for  authority  to  purchase  40  oil  stoves. 
This  was  disapproved. 

The  first  troops  of  the  division  arrived  in  camp  September  5,  and  from  then 
on  the  number  of  patients  in  hospital  rapidly  increased.  The  necessity  for  heat 
was  demonstrated  to  the  division  commander,  who  immediately  authorized 
the  purchase  of  the  required  number  of  oil  stoves. 

All  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department,  assigned  to  duty 
at  Camp  Grant  during  this  period,  were  attached  to  the  hospital  for  rations 
and  quarters.  This  practice  continued  until  October  14,  1917.  It  was  quite 
difficult  to  satisfactorily  care  for  them  at  first,  principally  because  of  the  lack 
of  cooks  in  the  hospital  detachment.  This  was  gradually  remedied,  however, 
by  assigning  to  the  kitchen  men  who  were  seemingly  most  suitable  and  who 
were  coached  by  qualified  men  from  the  camp  school  for  bakers  and  cooks. 

The  construction  work  on  the  new  base  hospital  was  being  rapidly  pushed, 
and  by  October  14,  1917,  it  was  ready  for  occupancy,  with  the  exception  of  the 
section  for  head  surgery  in  the  administration  building,  the  receiving  ward, 
and  the  officers’  quarters. 

The  camp  hospital  was  discontinued  on  October  14,  1917.  The  patients 
which  it  contained,  still  requiring  treatment,  were  moved  to  the  new  base  hospital. 
The  equipment  for  a 500-bed  base  hospital  had,  in  the  meantime,  been  received 
and  had  been  properly  distributed  in  the  new  hospital.  The  equipment  which 
had  been  used  in  the  camp  hospital,  being  no  longer  required,  was  turned  in  to 
the  camp  medical  supply  depot. 

Hospital  provision  for  civilian  employees  engaged  on  the  construction  work 
of  the  camp  buildings  was  made  by  the  contractors.  At  first  these  contractors 
claimed  that  the  Army  should  give  care  and  treatment  to  all  sick  and  injured 
civilian  employees.  The  camp  surgeon,  however,  informed  them  that  this  was 
not  authorized,  but  that  the  injured  employees’  compensation  act  of  September 
7,  1916,  required  the  contractors  to  provide  hospital  and  medical  attention  for 
all  personnel  employed  by  them  who  became  injured  in  their  service.  After 
several  weeks  the  contractors  accepted  this  view  and  completed  one  of  the 
regimental  infirmary  buildings  in  which  a hospital  for  emergency  treatment 
was  started.  Cases  requiring  more  than  emergency  treatment  were  sent  to  the 
Rockford  City  Hospital. 

CONSTRUCTION  FEATURES. 

There  was  considerable  delay  in  commencing  the  construction  of  the  hos- 
pital because  of  the  delayed  receipt  of  the  plans  for  it  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment and  because  of  the  slow  delivery  of  building  materials.  The  materials 
used  in  the  construction  of  the  hospital  were  different  in  many  respects  from 
those  required  for  the  buildings  in  the  main  part  of  the  cantonment;  and,  as 
the  constructing  quartermaster  was  not  in  the  possession  of  information  re- 
garding where  these  materials  had  been  ordered  by  the  Cantonment  Division 
of  the  War  Department,  it  was  impossible  to  trace  them.  Actual  construction, 
therefore,  was  not  started  until  the  latter  part  of  August,  1917.  Once  begun, 
however,  no  time  was  wasted;  and,  within  a period  of  a little  more  than  a month, 
it  might  be  said  that  the  hospital,  as  it  had  been  originally  planned,  was  prac- 


196 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tically  complete.  The  wards,  with  a capacity  of  1,250,  were  ready  for  occu- 
pancy by  the  middle  of  October. 

Experience  in  the  use  of  the  various  buildings  of  the  hospital  demonstrated 
that  the  more  closely  the  use  of  them  was  restricted  to  that  purpose  for  which 
they  were  provided,  the  more  excellent  was  their  design.  There  were  many 
features,  however,  in  connection  with  the  different  buildings,  which  this  ex- 
perience showed  should  have  been  provided  in  some  instances,  and  in  instances 
where  some  features  were  provided  these  were  used  for  other  purposes. 

Administration  building. — In  the  administration  building  it  was  found  that 
there  was  great  need  for  toilet  facilities  for  the  various  classes  of  personnel 
engaged  in  the  performance  of  duty  therein.  These  included  officers,  nurses, 
female  employees,  and  enlisted  men.  There  was,  likewise,  a constant  demand 
for  a utility  room.  In  the  sergeant  major’s  office  there  was  an  inadequacy  of 
space;  so,  one  half  of  the  contiguous  porch  was  inclosed  and  made  into  a part 
of  the  room.  The  information  bureau  had  a totally  inadequate  space  allotted 
for  the  volume  of  business  it  carried  on.  The  room  intended  for  the  registrar 
was  never  used  as  such,  but  was  converted  into  an  office  for  the  chief  nurse. 

Receiving  building. — The  receiving  building  was  not  satisfactory;  there  was 
a considerable  wastage  of  space;  and  it  was  impracticable  to  admit  patients  in 
the  manner  prescribed  by  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office;  that  is,  to  give  each 
patient  a bath,  check  his  clothing,  furnish  him  with  hospital  clothing  and  send 
him  to  a specified  ward.  There  was  but  one  bathroom  in  the  receiving  building; 
consequently,  the  contagious  patients  could  not  lie  mixed  with  other  patients; 
moreover,  the  distance  was  too  great  from  the  major  portion  of  the  wards,  and 
the  corridors  were  too  cold  during  the  winter  to  risk  sending  patients  through 
them  immediately  after  the  patients  had  been  given  a hot  bath.  The  use  of  the 
observation  rooms  was  found  to  be  impracticable  because  of  their  inadequate 
capacity,  and  the  lack  of  any  provision  for  diets.  As  the  south  wing  of  the 
receiving  building  was  used  as  the  receiving  office  and  the  office  of  the  detach- 
ment of  patients,  the  available  room  in  which  to  store  patients’  effect?  was 
sufficient  for  only  940  patients.  The  original  arrangement  for  storing  the 
effects  of  patients  comprised  a series  of  pigeonholes,  18  inches  square.  In 
these  small  spaces  all  the  clothing  had  to  be  practically  stuffed.  This  arrange- 
ment was  changed  by  hospital  labor  so  as  to  provide  holes  18  by  18  by  9 inches, 
six  in  a vertical  row  along  the  upper  half  of  the  racks,  the  lower  half  being  so 
arranged  that  the  patients’  overcoats,  raincoats,  blouses,  and  breeches  could  be 
suspended  on  clothes  hangers.  All  underwear  was  laundered,  and  the  outer 
clothing  was  pressed  by  a steam  presser  located  in  the  clothing  room.  The 
officer  of  the  day  occupied  the  room  constructed  for  him,  and  an  adjacent  room 
was  used  by  the  medical  and  surgical  officers  of  the  day.  The  noncommissioned 
officer  in  charge  of  male  nurses  occupied  one  room.  A lavatory  was  divided 
into  two  rooms,  making  a unit  lavatory.  A small  room  adjacent  to  the 
receiving  office  was  made  into  the  receiving  officer’s  office,  by  constructing  a 
door  between  the  two  rooms. 

Officers'  ward. — The  officers’  ward  was  well  constructed;  but  the  capacity 
originally  provided  was  found  to  be  too  small,  and  an  additional  wing  was  added 
in  the  spring  of  1918.  Officers  suffering  from  contagious  diseases  were  cared 
for  in  the  isolation  ward  at  this  hospital.  This  would  have  been  obviated  had 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


197 


the  additional  wing  been  separated  from  the  main  portion  of  the  officers’  ward, 
and  been  provided  a diet  kitchen,  which  would  have  permitted  it  being  operated 
as  a contagious  ward.  The  lack  of  an  electric  bell  system  was  seriously  felt, 
and  one  was  provided  by  the  personnel  of  the  hospital.  Inconvenience  was 
likewise  experienced  because  of  the  lack  of  clothes  closets  in  the  separate  rooms 
of  the  ward. 

Head  house. — In  the  head  house  the  dental  department  was  very  satis- 
factory. In  the  eye  wing,  and  ear,  nose  and  throat  wing,  a considerable  amount 
of  space  was  unused.  Experience  demonstrated  that  these  activities  could 
have  been  operated  in  a considerably  more  restricted  building. 

X-ray  laboratory . — In  the  X-ray  laboratory  there  was  never  sufficient 
space  to  carry  on  the  necessary  work,  and  the  inadequacy  became  more  apparent 
as  a large  number  of  plates  and  films  accumulated  for  storage.  The  need  of  a 
toilet  was  repeatedly  demonstrated,  not  only  for  the  use  of  personnel,  but  for 
use  by  patients,  particularly  those  who  had  been  given  bismuth  meals. 

The  laboratory . — The  laboratory  as  originally  constructed  was  entirely  too 
small,  but  in  the  spring  of  1918  a satisfactory  addition  was  made  to  it.  No 
adequate  storeroom  having  been  provided,  the  short  corridor  running  southeast 
was  closed  at  the  east  end  and  this  space  was  made  into  a very  satisfactory 
storeroom.  The  animal  house  was  located  in  the  small  space  surrounded  by 
the  laboratory  building  and  three  corridors,  was  provided  with  a concrete 
floor,  floor  drains,  and  hot  and  cold  water,  and  was  heated  by  steam  heat.  The 
area  surrounding  the  animal  house  was  used  as  a yard  for  the  animals.  Since 
no  chemical  work  was  done  at  the  hospital  the  hood  and  chemical  laboratory 
were  used  as  a place  for  the  preparation  of  media.  To  facilitate  the  filtering 
of  the  media  two  small  pipes  were  installed,  fitted  with  funnels,  and  connected 
with  the  high  pressure  steam  line.  The  arrangement  operated  most  satis- 
factorily. To  provide  a water  still  of  adequate  capacity,  an  unserviceable  hot 
water  tank  from  a battery  of  sterilizers  was  connected  with  the  high-pressure 
steam  line  and  the  cold  water  pipe.  This  improvised  still  had  a capacity  of  50 
gallons  a day.  The  gas  plant,  which  was  a part  of  the  laboratory  equipment, 
could  never  be  made  to  operate,  and  proved  to  be  a fiasco. 

Surgical  pavilion. — Except  for  an  inadequacy  of  space  the  operating 
pavilion  was  satisfactory.  To  overcome  the  deficiency  an  addition  was  con- 
structed, by  the  personnel  of  the  hospital,  north  of  the  operating  room  and  east 
of  the  corridor.  This  additional  building  was  divided  into  three  rooms — an 
office  for  the  chief  of  the  surgical  service,  an  examining  room  with  which  it 
connected,  and  a room  which  was  provided  with  a concrete  floor  and  made  into 
a gauze-reclaiming  laundry.  Immediately  east  of  this  division  a pit  was  dug, 
lined  with  concrete  and  covered.  An  emergency  boiler  was  placed  there  and 
connected  with  the  high-pressure  steam  line.  It  so  happened,  however,  that 
it  was  never  necessary  to  use  this  emergency  boiler. 

Post  exchange. — Structurally,  the  exchange  met  all  the  requirements  of 
the  hospital,  and  no  necessity  arose  which  required  any  alterations  in  it.  There 
were  some  objections  connected  with  it,  however,  which  were  principally  due 
to  its  location.  Because  it  had  been  centrally  placed  it  was  practically  impos- 
sible to  prevent  patients  from  buying  any  and  all  forms  of  foodstuffs,  regardless 
of  the  diets  prescribed  for  them.  It  was  practically  impossible,  also,  to  keep 
the  adjacent  corridors  clean.  These  objectionable  features  would  have  been 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


obviated  had  the  exchange  been  located  in  a less  accessible  portion  of  the 
hospital  group. 

Mess  and  kitchen. — The  capacity  of  the  general  mess  proved  to  be  always 
ample.  There  were  some  faulty  features  in  the  original  construction,  which, 
profiting  by  experience,  could  be  readily  eliminated.  The  original  tables 
were  poorly  constructed  in  that  their  tops  were  made  of  3-inch  tongue-and- 
groove  boards,  securely  nailed  down.  These  boards  shrank,  leaving  fairly 
wide  cracks  in  which  foodstuffs  collected,  making  it  pratically  impossible  to 
keep  them  clean,  and  it  was  necessary  to  cover  them  with  oilcloth.  The  ceil- 
ings were  too  low  for  the  size  of  the  building;  consequently,  the  rooms  were 
dark;  and  because  of  the  absence  of  sunlight,  the  floors  dried  very  slowly  after 
being  mopped.  This  difficulty  was  increased  when  the  two  additional  wings 
were  constructed.  Ventilation  of  this  room  was  found  to  be  difficult  also. 
The  main  diet  kitchen  was  very  satisfactory,  but  it  was  improved  by  installing 
in  it  a large  electric  range.  The  equipment  of  the  main  kitchen  was  adequate 
and  well  selected.  A charcoal  oven  for  pies  Avas  purchased  and  installed,  but 
unfortunately  was  not  a success.  A toilet  and  root  cellar  were  installed  in 
the  spring  of  1918,  and  these  proved  highly  satisfactory.  The  potato  parer, 
meat  chopper,  and  bread  cutter  were  very  satisfactory  as  labor  and  time  saving 
devices.  The  ice  boxes  and  refrigerating  plant  were  ample  and  satisfactory  in 
every  respect.  The  storeroom  Avas  insufficient  at  first,  but  Avith  the  construc- 
tion of  the  new  wing  this  shortage  Avas  eliminated.  There  was  no  original 
provision  for  the  storage  of  bread,  and  a large  bread  cabinet  was  built  by  the 
personnel  of  the  hospital  in  the  room  opposite  the  ice  boxes.  The  rumvay 
northwest  of  the  ice  boxes,  intended  for  the  passage  of  food  carts,  was  unused 
and  proved  to  be  Avaste  space.  It  Avas  found  more  satisfactory  to  have  the 
food  carts  pass  down  the  corridors  and  be  served  at  the  two  large  kitchen  doors. 
To  provide  an  office  for  the  mess  officer  so  that  he  could  be  constantly  at  the 
mess,  and  have  sufficient  space  for  his  clerks  and  records,  a room  about  12  by 
15  feet  Avas  built  in  the  north  corner  of  the  kitchen,  for  Avhieh  purpose  a portion 
of  the  storeroom  Avas  taken.  The  space  betAAreen  the  center  and  southwest 
wings  was  covered  over  and  inclosed  with  Avire  screening.  This  was  provided 
with  a concrete  floor  in  Avhieh  there  Avas  a floor  drain,  and  the  space  Avas  used 
as  a central  garbage  station.  Approximately  40  garbage  cans  Avere  assembled 
there,  according  to  the  class  of  garbage  designated  for  them.  One  man  was 
kept  on  duty  to  care  for  this  station,  at  Avhieh  garbage  from  all  Avards  of  the 
main  part  of  the  hospital,  as  Avell  as  from  the  general  mess,  Avas  collected.  Men 
from  the  Avards  brought  the  garbage,  after  each  meal,  in  closed  commodes. 
Entrance  to  the  garbage  station  for  these  men  Avas  from  the  outside. 

Guardhouse. — The  guardhouse  proved  to  have  no  value  as  such  to  the 
hospital,  as  all  prisoners  were  taken  care  of  by  other  organizations  in  camp. 

Single  wards. — The  linen  closet  of  the  single  ward  being  entirely  too 
small  for  a place  in  which  the  head  nurse  could  have  an  office,  it  Avas  never 
used  for  that  purpose.  In  the  recovery  room  there  was  rarely  necessity  for 
the  use  of  more  than  one  bed.  The  diet  kitchen  was  satisfactory  except  that 
no  shelving  Avas  provided;  and,  as  it  was  not  possible  to  obtain  this  until 
after  January,  1919,  a kitchen  cabinet  for  each  ward  was  provided,  in  lieu 
of  shelving.  These  cabinets  Avere  built  to  order  in  Rockford,  111.,  to  provide 
storage  facilities  for  the  standard  ward  kitchen  equipment.  This  equip- 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


199 


ment  was  sent  to  the  factory  with  instructions  to  build  a cabinet  adequate 
to  contain  it,  and,  in  addition,  18  loaves  of  bread.  These  cabinets  proved  to 
be  better  than  shelving  and  were  provided  at  about  an  equivalent  expense. 
Their  cost  was  $19  each.  In  the  ward  utility  room  no  shelving  was  originally 
provided  and  there  was  insufficient  shelving  constructed  in  the  linen  closet. 
As  no  provision  had  been  made  in  the  ward  surgeon’s  room  for  papers,  a set  of 
pigeonholes  was  built  by  the  Lane  High  School  of  Chicago  for  each  ward. 
There  were  60  pigeonholes  in  a set,  each  hole  measuring  4 by  4 by  8 inches, 
which  gave  adequate  space  for  each  chart  separately,  and  all  the  necessary 
blank  forms.  The  toilets  of  the  wards  were  satisfactory  and  met  all  require- 
ments. The  wards  proper  provided  ample  space  for  34  patients,  and  the  veran- 
das, inclosed  with  movable  screens,  were  large  enough  to  accommodate  all  of 
the  beds  when  necessary.  When  additional  fire  doors  were  built  in  each  ward, 
an  elevated  runway  had  to  be  constructed  from  the  floor  of  the  ward  up  to  the 
door,  and  then  down  to  the  floor  of  the  veranda,  because  the  return  steam  line 
passed  along  the  floor.  It  was  considered  cheaper  to  build  this  runway  than 
to  change  the  return  pipe  line.  This  created  a somewhat  unsightly  appearance 
in  the  ward  and  made  it  difficult  to  place  the  beds  uniformly.  Lighting,  heat- 
ing, and  ventilation  of  the  wards  were  very  satisfactory.  The  wall  electric 
sockets  were  used  but  very  little. 

Double  wards. — The  double  wards  were  very  satisfactory  for  all  types  of 
diseases,  except  contagious  diseases,  and  were  satisfactory  with  the  latter 
class  of  cases  when  there  was  a sufficient  number  of  them  to  fill  both  wards. 
These  wards  had  a common  toilet  in  which  there  was  ample  opportunity  for  the 
intermingling  of  patients  from  both  wards,  and  it  was  necessary  to  quarantine 
both  wards  when  a case  of  contagious  disease  developed  in  either.  The  one 
corridor  connecting  the  two  wards  was  used  as  a recreation  room.  This  was 
very  satisfactory  as  smoking  was  prohibited  in  the  wards  proper.  No  floor 
boards  were  constructed  for  the  shower  baths  and  the  patients  complained  of 
having  to  stand  on  the  cold  concrete  when  taking  their  baths. 

Isolation  wards. — The  isolation  wards  proved  very  satisfactory  for  mis- 
cellaneous types  of  contagion.  The  greatest  drawback  was  in  taking  care  of 
patients  in  the  provided  rooms  when  there  were  different  types  of  infection,  as 
there  was  but  one  toilet  in  that  portion  of  the  building.  The  isolation  wards 
were  used  for  mixed  cases  when  there  were  but  few  cases  suffering  from  infec- 
tious diseases.  The  wards  of  the  main  part  of  the  hospital  were  used  when 
groups  of  the  same  contagious  disease  were  sufficiently  large  to  warrant  it. 

Psychopathic  ward. — The  psychopathic  ward  was  adequate  to  care  for  all 
nervous  and  mental  diseases  developing  at  this  camp.  This  was  made  possible 
of  accomplishment  by  causing  a very  rapid  turnover  of  patients  and  not  allow- 
ing persons  to  remain  therein  when  they  were  not  strictly  hospital  cases.  The 
building  was  very  satisfactory  except  that  it  was  felt  the  windows  should  have 
been  covered  by  iron  bars  on  the  outside,  and  heavy  wire  netting  screens  on 
the  inside.  This  was  done  in  only  a portion  of  the  building.  No  heavy  wire 
screening  was  provided  to  cover  the  radiators  to  prevent  insane  patients  from 
burning  themselves,  and  steam  supply  pipes  and  return  lines  were  within 
rooms  rather  than  being  above  and  beneath,  respectively. 

Ward  barracks. — The  two-story  ward  barracks  did  not  prove  very  satis- 
factory. As  constructed,  they  provided  four  wards  with  separate  linen  closets, 


200 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


toilets,  ward  surgeon’s  room,  and  ward  master’s  room.  They  were  distant 
from  the  main  mess,  connected  by  open  corridors,  and  had  no  diet  kitchen. 
They  were  not  satisfactorily  adaptable  for  bed  patients,  and  to  use  them  for 
convalescents  created  a waste  of  one-third  their  space. 

Wards  of  200  beds. — At  the  signing  of  the  armistice  there  were  under  con- 
struction five  wards  of  200-bed  capacity  each.  These  were  located  in  the  most 
convenient  places,  four  of  them  being  connected  with  the  main  part  of  the 
hospital  by  closed  corridors.  The  wards,  upstairs  and  down,  were  complete 
and  separate.  There  were  ample  quiet  rooms,  toilet  facilities,  diet  kitchen, 
and  administrative  offices.  Wards  of  100  capacity  each  would  have  been  of 
great  value  to  this  hospital  during  the  influenza  epidemic  and  when  large  num- 
bers of  overseas  patients  were  received. 

Officers ’ quarters. — There  was  always  a shortage  of  quarters  for  officers  at 
this  hospital.  It  was  frequently  necessary  to  place  two  junior  officers  in  a 
room  intended  for  one,  and  even  this  expedient  left  the  quarters  inadequate. 
They  were,  however,  very  well  built  and  were  quite  comfortable.  The  recrea- 
tion room  of  the  officers’  quarters  was  satisfactory  as  such,  but  general  assem- 
blies were  held  in  the  chapel,  where  more  space  was  available.  The  dining 
room,  kitchen,  and  storeroom  proved  to  be  very  satisfactory.  The  quarters 
provided  for  attendants  in  the  west  end  of  the  south  wing  were  never  used  for 
that  purpose. 

Nurses’  quarters. — The  first  quarters  constructed  for  the  nurses  were  inad- 
equate both  in  the  number  of  rooms  and  in  the  size  of  the  recreation  room. 
The  individual  rooms  were  also  too  small  and  all  were  quite  dark.  The  second 
set  was  an  improvement  on  the  first  and  the  dining  room  was  of  sufficient 
capacity  to  care  for  the  nurses  from  both  sets  of  quarters.  Rooms  of  this 
newer  set  were  larger,  the  building  was  constructed  in  a better  manner  and 
the  halls  were  much  lighter.  The  third  set  of  quarters  was  a decided  improve- 
ment over  the  second  type.  There  were  four  buildings  in  this  set,  and  they 
were  used  as  quarters  for  the  student  nurses.  They  provided  104  rooms, 
all  of  which  were  used  for  the  students.  The  fourth  set  of  quarters  was 
the  best  constructed  at  Camp  Grant.  The  rooms  were  very  large  and 
light,  the  buildings,  two  in  number,  were  well  ventilated  and  lighted.  They 
were  two  story  buildings  with  plaster  sidings.  In  one  of  them  there  was  pro- 
vided a large  dining  room  and  well-equipped  kitchen,  which  proved  ample 
for  all  of  the  nurses.  The  dining  room,  formerly  used  for  the  nurses,  was  then 
made  into  a very  attractive  recreation  room.  The  quarters  provided  for  the 
help,  in  the  latest  set,  were  found  to  be  inadequate.  Two  cooks  and  16  maids 
were  required  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  nurses  ’ quarters  and  mess.  Because 
of  the  fact  that  this  fourth  set  of  quarters  was  not  connected  with  the  hot 
water  system  of  the  main  portion  of  the  hospital,  a separate  hot  water  heater 
was  installed  in  one  of  the  buildings.  No  shelving  was  provided  in  the  original 
set  of  nurses’  quarters.  Tables  with  a drawer  were  furnished  each  room  in 
the  second  set.  Nothing  was  provided  for  the  third  set  and  an  open  wardrobe 
and  built-in  table  were  provided  for  the  fourth  set.  None  of  these  was  quite 
satisfactory  to  the  nurses,  and  a dresser  with  mirror  was  purchased  for  each 
room.  In  addition,  a wall  writing  desk  was  built  at  the  hospital  shop  for  the 
rooms  in  the  student  nurses’  quarters. 

Colored  nurses’  quarters. — A separate  building  was  built  for  the  colored 
nurses  who  were  on  duty  at  this  hospital.  These  quarters  had  a dining  room. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


201 


kitchen,  and  storeroom  combined.  They  were  excellent  quarters  and  met 
all  requirements. 

Detachment  quarters. — These  buildings  were  constructed  for  barracks  for 
the  detachment,  Medical  Department.  They  had  a capacity  of  62  men  for 
each  dormitory,  in  which,  in  addition,  there  were  four  separate  rooms  for 
noncommissioned  officers.  A solarium  was  provided  in  the  east  end  of  each. 
These  quarters  were  very  comfortable,  well  lighted,  heated  and  ventilated. 
No  provision  having  been  made  for  storing  the  enlisted  men’s  clothing  within 
the  dormitories,  a wall  locker  for  each  enlisted  man  was  built  by  funds  obtained 
from  the  post  exchange.  The  total  cost  of  these  lockers  was  $1,140.  They 
provided  space  for  hanging  the  clothing,  and  there  was  a locked  compartment 
at  the  top  of  each.  A hasp  and  staple  were  placed  on  each  locker  and  the 
soldier  to  whom  it  was  assigned  was  provided  a separate  lock.  The  quarters 
of  the  enlisted  men  were  primarily  inadequate,  and  two  additional  sets  of 
quarters  were  constructed  in  the  spring  of  191S.  The  outdoor  toilets  met 
all  requirements.  Additional  quarters  were  authorized  and  construction  was 
started  on  them  in  October,  1918.  These  buildings  were  of  a more  substantial 
type  than  those  originally  constructed  and  were  of  the  same  quality  as  the 
fourth  set  of  nurses’  quarters  previously  mentioned.  Construction  was  stopped 
on  these  buildings  when  they  were  about  60  per  cent  completed. 

The  detachment  mess. — The  detachment  mess  was  sufficient  in  size  at  first. 
In  the  spring  of  1918,  to  accommodate  the  increased  numbers,  a short  corridor 
was  built  connecting  it  with  an  adjacent  building  and  both  buildings  were  con- 
verted into  a dining  room.  The  kitchen  was  also  enlarged  and  with  these  pro- 
visions it  was  possible  to  feed  the  entire  detachment  at  one  sitting.  Prior 
to  that  time  the  surplus  men  were  fed  in  the  main  hospital  mess.  A large 
detachment  kitchen  was  constructed  hi  September,  1918,  and  it  provided 
excellent  kitchen  and  storage  facilities.  The  equipment  for  this  kitchen  was 
of  the  cafeteria  type.  The  ice  boxes  were  very  large  but  proved  to  be  poorly 
constructed  and  they  required  an  unusually  large  amount  of  ice.  The  cafeteria 
plan  of  feeding  the  men  was  very  satisfactory  and  was  quite  economical  in 
the  saving  of  labor.  The  completion  of  this  new  detachment  mess  was  very 
much  delayed  because  of  the  difficulty  in  procuring  the  new  kind  of  kitchen 
equipment  and  it  was  not  opened  until  about  February,  1919.  Following 
the  reduction  in  the  number  of  enlisted  men  on  duty  in  the  hospital  this  large 
detachment  mess  was  closed  in  May,  1919,  and  its  cafeteria  equipment  was 
removed  and  installed  in  the  general  hospital  mess.  The  enlisted  men  and 
the  ambulatory  patients  were  subsisted  by  this  cafeteria.  Large  black  enamel 
waiters  were  purchased,  by  the  post  exchange  of  the  hospital,  in  sufficient 
numbers  to  provide  one  for  each  person.  There  was  difficulty  at  first  in  getting 
the  ambulatory  patients  to  use  the  cafeteria  mess.  A table  was  provided  for 
those  who  were  crippled,  but  great  difficulty  was  encountered  in  restricting 
the  use  of  it  to  the  authorized.  It  was  found  that  a great  many  patients  secured 
canes  and  crutches  to  take  with  them  to  the  mess,  wholly  as  an  excuse  to  sit 
at  the  table  for  the  crippled  and  thus  obviate  the  necessity  of  waiting 
upon  themselves.  In  order  to  break  up  this  objectionable  custom,  it  was 
necessary  to  provide  every  table  patient  with  a card  from  his  ward  surgeon. 
The  cafeteria  system  proved  excellent,  generally,  principally  because  of  con- 
venience of  service  and  the  saving  of  time.  There  was  no  evidence,  however, 
that  there  was  any  great  saving  of  food. 


202 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Garage. — This  building  was  adequate  for  three  ambulances  only.  It  was 
well  built,  but  had  no  floor  drains  to  carry  off  wash  water.  There  were  no 
lockers  for  the  storage  of  fatigue  clothes  of  those  on  duty  in  the  garage  build- 
ing, nor  were  there  shelves  for  the  necessary  garage  tools. 

Utility  shop. — This  building  was  provided  as  a carpenter,  plumbing,  and 
steam  fitters’  shop  and  was  of  adequate  capacity,  but,  as  other  like  build- 
ings, contained  no  shelving.  An  electrically  driven  saw  with  much  detachable 
apparatus  was  purchased  by  the  post  exchange  of  the  hospital,  with  which  to 
construct  lockers  for  the  men  of  the  detachment.  This  apparatus  proved  of 
the  greatest  value  in  maintaining  the  essential  repairs  in  and  about  the  hos- 
pital. Work  done  in  this  shop  was  performed  almost  exclusively  by  a force 
of  men  belonging  to  the  Medical  Department  detachment  of  the  hospital,  thus 
making  it  almost  independent  of  the  utilities  department. 

Laundry. — This  building  was  constructed  and  was  provided  with  a drying 
room,  22  tubs,  collar  racks,  and  a steam  disinfector.  Other  laundry  equipment 


Fig.  81— Laundry,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111. 


was  not  provided.  The  post  exchange,  however,  purchased  a complete  set  of 
laundry  equipment  and  installed  it  in  this  building.  It  was  necessary  also  to 
construct  floor  drains,  as  these  were  not  originally  provided.  It  happened  that 
there  was  a laundryman  in  the  Medical  Department  detachment  to  whom  was 
given  charge  of  the  purchase  and  installation  of  the  machinery.  He  afterwards 
trained  the  laundry  force,  which  comprised  19  men.  This  force  cared  for  all 
of  the  clothing  of  the  detachment  at  a flat  rate  of  $1.50  a month,  and  this 
included  the  cleaning  and  pressing  of  uniforms  and  overcoats.  The  men  of 
the  laundry  detachment  were  given  extra-duty  pay  at  the  rate  of  one-third  of 
their  salaries.  The  quality  of  the  work  they  did  was  excellent  and  there  were 
practically  no  complaints  from  the  men.  The  laundry  was  able  to  reimburse 
the  post  exchange  for  the  initial  cost  and  declared  dividends  to  the  extent  of 
approximately  $5,000.  The  laundry  also  washed  the  face  masks  that  were 
used  in  the  hospital  and  frequently  did  emergency  laundry  work  for  the  hos- 
pital, for  which  no  charge  was  made. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


203 


Mortuary. — This  building  proved  very  satisfactory  so  long  as  the  number 
of  deaths  did  not  exceed  four  per  diem.  Because  of  the  proximity  of  the 
hospital  to  Rockford,  111.,  no  embalming  was  ever  done  at  the  hospital.  When 
autopsies  were  performed,  the  lack  of  running  water  over  the  post-mortem 
table  was  felt. 

Chapel. — Except  when  deaths  occurred  in  the  detachment,  the  chapel  was 
not  used  for  funeral  purposes;  but  the  building  proved  very  satisfactory  and 
was  used  daily  as  a meeting  place  for  officers,  for  courses  of  instruction.  It 
was  also  used  once  a week  for  general  meetings  of  the  medical  officers  of  the 
hospital  and  camp. 

Power  house. — The  heating  of  the  hospital  was  at  all  times  adequate,  and 
those  troubles  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1917  and  during  the  following 
winter  were  due  to  inefficient  management.  With  the  original  construction 
there  were  a low-pressure  system  of  steam  heating,  operated  at  approximately 
10  pounds,  and  a high-pressure  steam  system  for  the  steam  tables,  dish  wash- 
ers, and  other  kitchen  equipment,  as  well  as  for  the  operating  room  and  the 
laundry.  The  high-pressure  system  was  kept  at  about  60  pounds.  During 
the  summer  of  1918,  a return  system  of  condensed  water  was  installed,  and 
the  pressure  of  the  heating  system  was  then  maintained  at  about  30  pounds, 
reduction  valves  being  installed  at  the  entrance  to  every  building.  The  hot 
water  for  the  main  portion  of  the  hospital  (as  originally  constructed)  was 
heated  in  the  power  house  and  pumped  to  various  parts  of  the  hospital.  For 
the  first  12  months  this  was  never  very  satisfactory;  the  water  was  never  very 
hot  and  frequently  it  was  cold.  The  hot  water  for  the  two-story  ward  bar- 
racks, the  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House,  the  three  sets  of  nurses’  quarters, 
and  the  colored  nurses’  quarters  was  heated  by  steam  coils  in  the  separate 
buildings.  Prior  to  the  summer  of  1918,  when  there  was  no  return  system, 
the  water  of  condensation  was  exhausted  into  the  sewer.  The  steam  coils 
which  were  used  for  heating  the  water  proved  to  be  very  satisfactory,  as  the 
water  was  always  as  hot  as  could  be  desired. 

Supply  warehouse. — These  buildings  were  well  bunt,  but  proved  to  be 
insufficient  in  number  when  the  hospital  was  operating  at  its  maximum  capac- 
ity. During  the  greater  part  of  the  time  additional  buildings  of  the  hospital 
group  were  used  for  needed  storage  space.  No  shelving  at  all  was  provided 
these  warehouses  when  they  were  constructed.  It  was  therefore  necessary  to 
use  scrap  lumber  and  prepare  temporary  shelves  upon  which  to  place  small 
articles  until  the  necessary  authority  could  be  obtained  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment to  provide  suitable  shelving. 

The  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House. — The  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House 
was  built  and  equipped  by  the  American  Red  Cross.  Heat,  light,  and  water 
were  furnished  by  the  Government.  This  building  proved  to  be  very  satisfac- 
tory as  such,  and  met  all  reasonable  requirements. 

Corridors. — The  corridors  of  the  main  portion  of  the  hospital  were  all 
inclosed.  Originally  their  floors  were  very  rough  and  were  made  of  short 
boards.  As  they  were  weak  and  constantly  broke  through,  authority  was 
obtained,  in  January,  1918,  to  lay  a second  flooring.  This  second  flooring  was 
placed  on  the  original  one,  with  its  boards  in  the  same  longitudinal  direction; 
consequently  it  did  not  strengthen  it.  Thereafter,  it  was  not  uncommon  to 


204 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


see  large  holes  throughout  the  corridors  where  the  boards  had  broken  through. 
The  corridors  connecting  the  two-story  ward  barracks  and  isolation  wards 
were  of  the  umbrella  type'  and  afforded  no  protection  from  the  extreme  cold 
in  this  section  of  the  country.  Large  lire  doors  were  constructed  in  the  spring 
of  1918,  to  allow  the  crossing  of  motor-driven  fire  apparatus.  In  order  to 
provide  this  passage,  the  level  of  the  corridor  floor  was  lowered  to  the  ground. 
This  necessitated  the  construction  of  two  inclines,  frequently  as  steep  as  15 
degrees.  Because  of  this  incline  it  was  impossible  to  use  hot  water  in  the  food 
carts  of  the  wards,  and  in  addition  it  was  difficult  to  transport  liquid  foods  in 
the  carts.  Wood  strips,  3 feet  long  and  1 inch  wide,  were  placed  on  these 
inclines  half  way  across  the  corridor,  to  enable  crutch  patients  to  go  up  and 
down  them.  In  spite  of  this  provision,  however,  five  patients  slipped  and  fell 
on  the  inclines,  causing  a refracturing  of  arms  or  legs.  There  were  several 
places  where  the  lowering  of  the  corridor  floor  was  made  to  a level  below  that 
of  the  ground,  giving  rise  during  rainy  weather  to  collections  of  pools  of  water. 

Lighting  and  ventilation. — The  lighting  and  ventilation  of  the  hospital  were 
very  satisfactory.  The  ventilators  for  all  of  the  buildings  originally  constructed 
consisted  of  a parallel  set  of  openings,  12  inches  wide,  passing  down  the  center  of 
each  building.  These  could  be  closed  by  drop  doors  hinged  in  the  attic.  A spring 
was  attached  to  the  doors  to  keep  them  open,  and  cast-iron  catches  were  pro- 
vided to  fasten  them  when  pulled  down.  These  ventilators  proved  very  unsat- 
isfactory, as  the  planks  warped  and  the  catches  could  not  work.  The  later 
type  of  ventilator,  which  was  a large  door  situated  at  intervals  and  opened  by 
a rope,  was  much  more  satisfactory.  The  roof  ventilators  in  the  original  con- 
struction were  objectionable  because  they  permitted  the  entrance  of  rain  and 
snow  and  became  such  a serious,  problem  that  it  was  necessary  to  cover  them 
with  burlap,  in  the  winter  of  1918.  With  the  ventilators  on  the  buildings 
subsequently  constructed,  there  was  never  any  trouble. 

Fire-alarm,  system. — An  aero  fire-alarm  system  was  installed  in  the  spring 
of  1919,  connecting  all  buildings  used  by  the  patients.  This  system  proved  to 
be  very  delicate  and  there  were  many  false  fire  alarms. 

PERSONNEL. 

COMMISSIONED  PERSONNEL. 

Because  of  the  shortage  of  medical  officers  of  the  Regular  Army,  only  one 
Regular  Medical  Corps  officer  was  assigned  to  this  hospital  during  the  period 
of  the  war,  with  the  exception  of  four  newly  appointed  first  lieutenants  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  existence  of  the  hospital.  Every  caliber  of  officer  was  rep- 
resented among  the  medical  officers  assigned.  With  the  exception  of  a very 
few,  none  of  them  had  had  any  prior  military  experience. 

During  the  fall  of  1917  there  was  quite  a large  number  of  medical  officers, 
who  were  totally  unqualified  to  perform  any  duty  whatsoever,  assigned  to 
duty.  Some  of  these  could  not  be  absorbed  and  it  was  necessary  to  discharge 
them  from  the  military  service. 

The  rank  held  by  a medical  officer  when  he  reported  for  service  proved 
to  be  no  guide  to  his  professional  attainments.  Military  rank  was  therefore 
not  kept  in  the  foreground  at  the  hospital,  and  officers  were  assigned  to  fill 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


205 


positions  in  accordance  with  their  ability  and  not  necessarily  because  of  their 
seniority  in  rank. 

Drill  and  setting  up  exercises  for  officers  were  begun  in  September,  1917, 
and  continued  until  the  spring  of  1919.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  age  of 
officers  at  the  hospital  ranged  from  approximately  25  to  65  years,  it  was  nec- 
essary to  divide  them  into  two  or  more  companies.  This  was  accomplished 
by  placing  the  majors  and  officers  of  over  45  years  of  age  in  one  company,  and 
all  others  in  one  or  more  other  companies,  contingent  upon  the  number  of 
officers  to  be  assigned.  The  older  men  were  given  drill  and  setting  up  exercises 
in  moderation.  The  other  companies  were  given  one  hour’s  drill,  later  includ- 
ing the  foot  drill  of  the  soldier,  tent  drills,  ambulance  drill,  and  the  litter  drill. 
Parades  and  reviews  were  given  from  time  to  time  at  which  were  present  the 
entire  personnel,  including  the  band.  Great  interest  was  evidenced  by  all  in 
drills  and  other  functions.  The  officers  were  required  to  turn  out  for  retreat 
daily  when  in  camp,  but  any  officer  could  be  excused  from  drill  upon  his  request. 
There  was  a roll  call  at  drill  and  retreat  and  if  any  officer  absented  himself 
therefrom  without  excuse  lie  was  required  to  make  a formal  explanation  on 
a blank  form  provided  for  that  purpose.  This  form  was  filed  with  the 
officer’s  efficiency  report. 

Each  officer  at  the  hospital  had  an  efficiency  record.  This  was  made,  by 
the  chief  of  his  service,  on  a form  submitted  weekly,  and  covered  attention  to 
duty,  discipline  and  control  of  men,  professional  zeal,  diagnostic  ability,  ab- 
sences from  formations,  and  anything  else  of  a special  nature. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  their  esprit  de  corps  were  generally  excel- 
lent. They  took  great  interest  in  the  organization  and  cooperated  fully  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duties,  to  the  best  of  their  ability. 

The  dental  officers  assigned  to  the  hospital  had  their  offices  and  quarters 
there.  They  were  directly  under  the  camp  dental  surgeon,  however,  and  no 
active  part  in  their  control  was  assumed  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
hospital.  The  number  assigned  was  adequate  and  their  work  very  satisfactory. 

The  officers  of  the  Sanitary  Corps  filled  such  positions  as  adjutant,  mess 
officers,  registrar,  exchange  officer,  detachment  commander,  and  recreation 
officer.  These  officers  proved  well  qualified  and  of  great  help  to  the  hospital. 

The  following  procedure  was  adopted  to  properly  familiarize  new  officers 
with  their  duties  in  connection  with  the  hospital  and  the  service  in  general: 
The  adjutant  gave  each  newly  arriving  officer  a blank  preference  card  to  com- 
plete. This  card  contained  the  officer’s  name,  rank,  organization,  age,  name, 
and  address  of  nearest  relative,  military  service,  professional  training,  and  an 
expression  of  his  desire  for  assignment  to  duty,  first,  second,  and  third  choice. 
The  officer  was  then  presented  to  the  commanding  officer,  who  designated  his 
assignment,  following  which  the  assistant  commanding  officer,  assigned  the 
new  officer  to  quarters,  arranged  for  his  baggage,  instructed  him  in  the  method 
of  saluting,  informed  him  as  to  meal  hours,  drill  hours,  classes,  and  other 
standing  camp  and  hospital  orders.  He  was  then  shown  his  pigeon  holes 
where  his  orders  and  mail  could  be  found  and  was  instructed  in  the  proper 
use  of  the  officers’  register.  The  preference  card  was  given  to  the  sergeant 
major,  who  added  the  officer’s  name  to  the  roster  and  prepared  special  orders 
assigning  the  officer  to  duty.  The  assignment  orders  were  distributed  as 
follows:  Officer’s  pigeonhole,  drill  director,  chief  of  laboratory  (for  vaccina- 


206 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  TOUTED  STATES. 


tions),  chief  of  medical  service  (for  physical  examination),  mess  officer,  chief 
of  the  service  to  which  the  officer  had  been  assigned,  and  a copy  for  file  in  the 
officer’s  file  envelope. 

When  officers  were  relieved  from  duty  at  the  hospital  a special  order  was 
issued,  copies  being  distributed  as  described  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  and, 
in  addition,  to  the  property  officer.  The  officer  to  be  relieved  was  given  a 
hospital  check  sheet,  and  was  required  to  call  at  the  following  offices  to  receive 
therefrom  clearance  signatures  before  he  was  permitted  to  leave  the  hospital: 
Mess  officer,  laundry,  exchange,  property  officer,  and  chief  of  sendee. 

ENLISTED  MEN. 

There  was  a general  shortage  of  enlisted  men  on  duty  at  the  hospital  until 
the  spring  of  1918.  One  noncommissioned  officer  and  4 recruits  were  assigned 
to  duty  in  June,  1917,  and  25  additional  men  in  August  following.  The  latter 
group  included  a sergeant,  first  class,  for  whom  a special  request  had  been  made 
as  lie  was  especially  qualified  to  handle  sick  and  wounded  records.  Sixty  recruits 
were  assigned  by  orders  issued  at  division  headquarters,  86th  Division, 
about  September  5,  1917.  These  men  formed  part  of  a group  of  100  who  had 
been  transferred  from  Fort  McDowell,  Calif.  About  September  10,  1917,  the 
first  men  of  the  draft  were  assigned.  These  men  were  generally  of  a very  poor 
quality;  five  were  discharged  for  physical  disabilities  and  of  the  remainder 
only  two  ever  rose  to  the  grade  of  a noncommissioned  officer. 

In  an  effort  to  properly  classify  the  enlisted  men  assigned,  the  following 
plan  was  adopted  at  the  beginning  of  the  hospital:  Every  enlisted  man  assigned 
was  personally  interviewed  by  the  commanding  officer,  special  attention  being 
paid  to  the  following  points,  and  the  information  obtained  in  relation  to  them 
made  of  record:  Education,  grade;  occupation  in  civil  life;  military  experience; 
position  desired  in  the  hospital;  age;  a general  estimate  of  physical  condition 
on  the  basis  of  10  representing  perfect;  general  rating  on  a basis  of  10;  and 
tentative  assignment.  (This  tentative  assignment  was  the  first  assignment 
the  soldier  received  in  the  hospital  and  was  decided  upon  after  obtaining  the 
information  called  for  by  the  preceding  headings.)  It  required  approximately 
one  month  to  obtain  this  desired  information,  but  it  proved  of  the  greatest 
value.  As  an  example  of  the  accuracy  and  value  of  such  an  interview,  every 
soldier  who  was  interviewed  and  given  a rating  of  eight  and  one-half  or  more, 
ultimately  became  a noncommissioned  officer;  and  there  was  not  an  example 
where  the  soldier  who  received  seven  or  less  became  a noncommissioned  officer. 
This  list  of  ratings  was  of  more  value  to  the  hospital  than  the  soldier  s official 
qualification  card,  and  was  frequently  referred  to  when  it  was  desired  to  select 
men  for  special  positions. 

The  general  shortage  of  enlisted  men  was  especially  felt  in  the  general 
hospital  mess,  as  it  appeared  almost  impossible  to  obtain  cooks.  This  shortage 
of  cooks  made  it  necessary  to  call  upon  the  school  of  bakers  and  cooks  for  assist- 
ance. The  school  assumed  practical  charge  of  the  mess  until  the  latter  part 
of  January,  1918.  Transfers  from  the  organization  proved  a serious  handicap 
to  the  hospital.  For  each  officer  and  enlisted  man  in  the  camp  there  was  a 
qualification  card.  These  cards  were  classified  at  camp  headquarters.  Fre- 
quently these  headquarters  would  receive  an  order  to  transfer  a definite  number 
of  men  of  specific  qualifications.  The  qualification  cards  would  be  referred  to 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


207 


and  men  possessing  the  desired  qualifications  would  be  taken,  regardless  of  the 
position  they  were  holding  at  the  time.  Frequently  men  had  become  efficient 
in  some  specialty  other  than  that  given  on  their  qualification  cards,  and  would 
be  removed  from  the  detachment  for  the  original  qualifications.  Thus,  on 
one  occasion,  orders  were  received  from  camp  headquarters  transferring  the 
mess  officer  to  a grave  digging  regiment,  the  mess  sergeant  and  three  of  the 
seven  cooks  to  southern  camps  as  automobile  experts.  The  hospital  mess 
was  at  that  time  about  to  become  independent  and  efforts  were  made  to  retain 
the  men,  but  ineffectually. 

There  were  but  five  enlisted  men  assigned  to  the  hospital  who  were  a part  of 
the  Regular  Army.  One  master  hospital  sergeant  reported  for  duty  in  July,  1917, 
and  proved  of  great  value  in  assisting  with  the  organization.  He  was  commis- 
sioned and  sent  overseas  early  in  1918.  One  other  enlisted  man  of  the  Regular 
Army  happened  to  have  a qualification  in  photography  only  and  was  of  no 
value  in  any  other  capacity.  One  was  transferred  to  the  camp  surgeon’s  office, 
and  the  other  two  remained  with  this  organization  but  a short  while.  In  other 
words,  the  base  hospital  at  Camp  Grant  was  practically  organized  without 
enlisted  men  from  the  Regular  Army  and  was  run  for  approximately  nine- 
tenths  of  its  duration  without  any  enlisted  men  therefrom.  As  trained  non- 
commissioned officers  were  unobtainable,  primarily,  the  most  promising  material 
was  selected  and  each  department  of  the  hospital  given  a desk  in  the  office  of 
the  commanding  officer  wherein  all  work  was  carried  on  in  its  infancy  under 
his  supervision.  By  the  time  these  offices  had  expanded  to  that  extent  requiring 
more  personnel,  some  one  of  the  men  had  been  instructed,  to  whom  charge 
of  the  office  work  was  given,  and  the  offices  were  established  in  their  proper 
places. 

About  50  per  cent  of  the  men  assigned  to  the  detachment  were  personally 
selected  and  transferred  individually  from  camp  organizations.  Every  effort 
was  made  to  make  their  duty  at  the  hospital  as  pleasant  as  possible,  perhaps  a 
little  more  so  than  with  other  organizations,  with  the  result  that  there  were  a 
great  many  individual  applications  for  transfer.  Close  attention  was  paid  to 
the  mess  of  the  enlisted  men,  lockers  were  built  in  their  quarters,  a recreation 
room  was  provided  and  equipped  for  them,  and  dances,  parties,  athletics,  and 
many  other  forms  of  amusement  were  provided.  This  all  not  only  resulted  in 
contentment  but  made  it  possible  to  select  some  of  the  best  material  in  camp. 
Fortunately,  both  the  commanding  general  of  the  camp  and  the  division 
surgeon  assumed  the  view  that  first-class  work  in  the  hospital  could  not  be 
accomplished  without  there  being  well  qualified  men  with  which  to  do  it. 

Because  of  delays  incident  to  the  required  repair  work  of  the  hospital,  it 
was  decided  to  acquire,  for  the  detachment,  men  qualified  as  plumbers,  steam 
fitters,  electricians,  and  carpenters.  It  was  possible  to  accomplish  this  and 
the  hospital  performed  practically  all  of  the  repair  work  with  its  own  organ- 
ization. The  men  so  selected  were  assigned  to  duty  with  the  quartermaster 
of  the  hospital  and  worked  under  his  supervision. 

The  standard  maintained  for  the  enlisted  men  of  the  hospital  was  that 
unless  they  were  physically  qualified  to  perform  the  duties  of  a soldier  of  the 
line  they  were  not  physically  qualified  for  duty  with  the  organization  of  the 
hospital.  This  resulted  in  there  being  very  few  substandard  men  in  the  detach- 


208 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ment.  In  the  spring  of  1918  the  Surgeon  General  requested  a report  showing 
the  number  of  men  physically  qualified  for  overseas  duty.  Had  the  men 
reported  as  being  qualified  been  transferred,  it  would  have  resulted  in  seriously 
handicapping  the  hospital. 

Three  hospitals  were  organized  at  Camp  Grant  for  overseas  duty.  Of 
these,  one  was  a base  hospital  and  two  were  evacuation  hospitals.  A nucleus 
of  men  was  transferred  from  the  detachment  of  the  hospital  to  each  of  the  over- 
seas hospitals,  forming  a very  substantial  foundation  on  which  each  of  the  new 
hospitals  could  build.  The  men  were  selected  according  to  their  classification 
and  when  grouped  were  able  to  carry  on  all  of  the  administrative  work  for  a 
small  hospital.  All  enlisted  men  transferred  to  Camp  Grant  for  duty  with  the 
overseas  hospital  were  assigned  to  duty  in  the  base  hospital  for  instruction. 
Base  Hospital  58  and  Evacuation  Hospitals  20  and  37  were  trained  in  this  way. 
Two  hundred  raw  recruits  from  the  South  were  all  the  men  that  Evacuation 
Hospital  20  had  to  start  out  with,  but  at  the  time  this  organization  left  camp 
its  personnel  gave  the  appearance  of  being  of  the  best. 

In  building  up  the  organization  of  the  hospital  the  plan  followed  was  to 
train  each  man  to  fill  a specific  position  rather  than  have  him  attain  a slight 
degree  of  familiarity  with  all  branches  of  the  hospital  as  a basis  for  promotion. 
Promotions  were  made  by  grade  and  no  men  from  the  hospital  were  allowed 
to  skip  a grade.  Promotions  were  made  on  the  first  day  of  each  month.  The 
officer  in  charge  of  each  department  was  directed  to  submit  his  recommendations 
for  promotion  after  having  consulted  with  his  senior  noncommissioned  officer 
to  obtain  from  him  information  for  or  against  the  proposed  promotion.  These 
promotion  lists  were  consolidated  and  forwarded  to  the  detachment  commander 
for  his  recommendation.  If  vacancies  existed  they  were  filled  by  such  men 
who  had  been  properly  recommended,  after  they  had  been  given  a perfunctory 
examination  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital. 

The  following  plan  was  utilized  in  the  assignment  of  men  to  duty:  The 
entire  detachment  was  divided  into  12  sections,  each  being  in  charge  of  a non- 
commissioned officer;  and  as  many  noncommissioned  of  Heel's  were  assigned  to 
assist  the  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  as  were  found  to  be  necessary. 
The  detachment  commander  ultimately  had  general  supervision  over  all  the 
sections.  However,  as  it  was  very  difficult  to  get  a satisfactory  detachment 
commander  during  the  first  14  months  of  the  hospital's  existence,  orders  were 
issued  to  the  effect  that  no  man  would  be  transferred  from  one  section  to  an- 
other without  the  approval  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital,  except 
in  the  case  of  transfers  from  the  casual  section  which  was  used  as  a general 
replacement  section.  This  provision  was  found  necessary,  also,  because  many 
of  the  new  noncommissioned  officers  were  not  sufficiently  trained  in  their 
positions  and  would,  at  times,  make  transfers  that  proved  to  be  not  to  the  best 
interests  of  the  service  of  the  hospital.  The  following  sections  were  established 
in  October,  1917,  and  were  continued  throughout  the  existence  of  the  hospital: 
Clerical  and  administrative;  male  nurse;  mess;  transportation:  Quartermaster: 
police;  laboratory;  operating;  X-ray;  exchange;  casual;  and  miscellaneous.0 

a In  reality  this  miscellaneous  section  was  not  a section  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  since  it  had  no  noncommis- 
sioned officer  in  charge  of  the  men  assigned,  and  the  work  performed  by  the  men  belonging  to  this  section,  generally 
speaking,  pertained  to  some  other  of  the  sections.  The  stenographers  and  orderlies  assigned  to  the  officers  of  the  various 
chiefs  of  service  belonged  to  this  miscellaneous  section. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


209 


The  sick  officers  proved  to  be  hard  to  satisfy,  and  it  was  difficult  to  retain 
enlisted  men  in  this  part  of  the  mess.  Authority  was  requested  to  give  enlisted 
men  on  duty  in  the  officers’  ward  mess  additional  pay.  This  request  was  ap- 
proved. The  additional  pay  made  it  possible  to  retain  enlisted  men  of  this  mess 
section  in  a satisfactory  state  of  mind. 

The  nurses’  mess  was  operated  under  the  supervision  of  the  mess  officer 
in  the  beginning,  and  there  were  civilian  cooks  and  waiters.  The  nurses  com- 
plained of  the  poor  quality  of  food,  and  difficulty  was  experienced  in  trying  to 
keep  the  mess  from  getting  in  debt.  In  an  effort  to  better  the  conditions,  the 
chief  nurse  ultimately  took  over  the  operation  of  the  nurses’  mess  and  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  nurses  to  have  active  charge.  One  enlisted  man  for  each 
50  nurses  was  assigned  from  the  detachment  of  the  main  mess.  This  plan  worked 
very  satisfactorily  and  remained  in  operation  thereafter. 

A separate  mess  was  started  in  one  of  the  isolation  wards  and  was  operated 
for  the  three  isolation  wards.  At  first  this  was  thought  to  be  very  satisfactory 
and  was  so  reported  upon  by  several  inspectors.  As  time  went  on,  however,  and 
all  phases  of  the  situation  received  consideration,  there  seemed  to  be  no  par- 
ticular reason  for  operating  this  mess,  which  required  additional  personnel  and 
proved  very  expensive.  It  was  discontinued,  therefore,  and  food  was  served 
by  means  of  food  carts,  as  was  done  to  all  of  the  other  wards,  and  this  arrange- 
ment was  found  to  be  very  satisfactory.  The  separate  mess  had  been  considered 
with  a view  of  keeping  the  patients  and  personnel  of  the  isolation  ward  apart 
from  the  remainder  of  the  personnel  of  the  hospital.  It  was  impossible,  however, 
to  keep  the  nurses,  enlisted  men,  and  officers  separate  and  it  was  necessary  for 
these  persons  to  retain  their  quarters  with  the  remaining  portion  of  the  per- 
sonnel. In  this  connection,  it  may  be  of  interest  to  know  that  there  was  not 
a case  of  exanthematous  disease  which  developed  in  any  officer,  nurse,  or  en- 
listed man  at  the  hospital  who  was  associated  with  the  care  of  that  particular 
disease. 

There  were  approximately  10  dietitians  who  had  been  assigned  to  the 
hospital.  Each  worked  in  quite  a different  manner.  The  first  dietitian  did 
practically  all  of  the  special  cooking,  personnally,  being  assisted  by  two 
kitchen  police.  Later  she  was  relieved  by  two  other  dietitians,  both  of  whom 
assumed  a supervisory  capacity,  performing  less  actual  work  personally;  and 
from  that  time  on  the  major  portion  of  the  actual  special  cooking  was  done  by 
the  enlisted  men,  under  the  supervision  of  a dietitian. 

ARMY  NURSE  CORPS. 

The  first  female  nurse  reported  for  duty  October  10,  1917.  Prior  to  that 
time  nursing  had  been  carried  on  exclusively  by  enlisted  men.  Thereafter, 
female  nurses  were  rapidly  assigned,  and  during  the  existence  of  the  base 
hospital  there  were  in  all  815  nurses  on  duty  at  one  time  or  another.  This 
number  included  both  graduate  and  student  nurses. 

During  the  first  six  months  of  the  life  of  the  hospital,  the  type  of  graduate 
female  nurse  assigned  was  not  of  high  professional  quality,  except  those  graduate 
nurses  who  already  belonged  to  the  Regular  Army.  The  new  nurses  came  from 
small  hospitals,  and  small  towns,  and  were  advanced  in  years.  As  time  pro- 
452690— 23 14 


210 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


gressed  a much  superior  type  of  nurse  came  into  the  service,  and  for  the  first 
eight  months  of  1918  the  nurses  assigned  to  this  hospital  proved  to  be  of  the 
highest  type  obtainable;  they  were  well  trained,  energetic,  enthusiastic,  and 
physically  qualified  to  perform  their  duties. 

The  nurses,  generally  speaking,  desired  overseas  service  and  several  hundred 
were  given  their  preliminary  training  and  sent  abroad.  By  the  fall  of  1918  it 
was  evident  that  the  supply  of  graduate  nurses  was  approaching  exhaustion  in 
the  United  States,  and  the  type  of  nurses  then  being  assigned  was  more  nearly 
similar  to  those  who  entered  the  service  during  the  early  period  of  the  war. 

It  was  customary,  from  the  beginning,  to  place  the  nurses  in  an  officer's 
status  at  Camp  Grant,  and,  because  of  this,  it  was  difficult  at  times  to  prohibit 
social  relationship  between  the  nurses  and  enlisted  men.  An  order  was  issued 
prohibiting  this,  and  every  nurse  was  furnished  a copy  of  the  order  when  she 
was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  hospital.  Any  infringement  upon  this  order  resulted 
in  disciplinary  measures  being  taken;  and  if  the  nurse  did  not  respond  to  an 
ordinary  reprimand,  her  discharge  from  the  service  was  recommended. 

The  question  of  recreation  for  the  nurses  was  considered  at  a very  early 
period.  It  was  a difficult  problem  at  the  beginning  because  of  the  absence  of 
a satisfactory  place  in  the  hospital  for  suitable  entertainments.  The  city  of 
Rockford  could  not  be  depended  upon  for  the  recreation  for  these  young  women, 
as  any  such  recreational  activities  could  not  have  adequate  supervision.  The 
medical  officers’  wives  were  ineffectually  called  upon  to  assist,  it  being  explained 
to  them  that  this  was  something  they  could  do  toward  helping  win  the  war. 
The  nurses  themselves  gave  every  evidence  of  being  unable  to  entertain  each 
other.  Teas,  card  parties,  picnics,  and  other  forms  of  entertainments,  where 
only  ladies  were  present,  were  tried,  but  generally  speaking  such  entertainments 
were  not  successful.  When  the  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House  was  built  in 
the  spring  of  1918,  it  was  possible  to  have  dances,  and  this  form  of  recreation 
proved  to  be  practically  the  only  form  of  amusement  that  a majority  of  the 
nurses  cared  for. 

Student  nurses. — Student  nurses  were  assigned  to  this  hospital  in  groups, 
commencing  in  August,  1918,  and  in  all  approximately  150  were  assigned  for 
training.  These  girls  were  younger  than  the  graduate  nurses  and  were  full  of 
enthusiasm.  The  problem  of  absorbing  them  in  a large  hospital  in  a military 
camp  where  there  were  50,000  men  was  considered  with  grave  apprehension. 
It  was  concluded  that  one  of  the  very  best  things  to  do  was  to  teach  these  girls 
the  meaning  of  military  orders,  to  promote  the  honor  system  of  regulations 
among  them,  and  to  make  them  feel  that  they  were  an  important  part  of  the 
hospital  organization.  With  all  this  in  view,  they  were  organized  into  three 
provisional  companies  which  were  made  into  a battalion.  They  were  given 
setting  up  exercises  and  the  foot  drill  of  the  soldier.  This  drill  was  given  by 
the  commanding  officer  principally,  and  his  close  association  with  the  student 
nurses  made  it  possible  for  him  to  learn  the  individual  characteristics  of  the 
young  ladies  and  to  so  outline  regulations,  governing  their  military  life  at  the 
hospital,  as  to  make  them  meet  the  best  interests  of  the  students  as  well  as  the 
hospital.  Student  nurses  were  selected  to  act  as  commissioned  and  noncom- 
missioned officers  for  each  provisional  company;  and  the  organization  as  a whole 
was  given  squad,  company,  and  battalion  drill.  They  were  given  the  various 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


211 


calisthenic  exercises,  signal  drill;  were  taken  on  moderate  marches;  and  were 
given  may  other  types  of  instructions  of  the  soldier. 

The  student  nurses  were  drilled  daily,  except  on  Saturday  and  Sunday, 
regardless  of  weather  conditions,  until  the  spring  of  1919,  when  the  wards  of  the 
hospital  became  filled  with  overseas  patients,  and  nursing  requirements  in- 
creased to  such  an  extent  that  it  was  necessary  to  retain  some  of  the  students  in 
the  wards  at  all  times. 

The  student  nurses  were  furnished  a winter  uniform  as  follows:  An  olive 
drab  shirt,  olive  drab  breeches,  puttee  leggings,  an  olive  drab  overcoat,  a khaki 
skirt,  an  overseas  cap,  a woolen  helmet,  woolen  gloves,  marching  shoes,  and 
overshoes.  The  Army  uniform  was  used  as  far  as  possible;  the  gloves  and  over- 
shoes were  furnished  by  the  Red  Cross;  the  marching  shoes  by  the  Salvation 
Army.  The  student  nurses  took  a great  deal  of  interest  in  the  drill,  which  con- 
siderably improved  their  carriage  and  facilitated  disciplinary  control.  Special 
insignia  was  devised  and  furnished  to  designate  the  different  “officers”  of  the 
organization. 

The  student  nurses'  battalion  was  required  to  turn  out  as  a formation  at 
retreat  daily,  except  Saturday  and  Sunday. 

The  recreation  for  the  student  nurses  was  not  much  of  a problem.  They 
possessed  a great  deal  of  talent  among  them,  and  this  was  utilized  in  such  a 
way  as  to  entertain  not  only  the  students  themselves  but  others  of  the  hospital. 
They  were,  generally  speaking,  girls  of  a superior  type  and  made  all  of  the  en- 
tertainment in  which  they  participated  very  successful.  The  Red  Cross  Con- 
valescent House  was  turned  over  to  them  on  the  first  and  third  Fridays  of  each 
month  and  in  it  they  gave  such  entertainments  as  their  recreation  committee 
had  planned.  Refreshments  and  music  were  furnished  by  the  commanding 
officer,  upon  their  request. 

The  student  nurse,  like  the  graduate  nurse,  was  placed  on  the  status  of  an 
officer. 

PATIENTS. 

During  the  existence  of  this  base  hospital  35,899  patients  were  admitted 
for  treatment  and  38,757  out-patients  were  examined  and  treated. 

Two  large  epidemics  were  experienced.  The  first,  commencing  on  Decem- 
ber 26,  1917,  followed  the  arrival  of  about  500  recruits  from  Columbus  Barracks 
and  Jefferson  Barracks.  These  recruits  had  every  form  of  contagious  disease 
commonly  seen  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  epidemic  continued  until 
late  in  the  spring  of  1918.  Measles  appeared  first,  and,  fortunately  for  the 
hospital,  the  apex  of  the  occurrence  of  this  disease  had  passed  when  the  scarlet 
fever  outbreak  reached  its  height.  There  was  hut  little  meningitis.  The 
second  epidemic  started  the  latter  part  of  September,  1918,  and  ended  in  the 
following  November.  This  was  the  influenza  epidemic,  in  which  it  would  seem 
that  the  pneumococcus  played  a more  important  role  than  the  bacillus  of 
influenza. 

The  largest  number  of  medical  cases  was  under  treatment  during  the  month 
of  October,  1918,  being  of  the  so-called  influenza  type.  The  largest  number 
of  surgical  patients  was  handled  in  March,  1919,  representing  practically  all 
overseas  wounded.  The  largest  number  of  genitourinary  cases  was  treated 
in  July,  1918,  just  prior  to  the  departure  of  the  86th  Division.  This  number 


212 


military  hospitals  in  the  united  states. 


of  genitourinary  cases  in  camp  was  greatly  augmented  by  the  transfer  of  this 
class  of  patients  from  other  camps,  especially  Camp  Custer,  Mich.  The 
number  of  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  patients  was  greatly  increased  upon  the 
arrival  of  overseas  patients  in  December,  1918,  and  the  greatest  number  of 
such  cases  was  handled  during  that  month.  This  class  of  patients  continued 
high  throughout  the  spring  of  1919.  The  number  of  mastoid  operations  in- 
creased following  the  influenza  epidemic.  The  largest  number  of  contagious 
cases  developed  during  February,  1918,  being  incident  to  the  first  epidemic 
mentioned  above.  The  largest  number  of  nervous  and  mental  cases  was  on 
record  in  July,  1918,  which  was  due  not  only  to  the  hospital  cases,  but  to  the 
fact  that  many  cases  were  referred  for  observation  from  the  camp  during  this 
month.  The  largest  number  of  days  lost  per  patient  was  in  June,  1919,  due 
to  the  high  percentage  of  overseas  convalescents  in  hospital  at  that  time. 

A classified  report  was  maintained,  showing,  numerically,  the  various 
classes  of  patients,  and  the  days  lost  by  them.  This  classified  report  was  of 
great  value  in  bringing  forcibly  to  the  attention  of  chiefs  of  service  and  ward 
surgeons  the  importance  of  discharging  patients  from  hospital  just  as  soon  as 
possible.  Each  month  this  report  would  be  considered  at  an  officers’  meeting, 
when  the  services  of  the  hospital  would  be  compared  one  with  another  and  from 
month  to  month.  Quite  a degree  of  competition  between  the  services  was  thus 
brought  about. 

The  establishment  of  the  genitourinary  infirmary  at  Camp  Grant  was  of  the 
greatest  value  to  the  hospital;  it  relieved  the  hospital  of  an  immense  amount 
of  work  and  prevented  the  hospitalization  of  thousands  of  patients  who  did  not 
require  confinement  to  hospital.  Approximately  2,000  patients  passed  through 
the  genitourinary  infirmary.  These  patients  were  on  a special-duty  status  and 
were  kept  in  quarantine.  Such  cases  were  transferred  to  hospital  as  needed 
treatment  therein,  and  the  remainder  were  cared  for  at  the  infirmary.  The 
genitourinary  services  of  the  hospital  and  the  infirmary  were  closely  associated. 
This  was  made  possible  by  assigning  the  assistant  of  the  genitourinary  service 
of  the  hospital  as  officer  in  charge  of  the  infirmary. 

GENERAL  ADMINISTRATION. 

PROPERTY. 

Generally  speaking,  requisitions  were  handled  very  expeditiously  and 
property  received  without  very  great  delay.  There  were,  of  necessity, 
various  grades  of  property.  This  was  especially  true  of  such  articles  as  linen 
sheets  and  towels,  of  which  there  were  all  sizes  and  qualities  received.  The 
white  enamel  tables  were  insufficient  in  number  and  were  very  fragile.  These 
tables  were  made  of  cast  iron  and  the  attachments  for  the  legs  were  easily 
broken  and  could  not  be  repaired.  The  wooden  bedside  tables  did  not  prove 
satisfactory:  they  were  6 inches  too  low  and  provided  but  one  shelf,  they  were 
easily  overturned,  and  the  varnish  soon  came  off  their  tops,  making  them  very 
unsightly.  The  lack  of  a suitable  ward  cart  was  very  greatly  felt,  and  every 
conceivable  means,  such  as  litters,  wheel  litters,  wheel  chairs,  food  carts,  and 
baggage  trucks,  was  utilized  to  convey  supplies  to  wards. 

In  January,  1918,  an  interior  storage  battery  truck,  with  trailer  complete, 
was  furnished  this  hospital  by  the  American  Red  Cross.  As  the  hospital  was 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


213 


built  without  steps  this  truck  could  reach  any  building  used  by  patients.  Its 
capacity  was  a ton  and  it  could  carry  any  load  that  could  be  upheld  by  the 
corridors.  It  was  used  to  collect  soiled  and  to  distribute  clean  linen;  to  bring 
supplies  from  the  medical  supply  depot  and  other  places.  In  fact,  it  was 
used  almost  continuously  throughout  the  day  for  hauling  supplies  of  all  kinds 
from  one  part  of  the  hospital  to  another.  In  this  service  it  proved  to  be  of 
the  greatest  help.  It  was  run  by  storage  batteries,  for  which  a charging 
apparatus  was  furnished.  This  charging  apparatus  had  an  automatic  cut-off 
and  every  other  night  the  truck  was  attached  to  the  charging  dynamo.  When 
the  batteries  were  fully  charged  the  dynamo  was  automatically  cut  off.  This 
truck  was  operated  for  more  than  18  months  without  necessitating  any  ex- 
penditures for  repairs. 

The  hospital  was  embarrassed  at  times  because  of  lack  of  funds  to  purchase 
articles  needed  immediately,  such  as  rubber  stamps,  special  office  equipment, 
and  emergency  reports. 

QUARTERMASTER  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  HOSPITAL. 

The  first  attempt  at  an  organization  of  the  quartermaster  department 
of  this  hospital  was  made  the  latter  part  of  September,  1917,  when  a portion 
of  the  permanent  base  hospital  was  taken  over.  At  this  time  there  was  no 
allotment  of  Quartermaster  Corps  personnel,  nor  was  there  any  evidence  that 
such  a corps  allotment  would  be  made.  A rough  draft  of  the  requirements 
of  the  hospital  was  made  and  available  personnel,  possessing  qualifications 
for  that  department,  were  transferred  to  the  Medical  Department  and  the 
organization  of  the  Quartermaster  detachment  was  then  effected  with  Medical 
Department  personnel.  At  that  time  all  utilities  were  handled  by  the  camp 
quartermaster;  and  as  the  personnel  was  limited  and  supplies  were  difficult 
to  secure,  a separate  and  distinct  utilities  department  was  organized  in  the 
quartermaster  department  of  the  base  hospital.  The  medical  supplies  were 
being  handled  by  the  camp  medical  supply  officer,  who  also  served  as  property 
officer  for  the  base  hospital,  though  he  was  not  directly  under  the  supervision 
of  its  commanding  officer.  Considerable  difficulty  was  experienced  in  deter- 
mining the  line  to  be  drawn  between  such  duties  as  should  be  performed  by  the 
camp  medical  supply  officer  and  those  by  the  quartermaster  of  the  hospital. 
The  work  of  actually  equipping  the  wards  was  of  necessity  handled  by  the 
quartermaster,  as  he  had  the  only  available  personnel,  transporation,  and  organ- 
ization with  which  to  carry  on  this  work.  The  question  of  accounting  for 
Government  property,  under  such  a system,  caused  many  delays  and  difficulties, 
and  in  most  cases  only  the  finest  efforts  at  cooperation  prevented  serious  delay 
in  the  functioning  of  the  supply  department. 

THE  SECURING  AND  ISSUING  OF  PROPERTY. 

For  several  months  after  the  organization  of  the  hospital,  property  was 
issued  to  the  various  wards  and  departments  upon  memorandum  receipt, 
signed  by  the  ward  surgeon  or  head  of  the  department  in  question.  This 
system  was  abandoned  at  an  early  date  because  of  the  constant  change  of 
personnel  and  because  of  the  inability  of  the  new  officers  to  adequately  supervise 
the  care  of  property  and  to  account  for  it.  After  many  experiments  it  was 


214 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


found  that  the  following  system  possessed  the  greatest  degree  of  merit  and  the 
least  objections:  The  hospital  was  divided  into  sections,  each  having  a property 
officer.  This  officer  was,  generally  speaking,  a junior  and  one  whose  qualifica- 
tions and  temperament  made  him  valuable  for  this  type  of  work.  On  or 
before  Wednesday  of  each  week  each  ward  or  department  submitted  to  the 
property  officer  of  their  section  a requisition  covering  a week’s  supplies,  both 
expendable  and  nonexpendable.  These  requisitions  were  examined  and 
approved  by  the  property  officer  of  the  section  and  were  turned  in  by  him  to 
the  office  of  the  supply  officer  by  Wednesday  night.  In  the  office  of  the  supply 
officer  the  requisitions  were  examined  and  after  being  approved,  for  issue, 
one  copy  was  forwarded  to  the  warehouse,  where  the  storekeeper  placed  the 
articles  requisitioned  by  each  ward  or  its  department  in  a separate  container. 
The  property  requisitioned  was  ready  for  use  on  Thursday  morning.  Mean- 
while, the  accounts  section  had  placed  all  nonexpendable  articles  upon  a ship- 
ping ticket  and  this  shipping  ticket  had  been  turned  over  to  the  storekeeper 
for  him  to  obtain  the  signature  of  receipt.  When  the  ward  master  called  for 
his  supplies  on  Thursday  he  certified  upon  the  issue  ticket  that  he  had  received 
the  nonexpendable  articles  listed  thereon,  and  certified  upon  one  copy  of  the 
requisition  that  he  had  received  the  expendable  articles  listed  thereon.  On 
Friday  afternoon  all  issue  tickets  for  the  week  were  signed  for  by  the  property 
officer  of  each  section.  One  copy  of  the  shipping  ticket  was  then  filed  in  the 
numerical  file  of  issue  tickets;  and  the  other  copy,  retained  in  the  office  of 
the  supply  officer,  was  filed  in  the  folder  of  the  particular  ward  to  which  the  prop- 
erty was  issued.  This  file  was  arranged  so  that  a separate  portion  was  reserved 
for  each  unit  property  officer,  as  well  as  a separate  section  for  the  issue  tickets 
of  each  ward.  Each  unit  property  officer  was  provided  a desk  and  file  and  was 
required  to  open  and  properly  maintain  loan  record  cards  for  each  ward  or 
building  within  his  section.  On  Monday  of  each  week  these  loan  record  cards 
were  indexed  by  the  loan  adjusting  clerk,  to  insure  the  proper  posting  of  and 
keeping  accounts  up  to  date.  Tuesday  of  each  week  was  set  apart  for  the  turning 
in  of  unserviceable  and  surplus  property,  and  receiving  reports  were  properly 
accomplished  on  that  day.  All  unserviceable  property  turned  in  was  accom- 
panied by  a statement,  made  by  the  unit  property  officer,  that  the  property 
was  rendered  unserviceable  by  fair  wear  and  tear.  In  cases  where  such  a 
certificate  could  not  be  furnished,  the  unit  property  office  was  required  to 
submit  a statement  showing  how  the  property  became  unserviceable.  Once 
each  month  unserviceable  property  was  placed  upon  an  inspection  and  inventory 
report  and  turned  in  to  the  salvage  department. 

Medical  property  officers  were  required  to  check  the  property  of  their 
wards  prior  to  the  last  day  of  the  month  and  to  submit  a shortage  and  excess 
report  upon  a form  devised  by  the  supply  officer.  On  this  form,  shortage 
and  excess  of  property  found  in  each  ward  or  building  were  noted,  and  under 
the  column  for  remarks  a statement  was  made  to  show  how  such  shortage 
or  excess  occurred.  The  loan-adjusting  clerk  then  made  a physical  replace- 
ment of  wards,  as  far  as  possible,  by  giving  the  excess  of  one  ward  or  building 
to  other  wards  or  buildings  wherein  there  were  shortages.  The  net  surplus 
remaining  in  any  ward  or  building  was  then  charged  to  the  net  shortage  placed 
upon  survey.  In  this  way  every  effort  was  made  to  have  each  ward,  on  the 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


215 


5th  of  the  month,  correct  in  its  property  accounts.  Each  ward  was  stand- 
ardized with  basic  articles  and  each  ward  was  allowed  such  additional  articles 
as  were  necessary  for  the  proper  functioning  of  that  ward  in  accordance  with 
its  type.  Every  effort  was  made  to  discourage  the  transfer  of  property  by 
wards,  and  when  a patient  was  transferred  from  ward  to  ward  the  physical 
replacement  of  property  was  required. 

Emergency  requisitions  were  allowed  and  were  expedited,  since  during 
the  major  portion  of  the  week  there  was  no  issue  of  general  articles  or  supplies. 
After  the  above-described  system  had  been  working  for  a short  time  few 
emergency  requisitions  were  necessary. 

Property  was  drawn  from  the  camp  supply  officer  in  two  ways:  Upon 
monthly  requisitions  covering  the  general  articles  of  issue,  the  need  of  which 
could  reasonably  be  anticipated;  and  upon  emergency  requisitions  requiring 
either  open-market  purchases  or  further  requisitions  upon  the  zone  supply 
officer.  Considerable  difficulty  was  experienced  in  securing  the  expedition 
of  open-market  purchases  where  these  purchases  were  made  by  the  camp 
supply  officer.  Trying  as  was  the  difficulty  of  securing  prompt  purchase 
by  the  camp  supply  officer,  equally  trying  was  the  difficulty  of  securing  pay- 
ment of  bills  incurred,  the  payment  for  which  was  to  be  made  by  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office.  Considerable  difficulty  was  experienced  in  the  proper 
accounting  for  supplies  purchased  under  allotment  to  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  hospital,  due  to  the  fact  that  the  hospital  did  not  maintain  stock  record 
cards,  but  merely  loan  record  cards.  This  matter  was  properly  adjusted 
finally  by  obtaining  special  authority  to  open  emergency  stock  record  cards 
for  the  purpose  of  dropping  expendable  articles  purchased. 

All  property  issued  to  the  base  hospital  by  the  camp  supply  officer  was 
issued  upon  loan  and,  under  regulations,  was  taken  up  on  loan  record  cards. 
As  the  property  accounts  of  a large  Army  hospital  involved  approximately 
3,000  nonexpendable  items  and  as  the  account  was  necessarily  a very  active 
one,  the  record  card  was  found  extremely  difficult  in  use  for  property  account- 
ing, and  it  was  also  found  that  within  a short  time  it  was  necessary  to  make 
over  great  portions  of  the  loan  cards  to  accommodate  additional  entries. 
Also,  after  the  account  had  run  a few  months  it  was  necessary  even  to  use  the 
adding  machine  in  order  to  determine  accurately  the  amount  of  property 
on  hand. 

TRANSPORTATION . 

Prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  Motor  Transport  Corps  but  little  diffi- 
culty was  experienced  in  the  proper  handling  and  upkeep  of  the  motor 
transportation  of  the  base  hospital.  Upon  the  establishment  of  the  Motor 
Transport  Corps  the  quartermaster  of  the  base  hospital  was  given  a definite 
allotment  of  motor  transport  personnel,  and  thereafter  no  difficulty  was 
experienced  in  making  this  department  properly  function  in  accordance  with 
the  needs  of  the  hospital.  Subsequent  orders  pooling  the  transportation, 
except  ambulances,  under  the  Motor  Transport  Corps  officer,  and  the  taking 
over  by  that  officer  of  all  duties  relative  to  repair  and  upkeep  of  motor  trans- 
portation, interfered  with  the  transportation  service  of  the  hospital.  It  was 
difficult  to  make  the  transportation  requirements  of  this  large  hospital  fit 
in  with  the  arranged  transportation  scheme  of  the  camp. 


216 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Animal  transportation  in  the  base  hospital  was  secured  in  adequate 
amounts  and  little  difficulty  was  experienced  in  the  proper  care  and  use  of 
such  transportation. 

DISPOSAL  OF  WASTES. 

Perhaps  no  single  duty  of  the  Quartermaster  Department  presented  so 
much  difficulty  as  the  proper  observance  of  sanitary  regulations  and  the 
disposal  of  wastes.  After  trying  for  several  months  the  system  of  having 
garbage  cans  at  the  end  of  each  ward,  the  plan  was  abandoned  as  an  impossi- 
bility, and  a central  garbage  receiving  station  was  built  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
hospital  general  mess.  The  station  was  screened  and  its  doors,  opening  upon 
the  loading  platform,  were  provided  with  springs.  Within  the  station  the 
galvanized-iron  cans  were  placed  in  rows,  each  row  of  a sufficient  number 
to  receive  definite  classes  of  garbage  or  waste.  A competent  noncommissioned 
officer  was  in  charge  of  the  station  to  supervise  its  operation.  Each  ward 
or  building  was  provided  with  the  proper  number  of  closed  commode  pails, 
suitably  labeled,  showing  the  type  of  waste  or  garbage  to  be  placed  in  each 
pail.  Each  ward  or  department  was  required  to  convey  its  pails  of  garbage 
to  the  garbage-disposal  station  between  the  hours  of  8 and  9 each  morning, 
and  6 and  7 each  evening.  At  the  disposal  station  the  garbage  was  inspected 
and  placed  in  the  proper  can.  The  disposal  cans  were  called  for  each  morning 
between  9 and  12  and  hauled  to  the  camp  garbage-disposal  plant.  This 
system  operated  successfully  in  almost  every  particular. 

GROUNDS  AND  GARDENS. 

Through  the  use  of  hospital  and  exchange  funds,  together  with  funds 
received  from  the  lied  Cross  and  other  welfare  organizations,  seeds,  plants, 
and  farming  machinery  were  purchased,  and  the  entire  hospital  grounds 
seeded  in  grass  and  laid  out  in  appropriate  flower  beds.  It  was  found  that, 
by  first  seeding  the  new  ground  with  oats,  followed  by  blue  grass  and  clover, 
excellent  grass  could  be  secured  the  first  year.  Well-seeded  lawns  not 
only  enhanced  the  beauty  of  the  hospital  and  added  to  the  contentment  and 
satisfaction  of  the  patients  and  personnel,  but  had  a decided  advantage  in 
that  they  prevented  the  raising  of  dust. 

The  use  of  hospital  funds  permitted  the  operation  of  a hospital  garden 
upon  a neighboring  10-acre  plot.  This  garden  provided  a large  percentage 
of  the  fresh  vegetables  used  in  the  mess  and  netted  a clear  profit  in  hospital 
funds  through  the  saving  of  approximately  $4,000. 

DISINFECTING  PLANT. 

The  operation  of  this  plant  had  two  purposes:  The  disinfecting  of  cloth- 

ing of  patients  admitted  to  the  hospital,  of  the  bedding  used  by  patients 
suffering  from  contagious  diseases;  and  the  disinfection  of  clothing  and 
equippage  of  the  personnel  of  the  camp  suspected  as  contacts  in  contagious 
disease.  This  plant  operated  for  22  months  with  practically  no  shutdown, 
either  day  or  night,  and  only  two  one-thousandths  of  1 per  cent  of  the  cloth- 
ing and  equipage  handled  was  destroyed  or  rendered  unserviceable. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


217 


LAUNDRY. 

From  the  start  difficulty  was  experienced  in  securing  adequate  service 
for  handling  the  linen  of  the  hospital,  and  this  difficulty  existed  until  the 
establishment  of  the  camp  laundry.  The  service  rendered  by  the  camp  laundry 
in  handling  the  linen  of  the  hospital  was  satisfactory,  except  for  the  fact  that 
it  required  considerable  work  in  maintaining  an  adequate  check  of  the 
hospital  linen.  This  difficulty  was  finally  overcome  by  placing  at  the  camp 
laundry  a noncommissioned  officer  of  the  hospital  detachment  who  personally 
superintended  the  receiving  and  disposition  of  hospital  laundry,  and  by  the 
establishment  of  a separate  section  of  the  camp  laundry  for  handling  the 
hospital  linen. 

UTILITIES. 

In  1918  the  utilities  of  the  camp  were  consolidated  under  the  camp  utilities 
department,  and  it  was  then  clearly  demonstrated  that  the  hospital  could  not 
properly  function  by  adhering  to  the  general  camp  scheme  for  handling  the 
utilities  of  the  hospital.  Due  to  the  disinclination  of  the  camp  utilities  officer 
to  establish  the  zone  system  and  place  men  of  the  utilities  department  on 
special  duty  at  the  base  hospital,  the  general  condition  of  the  hospital  buildings, 
equipment,  and  steam  and  plumbing  lines  became  so  bad  that  it  was  essential 
to  make  use  of  Medical  Department  men  to  look  after  needed  repairs.  The 
subsequent  assignment  of  a new  utilities  officer  at  the  camp  enabled  the  quar- 
termaster of  the  hospital  to  so  arrange  a scheme  whereby  the  noncommissioned 
officers  of  his  own  department  were  placed  in  general  charge  of  their  respective 
sections,  and  the  enlisted  men  or  civilian  employees  from  the  camp  utilities 
department  were  assigned  to  the  quartermaster  at  the  base  hospital.  In  this 
way  a subutilities  department  was  organized  for  the  hospital  and  all  calls  for 
repairs  of  an  emergency  character  were  telephoned  to  the  utilities  desk  in  the 
quartermaster’s  office,  while  the  less  urgent  repairs  and  construction  were 
requested  by  letter.  Service  orders  were  prepared  and  frequently  reports, 
together  with  copies  of  service  orders,  showing  labor  and  material  expended, 
were  forwarded  to  the  camp  utilities  officer.  With  this  arrangement  the 
utilities  service  operated  very  satisfactorily  with  a minimum  of  delay  and 
inconvenience  to  all  concerned. 

GAUZE  RECLAMATION. 

During  the  year  1917  information  was  received  that  there  was  a shortage 
of  absorbent  cotton  and  gauze,  indicating  the  necessity  for  economy  on  the 
part  of  hospitals  in  the  United  States,  so  that  overseas  hospitals  might  be 
adequately  supplied  with  these  articles.  A substitute  for  cotton  was  furnished, 
known  as  “ cellu-cotton.”  This  was  tested  out  in  every  department  of  the 
hospital  and  was  found  of  practical  use  in  all  departments  except  the  laboratory 
and  dental,  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  sections.  The  fiber  was  so  short  that  the 
material  could  not  be  made  into  satisfactory  swabs  or  plugs.  A gauze  substi- 
tute was  furnished,  known  as  “ re-knit”  gauze.  This  was  a cotton  material 
made  in  different  widths  and  lengths  with  a texture  similar  to  stockinet.  Its 
absorptive  quality  was  about  equal  to  that  of  gauze,  and  because  of  its  coarsely 
woven  character,  it  was  possible  to  wash  it  many  times. 


218 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


An  addition  was  constructed  adjacent  to  the  operating  room  where  gal- 
vanized-iron  cans  were  installed.  Hot  and  cold  water  and  suitable  drains  were 
provided.  Covered  pails  were  furnished  each  ward  where  gauze  was  used,  and 
instructions  were  issued  that  the  soiled  gauze  be  immediately  collected  after 
removal  from  patients,  placed  within  the  pails,  and  covered  with  a solution  of 
1 per  cent  cresol.  An  attendant  from  the  gauze-reclaiming  laundry,  as  the 
addition  to  the  operating  room  was  called,  collected  the  soiled  gauze  daily, 
soaked  it  12  hours  in  one  of  the  galvanized-iron  cans,  and  then  sterilized  it  by 
boiling.  The  gauze  was  then  washed  in  an  electric  washing  machine,  with  soap, 
soda,  and  bleach,  rinsed  in  cold  water,  run  through  the  wringer,  and  then  dried. 

By  experience  it  was  found  that  it  was  better  to  place  the  gauze  on  white 
enamel  tables  or  on  clotheslines  for  drying.  After  drying,  it  was  packed  in 
suitable  packages,  covered  with  muslin,  and  sterilized  by  fractional  sterilization. 
Bandages  were  also  cleaned  in  a similar  Avay. 

The  result  of  this  reclamation  process  reduced  gauze  consumption  from 
700  yards  per  day  to  an  average  of  less  than  10  yards  of  new  gauze  per  month. 
The  consumption  of  absorbent  cotton  was  reduced  to  5 pounds  per  month, 
and  the  issue  of  new  bandages  to  about  five  dozen  per  month. 

The  gauze  reclamation  required  labor  and  close  supervision,  but  this  was 
offset  by  the  saving  of  material  resulting  from  its  use.  The  handling  of  these 
materials  was  under  the  supervision  of  the  chief  of  surgical  service.  The  build- 
ing was  constructed  by  soldier  labor  of  the  hospital  on  locally  prepared  designs, 
and  it  contained,  in  addition  to  an  office,  an  examining  room  for  the  chief  of 
the  surgical  service,  reclaiming  laundries,  and  an  emergency  sterilizer  for  the 
operating  room.  It  was  built  for  approximately  S365. 

It  was  possible  to  keep  the  gauze  white,  but  great  care  was  needed  in 
bleaching  it,  otherwise  the  fiber  Avas  destroyed  by  the  use  of  too  strong  a 
bleaching  solution.  It  was  very  difficult  to  accurately  keep  track  of  individual 
pieces  of  re-knit  gauze,  but  such  efforts  were  made  and  it  was  possible  to  reclaim 
this  re-knit  gauze  as  frequently  as  100  times.  With  the  continuance  of  the 
reclaiming  the  various  fabrics  became  roughened,  Avith  the  result  that  more  or 
less  lint  appeared  on  the  surface.  The  gauze  also  became  hardened  Avith  use, 
with  consequent  reduction  of  its  absorptive  qualities. 

To  offset  the  possible  dangers  incident  to  the  re-use  of  pus-soaked  gauze 
laboratory  checks  were  frequently  made  and  a great  deal  of  attention  was  paid 
to  it  by  the  chief  of  the  surgical  service. 

MILITARY  SECTION. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  existence  of  the  hospital,  when  the  only  quarters 
available  Avere  barracks  in  the  Infantry  area  of  the  camp,  no  attempt  was 
made  to  accomplish  anything  other  than  the  care  of  the  sick.  When,  however, 
the  permanent  hospital  buildings  were  ready  for  occupancy,  and  the  hospital 
personnel  increased  in  number,  efforts  Avere  made  to  give  the  newly  enlisted 
and  neAvly  commissioned  personnel  instruction  in  the  Medical  Department 
drill. 

The  medical  officers  of  the  hospital,  Avith  the  exception  of  a few  whose 
duties  required  their  presence  elsewhere  at  the  specified  horn's,  were  required 
to  report  for  drill  one  hour  daily  except  Saturdays,  Sundays,  and  holidays, 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


219 


and  for  retreat  on  the  same  days.  In  the  beginning  this  drill  consisted  of  foot 
drill,  as  outlined  in  the  Drill  Manual  for  Sanitary  Troops,  and  was  conducted 
by  the  commanding  officer.  The  routine  foot  drill  was  varied  from  time  to 
time  by  setting  up  exercises,  litter  drill,  ambulance  drill,  visits  to  the  camp 
trench  areas,  and  short  walks.  Because  of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  medical 
officers  were  of  mature  years  and  unaccustomed  to  physical  exercise  a little 
time  was  required  to  accustom  themselves  to  this  drill.  They  soon  began  to 
enjoy  it,  however,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a very  few,  were  of  the  opinion 
that  the  drill  was  not  only  beneficial  as  an  exercise  but  a pleasant  experience. 
As  time  progressed  it  was  found  that  some  of  the  older  officers  and  a few  with 
minor  physical  disabilities  were  unable  to  keep  up  with  the  drill  as  outlined, 
and  the  increasing  number  of  medical  officers  also  made  it  necessary  to  conduct 
the  drill  in  several  detachments.  By  this  time  officers  had  been  assigned  who 
had  had  previous  experience  in  some  military  organizations,  such  as  the  National 
Guard,  and  a sufficient  number  of  them  were  found  qualified  to  conduct  the  drill, 
thereby  relieving  the  commanding  officer  of  this  duty,  except  as  to  supervision. 
Three  detachments  were  formed  and  were  designated  Companies  A,  B,  and  C. 
Each  had  a commanding  officer  and  a first  sergeant.  Company  A consisted 
of  officers  over  45  years  of  age  and  who  had  had  sufficient  instructions, 
either  locally  or  elsewhere,  to  be  qualified  for  more  advanced  instruction. 
Company  C consisted  of  officers  under  45  years  of  age  but  requiring  elementary 
instruction  in  drill.  This  company  was  used  as  a casual  company  from  which 
officers  were  placed  in  Company  A after  being  instructed.  Company  B con- 
sisted of  officers  over  45  years  of  age  or  those  holding  the  rank  of  major.  This 
company  was  given  light  forms  of  exercise,  consisting  largely  of  early  morning 
walks  and  light  setting  up  exercises. 

The  drill  of  the  graduate  nurses  was  conducted  under  some  degree  of 
difficulty,  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  no  hour  could  be  arranged  when  all  graduate 
nurses  could  be  spared  from  their  duties,  and  because  there  was  a necessary, 
constant  changing  of  personnel. 

With  the  arrival  of  the  first  detachment  of  student  nurses  drill  was  started 
immediately,  under  the  personal  direction  of  the  commanding  officer.  This 
drill  was  given  the  student  nurses  merely  because  of  its  benefit  to  them  for 
exercise  outdoors.  They  became  especially  enthusiastic  and  in  a remarkably 
short  time  became  well  qualified.  They  were  organized  into  three  companies, 
each  company  representing  a group.  Keen  class  rivalry  developed,  particularly 
after  officers  had  been  selected  from  them  and  these  officers  had  become  quali- 
fied to  handle  their  companies  independently.  The  great  problem  in  connection 
with  their  drill  was  that  of  uniforms,  and  the  manner  in  which  this  was  solved 
has  been  mentioned  in  the  section  on  student  nurses. 

Drill  for  the  detachment  Medical  Department  was  conducted  under  the 
supervision  of  the  detachment  commander,  and  in  the  beginning  was  very  unsat- 
isfactory. Men  on  duty  caring  for  the  sick  could  not  be  spared,  and  as  a result 
drill  instruction  was  given  only  to  a limited  portion  of  the  personnel.  This  was 
remedied  by  introducing  a method  whereby  the  entire  personnel  was  divided 
into  five  groups,  each  of  these  groups  being  required  to  drill  for  two  hours  one 
day  a week  at  1 p.  m.,  and  then  being  allowed  the  remainder  of  the  day  off 
duty.  In  this  manner  it  was  possible  to  give  drill  instruction  to  all  members 
of  the  personnel  and  at  the  same  time  to  afford  them  some  leisure  hours.  The 
result  of  this  arrangement  was  very  satisfactory. 


220 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


From  time  to  time  reviews  were  held  on  the  base  hospital  parade  grounds, 
and  were  participated  in  by  all  of  the  above-named  groups.  The  base  hospital 
reviews  were  unique  in  the  color  combinations  furnished  by  the  graduate 
nurses  with  their  white  uniforms  and  blue  capes  thrown  back  over  their  shoulders 
to  expose  the  redlinings,  and  the  blue  uniforms  with  olive  drab  knitted  sweaters 
worn  by  the  student  nurses.  Parades  were  participated  in  by  the  detachment 
at  various  times,  and  upon  one  occasion  each  of  the  above-mentioned  groups 
was  represented  in  a public-health  parade  in  the  city  of  Rockford. 

Military  funerals  were  held  at  the  base  hospital  chapel  for  some  of  the 
patients  and  those  of  the  personnel  who  died  while  on  duty. 

WARD  MANAGEMENT. 

Every  effort  was  made  to  have  ward  service  attractive  for  the  men,  for  it 
was  soon  found  that  good  men  could  not  be  kept  in  the  wards  if  their  services 
were  not  appreciated  by  giving  them  promotion  and  responsibilities.  General 
Orders,  No.  5,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111.,  dated  November  12,  1917, 
specified  the  duties  for  the  ward  surgeon,  the  head  nurse,  and  the  ward  master 
of  each  ward.  This  system  was  very  satisfactory.  In  addition  to  having  a 
ward  master  for  night  and  day  duty  in  each  ward,  a supervising  ward  master 
was  appointed  for  each  row  of  eight  wards.  The  ward  master  was  rated  as 
nurse,  while  the  supervising  ward  master  was  a noncommissioned  officer. 
This  supervising  ward  master  was  the  property  sergeant  of  his  row.  All  super- 
vising ward  masters  were  under  the  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  of  male 
nurses,  who  had  a day  and  night  assistant,  each  of  whom  assumed  general 
charge  under  his  supervision. 

The  care  of  the  ward  property  was  most  unsatisfactory  in  the  early  history 
of  the  hospital  when  the  ward  surgeon  acted  as  the  property  officer  for  his  ward. 
Several  plans  were  tried  and  the  most  satisfactory  evolved  was  to  assign  an 
officer  as  property  officer  for  each  row  of  wards  and  the  supervising  ward  master 
as  his  property  sergeant. 

Patients  were  not  allowed  to  have  their  clothing  in  the  wards.  There  were 
two  exceptions  to  this  rule:  Officers  were  allowed  their  clothing  if  they  de- 
sired to  retain  it,  and  patients  in  convalescent  wards  dressed  in  their  uniform. 
Prior  to  January  1,  1919,  there  were  very  few  convalescent  patients,  conse- 
quently, there  were  very  few  patients  who  had  their  uniforms.  Upon  the  arrival 
of  overseas  patients  who  had  been  allowed  to  have  their  uniforms  in  other 
hospitals  the  enforcement  of  the  order  became  difficult.  However,  it  was  done. 
The  number  of  convalescents  increased  and  they  were  given  separate  barracks. 
There  were  times  when  it  was  necessary  to  give  ward  patients  passes,  on  account 
of  exceptional  conditions  arising  at  home.  It  was  interpreted  that  if  a patient 
was  in  physical  condition  to  leave  the  hospital  and  go  on  pass  or  furlough,  he 
had  sufficiently  convalesced  to  warrant  transfer  to  the  convalescence  service, 
at  least  for  a short  time.  A soldier  under  these  conditions  was  transferred  to 
a convalescent  ward  and  given  a pass.  In  other  words  no  condition  arose 
that  necessitated  a patient  having  his  clothing  in  any  wards  except  convalescent 
wards.  This  plan  not  only  greatly  unproved  the  neatness  of  the  ward,  but  it 
prevented  patients  being  absent  without  leave.  Prior  to  January  1,  1919,  there 
were  but  three  patients  absent  without  leave  from  this  hospital : One  was  insane 
and  the  other  two  were  colored  men  who  left  the  hospital  during  the  night  to 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


221 


escape  operation.  Upon  the  arrival  of  overseas  patients  and  the  establishment 
of  a large  convalescent  service,  it  was  not  uncommon  to  have  patients  absent 
without  leave  when  they  had  their  uniforms  in  their  possession.  This  practice, 
however,  did  not  grow  to  alarming  proportions  and  all  cases  were  tried  by 
court-martial  and  given  appropriate  sentences. 

Patients’  outer  clothing  was  steam  pressed  in  the  hospital  laundry  and 
patients  in  the  convalescent  service  were  allowed  to  have  their  clothes  pressed 
as  frequently  as  they  desired.  This  privilege  was  not  abused. 

Patients  in  convalescent  wards  were  given  pajamas,  sheets,  and,  at  first, 
hand  and  bath  towels.  Because  of  a great  loss  of  them,  the  issue  of  towels  to 
convalescent  patients  had  to  be  discontinued. 

The  problem  connected  with  patients  smoking  in  the  wards  was  one  of 
more  or  less  annoyance  from  the  very  beginning  of  the  hospital.  It  was  deemed 
advisable  to  prohibit  smoking  in  the  wards  for  three  different  reasons:  Fire 
hazard,  ventilation,  and  police.  Smoking  was  prohibited  in  the  wards  during 
their  entire  existence.  This  became  much  more  difficult  upon  the  arrival  of 
the  overseas  patients,  and  through  the  interference  on  the  part  of  civilians, 
and  others  in  more  or  less  authority.  Smoking  was  permitted  in  the  bathrooms, 
on  the  verandas,  and  outdoors,  as  well  as  in  private  rooms.  When  it  became 
necessary  for  a bed  patient  to  smoke,  his  bed  was  taken  out  on  the  porch. 
Smoking  was  also  prohibited  in  the  mess  hall,  kitchen,  corridors,  and  main 
assembly  room  of  the  Red  Cross  convalescent  house. 

DEATH  AND  SERIOUSLY  ILL  CARD  INDEX. 

When  a telegram  was  sent  informing  the  nearest  relative  of  a patient  of  the 
fact  of  that  patient’s  death,  a card  was  made  for  the  latter,  giving  the  name, 
rank,  organization,  date  of  death,  and  name  and  address  of  the  nearest  relative. 
A file  of  these  cards  made  possible  a rapid  and  ready  reference  for  all  deaths. 

Another  index  was  kept  for  the  “dangerously  ill”  telegrams,  the  cards  being 
filed  alphabetically,  according  to  the  towns  in  which  the  designated  relatives 
lived.  Each  of  these  cards  showed  not  only  the  town  and  State,  but  the  name, 
rank,  and  organization  of  the  soldier,  name  and  address  of  the  person  to  whom 
the  remains  were  to  be  shipped,  and  the  date  on  which  shipment  was  made  in 
the  event  of  the  death  of  the  patient.  This  latter  index  was  not  found  abso- 
lutely essential  except  when  the  number  of  telegrams  became  too  large  to  be 
borne  in  mind  for  several  days.  From  time  to  time  there  would  be  two  patients 
with  the  same  name,  but  living  in  different  towns.  Also  telegrams  would  be 
received  from  relatives  referring  to  patients  as  “brother,”  “son,”  etc.,  which 
made  it  practically  impossible  to  locate  the  right  soldier  without  a great  amount 
of  searching  of  the  files.  When  such  telegrams  were  received  in  response  to 
telegrams  sent  out,  the  index  mentioned  was  of  great  value. 

FOLDERS  FOR  CLINICAL  RECORDS. 

One  of  the  minor  problems  arising,  from  time  to  time,  and  one  of  the  most 
difficult  to  solve,  was  the  keeping  of  clinical  records  in  such  condition  as  to  be 
suitable  for  permanent  records  of  the  Medical  Department.  The  Shannon  file, 
as  prescribed,  for  keeping  these  charts,  proved  unsatisfactory,  and  various 
methods  were  tried  in  an  effort  to  keep  the  charts  in  proper  condition.  The 


222 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


successful  method  finally  attained  is  shown  in  Figure  82.  The  folders  and 
metal  clips  were  purchased  by  the  American  Red  Cross  upon  request  of  the  com- 
manding officer. 


Fig.  82. — Folders  for  clinical  records,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant. 

The  greatest  advantage  of  this  method  of  keeping  charts  hi  the  wards  was 
that  the  charts  remained  clean  and  of  good  appearance;  and  the  size  of  the 
clasps  was  sufficient  to  permit  secure  grasping  of  a chart  of  a considerable  degree 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


223 


of  thickness.  These  charts  carried  the  ward  number  and  the  bed  number,  thus 
making  them  easy  of  identification.  They  were  either  hung  upon  the  wall,  or 
filed  in  pigeonholes.  The  folders  consisted  merely  of  a back  and  front  cover 
of  semistiff  bristol  board,  hinged  with  cloth,  over  which  was  placed  a spring  steel 
clasp. 

Each  ward  was  supplied  a set  of  folders  and  clips  equal  in  number  to  the 
bed  capacity  of  the  ward. 

BLANK  FORMS. 

For  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  transaction  of  routine  business  within 
the  hospital,  approximately  50  blank  forms  were  locally  devised  and  reproduced 
by  mimeograph.  These  were  of  greater  or  less  importance  and  those  only  which 
proved  most  practical  will  be  included  in  this  history. 

All  officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital,  except  those  excused  because  of  duties 
elsewhere,  were  required  to  attend  all  military  formations.  Roll  was  called  at 
these  formations  and  officers  absent  without  proper  authority  immediately 
received  a memorandum  in  the  form  shown  below.  When  returned  to  the  com- 
manding officer  by  proper  indorsement,  this  form  was  filed  with  the  officer’s 
record,  and  if  the  explanation  was  not  satisfactory  further  steps  were  taken  in 
in  the  matter. 

[Form  No.  13-BHCG.]  ' 

Headquarters,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant, 
Rockford , III., 1918. 

Memorandum: 

To 

It  is  requested  that  you  report  to  these  headquarters,  by  indorsement  hereon,  your  absence 
from this  date. 

(Signature.) 

1st  Ind.: 


The  work  of  the  mess  officer  was.  considerably  facilitated  by  furnishing  him 
daily  reports  from  the  main  office  of  the  hospital  as  indicated  in  Form  12. 
This  form  was  made  daily  from  the  morning  report  and  was  sent  to  the  mess 
officer  as  early  as  practicable.  It  furnished  the  mess  officer  a guide  for  his  daily 
preparation  of  meals  as  well  as  a check  against  the  diet  cards  submitted  by  each 
ward. 

[Form  No.  12-BHCG.] 

(To  the  mess  officers,  Base  Hospital.) 

Daily  Report  of  Rations  at  Base  Hospital. 

Date 

Base  Hospital  enlisted  personnel 

Q.  M.  C.  attached  for  rations 

Total  rations  due 

Female  nurses 

Enlisted  sick  in  hospital 

Officers  sick  in  hospital 


Sergeant  Major,  Base  Hospital. 


224 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Form  No.  16  was  a daily  report  prepared  by  the  officer  of  the  day  and  pre- 
sented by  him  to  the  commanding  officer  on  completion  of  a tour  of  duty.  It 
was  made  in  duplicate,  one  copy  being  retained  in  the  administration  files  and 
one  delivered  to  the  new  officer  of  the  day,  for  any  later  necessary  reference. 
It  will  be  noted  that  space  is  provided  for  the  signature  of  a “ medical  officer  of 
the  day”  and  “surgical  officer  of  the  day.  ” It  was  found  necessary  during  the 
busy  periods  of  the  hospital’s  existence  to  furnish  some  assistance  to  the  officer 
of  the  day,  in  order  that  all  parts  of  the  hospital  might  have  adequate  attention 
at  all  times;  accordingly,  an  officer  was  assigned  from  the  medical  service  as 
medical  officer  of  the  day  and  one  from  the  surgical  service  for  similar  duties. 
These  officers  were  charged  with  the  professional  care  of  patients  and  with 
rendering  necessary  assistance  to  the  officer  of  the  day.  Their  tour  of  duty  was 
from  7 p.  m.,  at  which  time  they  reported  to  the  officer  of  the  day,  until  the  ward 
surgeon  came  on  duty  at  8.30  a.  m.  In  addition  the  surgical  officer  of  the  day 
was  assigned  to  duty  as  emergency  officer  from  8.30  a.  m.  to  7 p.  m.  the  day 
following  his  tour  of  duty. 

With  this  report  was  submitted  daily  a list  of  seriously  ill  patients,  in  du- 
plicate, one  copy  for  the  information  bureau  and  one  for  the  clerk  in  charge  of 
“danger”  telegrams.  A list  of  patients  whose  status  was  that  of  “prisoners 
awaiting  trial”  was  also  furnished,  with  a report  of  the  officer  of  the  day, 
for  the  information  of  the  commanding  officer  and  summary  court-martial. 

[Form  No.  16-GHCG.] 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  III. 

DAILY  REPORT  OF  OFFICER  OF  THE  DAY. 


191... 

(Date  going  off  duty.) 

Inspection  of  hospital  made  at  (state  hour) 

Inspection  of  hospital  mess  made  at  (state  meals) 

Inspection  of  detachment  mess  made  at  (state  meals) 

Night  guard  reported  at  (inspected  twice) 

Detention  ward  (verified  by  personal  count  twice  during  tour  i : 


Prisoners — 

General No, 

Garrison No. 

Awaiting  trial No, 

Patients No. 


Total  in  detention  ward 

Duties  of  female  nurses  performed  satisfactorily 
Duties  of  male  nurses  performed  satisfactorily.. 


Patients  in  hospital — last  report No. 

Patients  admitted No. 

Patients  discharged No. 

Patients  remaining  in  hospital No. 

Civilians  admitted : 

(1)  In  Government  service No. 

(2)  Not  in  Government  service No. 

Civilians  in  hospital  (give  ward  and  name  under  ‘ Remarks”) No. 

Civilians  treated  (out-patient).  Separate  special  written  report  in  each  case No. 


Seriously  ill  patients  in  hospital  (give  name  and  ward  number  under  ' Remarks " . . bo. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


225 


Deaths: 

(1) 

(Name.)  (Rank.)  (Organization.) 

(2)  Effects  in  ward  promptly  checked  and  turned  over  to  adjutant? 

(3)  Remains  promptly  removed  to  morgue? 

(4)  Officer  of  the  day  present  when  death  occurred'? 

Emergency  work? 

Remarks  

N.  C.  0.  in  charge  of  quarters 

N.  C.  0.  in  charge  receiving  office 

Night  guard 

(Medical  officer  of  the  day.) 

(Surgical  officer  of  the  day.) 

. (New  officer  of  the  day. ) ( Old  officer  of  the  day.) 

It  was  the  practice  at  the  hospital  to  permit  relatives  of  patients  seriously 
ill  to  remain  for  a limited  period  as  guests  in  the  rooms  provided  for  that  pur- 
pose in  the  convalescent  house  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Four  days  was 
established  as  the  maximum  period  for  such  guests  to  remain  and  for  the 
information  of  the  commanding  officer  the  report  of  guests  was  submitted 
daily  in  the  following  form : 

Daily  Report  of  the  Red  Cross  House,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  III. 

Guest.  Name  of  relative.  Date  admitted. 


Remarks 

(N.  C.  0 . in  charge.) 

The  following  form  was  devised  for  the  use  of  chiefs  of  service;  and  upon 
it  a monthly  efficiency  report  was  submitted,  covering  each  officer  on  duty  at 
the  hospital. 

Name 

1918. 

Attention  to  duty 

Discipline  and  control  of  men 

Diagnosis  ability 

Professional  zeal 

Adaptability 

Recommendations 

, M.  R.  C., 

Chief  of  Service. 

FORMS  USED  FOR  WARD  REPORTS. 

In  compliance  with  paragraphs  446  and  456,  Manual  for  the  Medical 
Department,  1916,  the  diagnosis  of  all  patients  admitted  to  hospital  was  fur- 
nished the  registrar  on  the  forms  shown  below.  These  were  reproduced  by 
printing  because  of  the  large  quantity  required.  The  ward  surgeon  submitted 
these  reports  in  duplicate,  one  copy  being  sent  to  the  registrar  and  the  other 
delivered  to  the  chief  of  the  service  concerned,  thus  affording  a double  check 
upon  inexperienced  medical  officers. 

45269°— 23 15 


226 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Diagnosis  Card. 

Submitted  to  the  S.  & W.  office  within  24  hours  after  admission.  Make  diagnosis  agree  with 
that  of  ward  surgeon  on  page  55F.  State  always  whether  it  is  your  original,  a change,  or  an  addi- 
tional one.  Indicate  all  operations  and  changes  of  status  with  dates.  Diagnosis  must  comply 
with  paragraphs  446,  445,  and  456  MMD. 

Reg.  No Date 

Name 

Rank 

Organization 

Line  of  duty  (yes  or  no) 

Ward  No Bed  No 

, Ward  Surgeon. 

One  of  the  most  important  local  forms  was  the  ‘‘ Request  for  transfer.” 
This  form  was  prepared  and  signed  by  the  ward  surgeon  and  sent  to  the  chief 
of  his  service  for  approval.  It  was  then  sent  to  the  chief  of  service  destined  to 
receive  the  patient,  who  designated  the  ward  and  gave  approval  for  the  transfer. 
The  transfer  having  been  accomplished,  the  request  form  was  taken  to  the 
receiving  office  where  it  was  recorded  and  signed,  then  to  the  information 
bureau  where  it  was  again  recorded  and  signed.  In  this  manner  the  wall 
ward-index  in  the  receiving  office  was  kept  accurate  and  up  to  date,  and  the 
card  file  in  the  information  bureau  was  adequately  maintained.  This  pro- 
cedure was  of  the  greatest  value  in  providing  an  accurate  record  at  all  times 
of  the  exact  location  of  the  patients  within  the  hospital. 

Request  Transfer  of — 

Name 

Rank 

Company Regiment Request  No 

From  ward bed to  ward bed 

Diagnosis: 

Ward  Surgeon. 

Approved : 

............................. .... j 

Chief  of  Service. 

Approved : 

Chief  of  Service. 


(Receiving  office.) 

Date , 191. . 

(Information  bureau.) 

A request  for  consultation  was  made  on  the  form  shown,  which  was  repro- 
duced in  a size  to  be  readily  filed  with  the  chart.  This  request  was  initiated 
by  the  ward  surgeon,  approved  by  the  chief  of  service,  and  sent  to  the  chief 
of  the  service  where  the  consultation  was  obtained.  The  consultant  recorded 
his  opinion  and  recommendations  and  signed  the  request  for  the  chief  of  his 
service.  The  transfer  request  shown  above  was  never  approved  unless  con- 
sultation had  been  secured.  By  this  means  many  unnecessary  transfers  were 
avoided  and  assurance  was  obtained  that  transfer  when  made  was  being  made 
to  the  proper  ward. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


227 


[Form  No.  27a  BHCG.] 


Request  For  Consultation. 


From  ward  surgeon,  ward 

To  chief  of service. 

Subject:  Request  for  consultation  in  the  case  of 

(Rank.)  (Company.)  (Organization.) 

Bed  No of  this  ward. 

Questions - 


Ward  Surgeon. 

Approved : 


Chief  of  Service. 

Date ,19.. 

Opinion  of  recommendations 


File  with  brief  130.  

Chief  of  Service. 

The  report  on  contagious  diseases  was  required  daily  by  the  camp  surgeon. 
The  form  shown  is  self-explanatory.  In  practice  the  ward  surgeons  were 
required  to  submit  this  form  with  their  diagnosis  cards,  thus  affording  the 
registrar  a check  both  against  this  report  and  against  the  diagnosis. 

From  wards  where  contagious  diseases  occurred  only  occasionally,  this 
form  was  sent  direct  to  the  registrar.  In  the  contagious-disease  subsection  of 
the  service  of  internal  medicine  there  was  a noncommissioned  officer  in  charge 
of  records  of  contagious  diseases.  Each  patient  admitted  with  a contagious 
disease  was  identified  by  a 3 by  5 inch  register  card,  on  which  appeared  his 
name,  rank,  organization,  initial  diagnosis,  date  of  admission,  number  of  ward, 
white  blood-cell  count,  and  date  of  discharge.  These  cards  were  filed  alpha- 
betically by  name;  and  were  modified  as  to  change  of  diagnosis,  additional 
diagnosis,  transfer,  and  discharge,  thus  maintaining  an  up-to-date  record  of  all 
current  cases  as  well  as  a dead  file  exhibiting  all  contagious  diseases  treated  at 
the  hospital.  The  form  was  prepared  by  a ward  surgeon  of  contagious- disease 
wards;  and  was  delivered  daily  to  the  officer  in  charge  of  contagious  diseases, 
together  with  diagnosis  cards;  and  in  the  office  of  that  officer  these  reports 
were  consolidated,  the  index  file  was  brought  up  to  date,  and  the  correct 
report  was  delivered  to  the  registrar. 


228 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


[Form  No.  31  BHCG.] 

Report  op  Contagious  Diseases. 

Instructions:  This  report  is  to  be  submitted  to  the  registrar  before  noon  daily  for  all  contagious 
patients  admitted  to  this  ward  the  last  24  hours.  Also  for  additional  diagnosis  if  of  a contagious 
nature.  The  case  to  be  reported  upon  but  once  for  any  given  disease.  Front  page  of  history  (55a) 
furnishes  all  information  except  diagnosis.  Report  upon  the  following  diseases:  Pneumonia, 
influenza,  measles,  scarlet  fever,  mumps,  meningitis,  diphtheria,  smallpox,  chicken-pox,  whooping 
cough,  and  typhoid  fever. 

Ward  No 


Name. 

Rani. 

Organization. 

Race. 

Barracks 

number. 

Diagnosis. 

1 1 

Upon  the  return  of  large  numbers  of  officers  from  overseas,  it  was  found 
that  many  of  them  were  convalescent  and  then  condition  did  not  warrant 
handling  them  as  ward  patients.  Therefore,  quarters  were  provided  these 
convalescent  officers,  at  a considerable  distance  from  the  officers'-  ward  and  the 
convalescents  quartered  therein;  and  they  were  placed  upon  a status  equivalent 
to  that  of  an  officer  on  duty,  with  nothing  to  do,  however,  but  to  report  daily  for 
treatment  or  examination.  For  the  information  of  the  commanding  officer, 
the  name,  rank,  and  organization  of  each  officer  was  reported  daily  on  the  form 
shown  below. 

Daily  Report  op  Officers  in  Officers’  Ward  Annex. 

191 

Instructions:  This  report  will  be  prepared  daily  and  sent  to  the  adjutant  for  the  information  of 
the  commanding  officer  before  noon.  Only  officers  actually  occupying  rooms  in  the  officers’  ward 
annex  will  be  included.  (This  will  include  those  absent  on  leave  less  than  48  hours,  but  will  not 
include  those  absent  for  a longer  period.) 


Room 

number. 

Name. 

Rank. 

Organization. 

Remarks. 

(Rani,  i 

TFartf  Master. 


(Name.) 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


229 


The  large  number  of  inexperienced  medical  officers  on  duty  in  the  hospital 
soon  resulted  in  a tendency  for  patients  to  remain  in  hospital  longer  than  was 
necessary.  In  order  to  check  this,  all  patients  who  had  been  in  hospital  for  30 
days  or  more  were  reported  to  the  commanding  officer  on  the  last  day  of  each 
month,  on  the  form  shown.  This  method  had  a decided  influence  in  pre- 
venting patients  from  becoming  fixtures  in  hospitals. 

[Form  No.  6 BHCG.] 

Monthly  Ward  Report. 

(To  be  rendered  by  each  ward  on  the  last  day  of  the  month,  giving  by  name,  rank,  and  organi- 
zation, every  patient  who  has  been  in  hospital  30  days  or  more.  The  date  of  admission  to  hospital 
as  shown  on  the  front  sheet  of  the  history,  the  diagnosis,  degree  of  improvement  and  signature  of  the 
ward  surgeon  to  be  shown.) 


Name,  rank,  and  organization. 

Date  of  admission. 

Diagnosis  and  improvement. 

Ward  Surgeon. 

In  the  receiving  office  an  envelope  was  used  wherein  to  place  a patient’s 
money,  trinkets,  and  other  valuables.  A copy  of  the  receipt  furnished  the 
patient  was  filed  in  the  envelope.  This  receipt  was  a copy  of  the  patient’s 
clothing  card.  The  patient’s  name,  rank,  organization,  and  serial  number 
were  noted  on  the  envelope.  The  receiving  officer,  at  designated  times,  took 
the  envelope  and  clothing  cards  to  the  registrar  where  they  were  checked. 
Special  drawers  were  constructed  in  the  registrar’s  office  for  the  filing  of  these 
envelopes  by  register  number.  After  the  patient  had  received  his  valuables, 
his  name,  rank,  etc.,  were  erased  and  the  envelope  returned  to  the  receiving 
officer,  to  be  used  again.  This  system  worked  very  satisfactorily  and  required 
no  revision. 

DEMOBILIZATION  FORMS. 

With  the  beginning  of  demobilization  it  was  found  that  many  of  the 
requirements  could  be  met  by  the  use  of  forms  devised  locally,  particularly  in 
the  classification  of  applications  for  discharge  and  in  the  making  of  certain 
required  certificates  and  affidavits. 

At  the  time  of  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  there  were  on  duty  at  this 
hospital  947  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department,  of  whom  all  but  one 
were  drafted  men,  members  of  the  enlisted  Medical  Reserve  on  active  duty,  or 
those  who  had  enlisted  for  the  period  of  the  emergency.  In  general,  the  point 
of  view  assumed  by  these  enlisted  men  was  that  the  tune  of  war  ceased  with 
the  signing  of  the  armistice.  At  this  time  the  hospital  had  not  fully  recovered 
from  the  shock  of  the  influenza  epidemic,  and  the  enlisted  strength  of  the  com- 
mand was  none  too  great  for  the  necessary  work  remaining  to  be  done.  De- 
mobilization instructions  began  to  be  received  from  the  War  Department, 
which,  particularly  Circular  No.  77,  War  Department,  1918,  with  its  various 


230 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


amendments,  offered  a means  of  release  from  the  military  service  to  men  who 
submitted  claims  properly  substantiated.  These  claims  immediately  began 
to  appear.  The  requirement  was  then  announced  by  the  commanding  officer 
that  two  affidavits  from  responsible  parties,  uninterested,  must  accompany 
each  claim.  A conscientious  effort  was  made  to  place  the  proper  recom- 
mendations on  each  application,  for  the  information  of  the  commanding  general. 
Approximately  200  applications  being  received  and  forwarded,  it  became  evident 
that  some  means  of  classification  would  be  necessary  in  order  to  secure  justice 
to  worthy  applicants  for  discharge  and  at  the  same  time  to  maintain  a sufficient 
personnel  for  the  effective  operation  of  the  hospital.  A classification  of  the 
entire  enlisted  detachment  was  made,  determining  and  recording  the  relative 
merits  of  every  claim  for  discharge.  A form  was  devised  entitled  “Personal 
preference  card,”  which  was  printed  on  blue  stock.  This  card  was  filled  out  by 
the  soldier  and  sworn  to  before  a summary  court  officer.  It  was  carefully 
explained  to  the  men  that  their  services  were  urgently  needed  and  appeals 
were  made  to  their  patriotism  and  sense  of  duty  to  indicate  as  late  a date  for 
discharge  as  they  possibly  could.  In  a great  majority  of  instances  a fine  spirit 
of  cooperation  was  manifested.  The  blue  cards,  having  been  completed,  were 
filed  alphabetically  by  name.  For  each  blue  card  a 3 by  5 inch  index  card  was 
prepared,  giving  the  soldier’s  name,  rank,  duty,  and  date  of  discharge  requested 
by  him.  These  cards  were  filed  by  dates,  beginning  with  the  earliest  date 
when  discharge  was  desired.  Proceeding  through  the  entire  detachment  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  each  soldier  was  interviewed  by  a board  of  officers  who  made 
an  effort  to  determine  the  merits  of  each  claim.  The  following  classification 
was  then  adopted : Immediate  discharge;  dates  definitely  specified;  dependency 
claims,  class  B;  dependency  claims,  class  C;  industrial  claims,  class  A;  indus- 
trial claims,  class  B;  industrial  claims,  class  C;  educational  clahns;  and  valid 
claims  for  discharge. 


PERSONAL  PREFERENCE  CARD. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL.  231 


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232 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


DEATH  RECORDS. 

The  following  five  sample  forms  were  devised  for  use  in  keeping  the  death 
records. 


Form  No.  233  BHCG.] 

U.  S.  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  III. 


Case  number 

(Deach  check  sheet,  deaths  in  hospital  only.) 


1. 

2. 


(Name.) 


(Rank.) 


(Diagnosis) 

was  not  due  to  the  soldier’s  own  misconduct. 

3.  Seriously  ill  telegram  sent?  Yes?  No? 

Copy  attached?  Yes?  No? 

4.  Death  telegram  sent?  Yes?  No? 

Copy  attached?  Yes?  No? 

5.  Were  remains  claimed?  Yes?  No? 

If  ‘ ‘Yes,”  by  whom 


(Name.) 


191.. 

(Date  of  death.) 

(Organization.) 

in  line  of  duty  (no,  yes)  death  was  or 


(Address.) 

If  not,  what  disposition  made 

6.  Was  report  sent  to  commanding  officer?  Yes?  No? 

(Par.  162J  as  amended.) 

7.  Was  report  sent  to  camp  quartermaster?  Yes?  No? 

8.  Death  certificate  to  undertaker?  Yes?  No? 

(Copy  attached?  Yes?  No?) 

9.  Was  an  autopsy  held?  Yes?  No? 

(Copy  attached?  Yes?  No?) 

10.  Collection  of  effects from — 

Adjutant. 

Ward. 

Clothing  room. 

Discharge  office. 

By  whom  receipted  for 

11.  Report  of  inspection  of  remains  by  medical  officer  attached? 

12.  Report  of  undertaker  attached? 

13.  Report  of  chaplain  or  religious  services  attached? 

14.  Was  death  due  to  natural  causes?  Yes?  No? 

If  not,  is  report  of  board  of  officers  attached?  Yes?  No? 

15.  Case  closed 191.. 

16.  No.  of  inclosures 


Sgn 


(Name.) 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


233 


[Form  No.  10  BHCG.] 

Notification  of  Seriously  III  Patient  in  Hospital. 

(This  form  to  be  filled  in  and  immediately  sent  to  the  adj  utant  as  soon  as  a patient  becomes  seri- 
ously ill;  that  is,  if  the  patient  is  more  apt  to  die  than  to  recover.  The  ward  surgeon  will  be  held 
responsible  for  this  report  between  the  hours  of  8 a.  m.  and  4 p.  m.  and  the  officer  of  the  day  be- 
tween the  hours  of  4 p.  m.  and  8 a.  m.  Ward  surgeons  will  notify  the  0.  D.  of  the  seriously  ill 
patients  in  their  wards  before  going  off  duty.) 

Reg.  No Hour m.  Date 1918. 

(Surname.)  (Christian  name.)  (Rank.)  (Co.)  (Organization.) 

Name  of  nearest  relative 

Exact  address 

Clinical  diagnosis 

Name  of  messenger 

M.  R.  C. 

Received  by  the  adjutant  at 

Relative  notified  at By  

Remarks 


, Adjutant. 

Headquarters,  U.  S.  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  III 

From:  The  commanding  officer,  base  hospital. 

To:  The  commanding  officer. 

Subject:  Report  of  death  of  enlisted  man. 

1.  The  death  of . 

is  reported.  Cause  of  death 

2.  Death  occurred  at  this  hospital  at 

His  remains  are  with  , undertakers,  Rockford,  Illinois.  Your 

attention  is  invited  to  paragraph  83^  A.  R.,  C.  A.  R.  77,  1918,  and  the  112th  A.  W. 

3.  The  designated  relative  has  been  notified  by  wire,  rquesting  disposition  of  remains. 

4.  You  are  requested  to  have  your  summary  court  officer  call  on  the  summary  court  officer, 
base  hospital,  to  collect  and  receipt  for  the  effects  of  this  soldier. 

5.  In  compliance  with  orders  of  the  commanding  general,  86th  Division,  May  6,  1918,  the 
following  is  offered  for  your  information  and  guidance:  “A  presentable  uniform  will  be  provided 
in  each  case.  It  is  not  believed  that  this  calls  for  a new  uniform  in  each  case.  If  the  soldier's 
uniform  is  in  pretty  good  condition,  it  should  be  used  in  lieu  of  a new  uniform,  being  properly 
pressed,  if  necessary.  If  the  man's  uniform  is  not  in  good  condition,  a new  one  should  be  seemed, 
but  by  reason  of  the  present  large  demand  for  uniforms,  etc.,  care  should  be  taken  to  conserve 
the  supply  in  this  manner  as  much  as  possible. 

6.  Instructions  from  the  War  Department,  June  4,  1918,  provide  that — “The  articles  of  uni- 
form to  be  furnished  deceased  soldiers  under  the  provision  of  paragraph  37,  A.  R.,  as  amended 
by  telegram  (722.2  Misc.  Div.)  Office  of  The  Adjutant  General,  March  9,  1918,  shall  consist  of  the 
following:  One  cotton  or  woolen,  0.  D.;  one  pair  breeches,  cotton  or  woolen,  0.  D.;  one  pair 
drawers,  cotton  or  woolen;  one  undershirt,  cotton  or  woolen;  one  pair  stockings,  cotton  or  woolen; 
one  collar,  white.” 

7.  It  is  requested  that  this  matter  be  expedited  so  that  the  remains  may  be  shipped. 


Lieut.  Colonel,  Medical  Corps,  U.  S.  A. 

(2  copies  to  camp  Q.  M.) 


234 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


[Form  No.  11  BHCG.] 

Certificate  of  Undertaker  for  Deceased  Soldiers. 

Date , 1918. 

This  is  to  certify  that 

(Name  in  full.) 

formerly  a of 

(Rank.)  (Organization.) 

has  been  properly  embalmed  at  our  undertaking  establishment  in  Rockford,  111.,  that  the  vessels 
of  the  head  were  or  were  not  (erase  words  not  needed)  properly  injected,  that  the  remains 
were  properly  clothed  (complete  suit  of  underwear,  socks,  blouse,  breeches,  O.  D.  shirt,  leggings, 
shoes,  collar  ornaments)  furnished  by  the  soldier's  commanding  officer. 

The  remains  were  shipped  to 


(Street  address.) 

(City.) 

(State.) 

Did  relatives  view  remains? 

Name  of  relative 

Remarks  made  by  relatives 

Date  and  hour  of  shipment 

via 

Railroad. 

Contract  Undertakers  for  the  Government. 


[Form  No.  l(i  BHCG.] 

Record  of  Funeral  Services. 
(Chaplain,  Base  Hospital.) 

Funeral  services  were  held  over  the  remains  of  the  late 


at m. 

(Name.)  (Rank.)  (Organization.)  (Time.) 


(Place.) 

The  relations  were  (not)  present.  This  soldier  died  of 

at m., 

(Time.) 


(Rank.) 

COLORED  PATIENTS. 

Before  any  colored  troops  were  assigned  to  Camp  Grant,  the  commanding 
general  assembled  all  unit  commanders  and  instructed  them  to  treat  all  soldiers 
alike  irrespective  of  color.  He  stated  that  the  colored  men  were  drafted  for 
the  same  purpose  as  the  white  men  and  officially  no  distinction  was  to  be 
shown.  All  unit  commanders  assembled  their  commands  in  turn  and  imparted 
to  them  these  instructions. 

In  the  hospital,  colored  patients  were  placed  in  the  same  wards  with  the 
whites;  there  was  a common  dining  room;  and  they  were  freely  allowed  the 
use  of  the  exchange.  Not  an  instance  of  racial  friction  was  reported  as  having 
occurred  between  patients  in  the  hospital. 

During  the  spring  of  1918,  general  instructions  were  received  from  the 
Surgeon  General  to  classify  the  patients  in  hospitals  in  accordance  with  their 
race  and  to  place  the  colored  patients  in  separate  wards.  No  friction  had 
arisen  and  the  hospital  was  comfortably  filled  with  patients.  A segregation 
would  have  necessitated  twice  the  ward  space  being  used.  In  view  of  the 
fact  that  no  trouble  had  arisen  and  that  there  was  inadequate  space  to  prop- 
erly segregate  the  patients,  the  old  plan  was  continued. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


235 


CORRELATION  OF  OFFICES  AND  RECORDS. 

Receiving  office,  discharge  office  (office  of  the  registrar),  ward,  informa- 
tion bureau,  clothing  room:  All  patients  were  admitted  through  the  receiving 
ward,  and  each  was  accompanied  by  a request  from  his  organization  surgeon 
for  admission.  This  request  had  a tentative  diagnosis,  the  name,  rank,  organ- 
ization, barrack  number,  and  sometimes  the  serial  number  of  the  patient. 
All  patients  were  brought  to  the  hospital  by  ambulances,  obtained  either  from 
the  ambulance  company  or  the  hospital. 

RECEIVING  OFFICE. 

Forms  55 a,  55/  (the  transfer  diagnosis)  three  copies  of  the  patient’s 
clothing  card,  the  receipt  for  a patient’s  valuables,  and  one  blotter  sheet  were 
prepared  in  this  office.  The  ward  to  which  the  patient  was  to  be  assigned 


Fig.  83.—  Receiving  office,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant. 

was  designated.  The  patient  was  then  conducted  to  his  ward  by  the 
orderly,  who  took  with  him  Forms  55 a and  55/  and  one  copy  of  the 
clothing  card.  This  was  the  authority  for  the  ward  master  to  admit  the 
patient.  The  clothing  card  showed  all  articles  of  uniform  the  patient  then 
had  in  his  possession.  The  patient  retained  the  receipt  for  his  valuables. 
The  clothing  cards,  55a,  blotter  sheet,  and  receipt  for  valuables  were  num- 
bered by  means  of  a duplex  numbering  machine,  and  in  advance.  The  blotter 
sheet  provided  space  for  31  admissions.  Thirty-one  sets  of  clothing  cards, 
histories,  and  receipts  were  numbered  in  advance  and  kept  intact,  being  used 
consecutively.  After  midnight  the  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  of  the 
receiving  office  made  five  consolidated  copies  of  the  day’s  admissions,  one 
for  each  of  the  following  offices:  Registrar,  information  bureau,  chief 
educational  officer,  head  medico-social  aide,  and  receiving  office  (retained 
copy).  At  9 a.  m.  the  following  morning,  the  receiving  officer  took  the 
money,  valuables,  and  trinkets  to  the  discharge  officer  (registrar),  with 


236 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


two  copies  of  the  clothing  card.  These  cards  listed  the  valuables,  etc.  The 
registrar  checked  the  lists,  and  if  they  were  found  correct  he  receipted  for 
them  on  one  copy  of  the  card.  This  card  was  held  by  the  receiving  officer 
as  his  receipt.  The  third  copy  of  the  clothing  card  was  filed  with  the  patient’s 
valuables  in  the  registrar’s  safe. 

WARD. 

The  patient  was  received  and  his  clothing  was  checked  against  the  clothing 
card.  The  clothing  was  then  returned  to  the  patient’s  clothing  room  with  the 
property  tag  attached,  a duplicate  of  which  was  retained  by  the  patient.  The 
clothing  was  accompanied  by  the  property  card,  which  was  again  checked  by 
the  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  of  the  clothing  room,  the  card  then  being 
returned  to  the  ward  by  the  messenger  and  attached  to  the  patient’s  history. 

The  other  Forms  55  were  added  to  the  patient’s  history  in  the  ward.  Xo 
Forms  55 a were  allowed  in  the  wards,  as  a safeguard  against  patients  being 
admitted  directly  to  the  ward.  If  a history  was  seen  without  Form  55 a 
there  was  an  immediate  investigation.  The  authority  for  discharging  the 
patient  was  with  the  ward  surgeon.  When  the  lower  half  of  Form  55 a was 
completed  by  the  ward  surgeon,  it  was  then  the  duty  of  the  ward  master  to 
get  the  patient  out  of  the  hospital.  The  signed  history  and  property  card 
were  taken  to  the  clothing  room  by  the  ward  master  and  the  clothing  of  the 
patient  was  obtained.  The  history  was  taken  to  the  registrar.  The  ward 
master  assembled  his  patients  for  discharge  and  took  them  to  the  registrar 
at  1 p.  m.  The  patients  were  checked  out  by  the  histories.  Their  clothing 
and  valuables  were  checked  by  the  third  copy  of  the  clothing  card  on  which 
the  patient  receipted  for  them  to  the  registrar.  After  all  patients  were  dis- 
charged, the  registrar  made  five  consolidated  lists  of  discharges,  one  copy  for 
each  of  the  following  offices:  Information  bureau,  chief  educational  officer, 
head  medico-social  aide,  receiving  office,  and  the  registrar’s  office  (retained 
copy).  A wall  board  was  kept  in  the  receiving  office.  On  this  board  there 
was  a row  of  cards  for  each  ward;  and  each  row  was  provided  a card  for  each 
bed  in  the  ward.  The  list  of  discharges  was  used  in  withdrawing  cards  from 
this  board,  of  patients  discharged,  and  the  blank  spaces,  therefore,  indicated 
empty  beds. 

REGISTRAR. 

The  registrar  received  the  blotter  sheet  daily  from  the  receiving  office  at 
9 a.  m.  This  sheet  gave  the  necessary  data  for  starting  Form  52  for  each 
patient.  The  list  of  admissions  from  the  receiving  office  was  used  as  a check. 
The  valuables  and  clothing  cards  were  also  received  at  9 a.  m.,  and  filed  by 
register  number  in  a safe,  especially  built  for  this  purpose.  This  safe  was 
kept  in  a strong  room.  The  patient’s  register  card  was  prepared  from  the 
blotter  sheet  and  filed.  All  patients  were  discharged  through  the  registrar’s 
office  on  Form  52,  completed  from  the  history  and  diagnosis  cards.  The 
consolidated  list  of  discharges  was  furnished  the  information  bureau. 

THE  INFORMATION  BUREAU. 

The  admission  sheets  were  received  from  the  receiving  office;  and  when 
possible,  the  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  of  the  receiving  office  at  night 
prepared  a card  index  for  each  patient  admitted,  showing  the  name.  rank. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


237 


organization,  and  ward  to  which  assigned.  If  these  cards  were  not  prepared 
in  the  receiving  office,  they  were  prepared  in  the  information  bureau  and 
filed  alphabetically.  The  discharge  office  furnished  a daily  list  showing  all 
discharges.  The  cards  were  then  withdrawn  and  placed  in  a dead  file  where 
they  were  held  for  10  days  and  then  destroyed.  Patients  were  transferred 
from  ward  to  ward  only  upon  request  of  the  ward  surgeon  and  after  approval 
of  the  chiefs  of  services  concerned.  When  this  transfer  was  completed,  the 
ward  master  would  take  the  request  for  transfer  to  the  information  bureau 
and  the  patient’s  ward  number  was  changed  accordingly.  The  request  for 
transfer  was  then  returned  to  the  ward  and  filed  with  the  history. 

Two  telephones  were  installed  in  the  information  bureau,  one  for  incoming 
calls  and  one  for  outgoing  calls.  When  calls  were  received  the  patient  was 
located,  his  ward  called,  the  necessary  information  obtained  and  given  to 
the  person  calling,  without  it  being  made  necessary  to  ring  off. 

A great  deal  of  emphasis  was  placed  on  each  office  explicitly  carrying  out 
these  instructions.  However,  in  spite  of  this,  patients  would  occasionally  get 
lost  in  the  hospital.  The  plan  was  then  adopted  to  re-check  all  patients  in 
hospital  semimonthly,  so  as  to  obtain  their  exact  location.  All  forms  of  dis- 
position of  patients  were  handled,  as  described,  by  discharge  to  duty.  This 
system  was  very  satisfactory  and  enabled  the  receiving  office,  discharge  office, 
information  bureau,  and  all  wards  to  keep  informed  as  to  the  movement  of 
patients. 

OFFICES  OF  THE  MESS  OFFICER,  SERGEANT  MAJOR,  DETACHMENT  COMMANDER, 

CHIEF  NURSE,  PERSONNEL  OFFICER,  COMMANDING  OFFICER  OF  DETACH- 
MENT OF  PATIENTS,  RECEIVING  OFFICER,  AND  REGISTRAR. 

This  correlation  is  explained  to  show  how  the  mess  officer  was  kept 
informed,  at  all  times,  of  data  essential  to  checking  his  daily  mess  re- 
ceipts. The  detachment  office  and  personnel  office  would  send  daily  a 
statement  to  the  sergeant  major  exhibiting  all  changes  in  the  enlisted  per- 
sonnel— assignments,  transfers,  discharges,  and  sick.  The  chief  nurse  rendered 
a daily  morning  report  to  the  sergeant  major  showing  similar  changes  among 
the  nurses  or  civilian  personnel  employed  for  the  nurses.  The  personnel  office 
reported  to  the  sergeant  major,  likewise,  changes  for  reconstruction  aides, 
after  the  morning  report  from  the  chief  educational  officer  had  been  received. 
The  detachment  of  patients  rendered  a morning  report  for  patients  on  furlough 
or  on  sick  leave.  The  registrar  furnished  a list  of  discharges  to  the  receiving 
office.  This  list  was  then  classified  according  to  officers,  nurses,  enlisted  men, 
and  civilians,  added  to  the  surgeon’s  morning  report  and  returned  to  the  sergeant 
major.  The  sergeant  major  then  made  his  report  to  the  mess  officer,  showing 
the  number  of  enlisted  men,  officers,  nurses,  and  civilians  employed  in  the 
hospital  that  day.  The  information  also  showed  what  civilian  employees  were 
entitled  to  rations  and  those  civilians  sick  in  hospital  who  were  on  either  the 
enlisted  or  commissioned  status.  This  enabled  the  mess  officer  to  compute 
his  income  for  that  day.  These  details  were  necessarily  accomplished  by 
9 a.  m.,  and  were  checked  by  the  commanding  officer. 


238 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


OFFICER  OF  THE  DAY’S  REPORT,  SURGEON’S  MORNING  REPORT,  BED  REPORT, 
AND  FIELD  REPORT  OF  PATIENTS  (FORM  83,  M.  D.) 

The  old  officer  of  the  day  reported  at  9 a.  m.  daily,  presenting  in 
writing  his  report  for  the  preceding  24  hours.  On  this  report  was  shown 
the  number  of  admissions,  discharges,  the  number  of  civilians,  byname, 
and  the  total  number  of  patients  in  hospital.  These  figures  were 
checked  against  the  surgeon’s  morning  report,  which  was  prepared  under 
the  sergeant  major’s  supervision,  classified  by  organization.  These  two 
reports  were  checked  against  the  bed  report  which  showed  the  total  number 
of  patients  in  hospitals,  by  wards,  prepared  under  the  supervision  of  the 
receiving  officer.  The  three  reports  were  then  checked  against  the  patient’s 
field  report  (Form  83,  M.  D.),  prepared  by  the  registrar,  and  showing  the 
total  number  of  patients  in  hospital,  by  diseases.  The  four  reports  were 
checked  by  the  commanding  officer.  A great  deal  of  information  was  obtained 
by  reading  these  reports  and  any  errors  in  them  were  readily  detected  in 
the  number  and  classification  of  patients. 

DEATH  RECORDS. 

No  patient  was  declared  dead  except  by  a medical  officer.  This  officer 
then  completed  Form  55 a of  the  clinical  history  and  prepared  the  death 
certificate  in  duplicate  (one  for  fde).  These  records  were  immediately  sent  to 
the  adjutant,  who  caused  the  death  check  to  be  started,  giving  this  particular 
death  the  next  serial  number.  The  clinical  chart  was  marked  conspicuously 
in  red  pencil  with  this  number,  which  was  also  placed  on  an  adhesive  strap 
fastened,  under  the  supervision  of  the  medical  officer,  around  the  deceased's 
left  forearm,  near  the  elbow  joint.  The  strap  showed,  in  addition  to  the  num- 
ber, the  patient’s  name,  rank,  and  organization.  The  remains  were  taken  to 
the  mortuary  where  the  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  entered  in  the 
mortuary  book  the  information  shown  on  the  adhesive  arm  band. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  adjutant  to  see  that  a ‘‘danger”  telegram  had  pre- 
viously been  sent  and  that  the  undertaker  was  immediately  notified.  A copy 
of  the  “danger”  telegram  was  attached  to  the  death  check  sheet.  The  fact 
of  death  was  immediately  reported  to  the  deceased’s  organization  commander 
on  a blank  form  used  for  that  purpose.  This  form  also  included  any  necessary 
data  for  the  organization  commander.  The  following  morning  five  complete 
and  itemized  lists  of  deaths  were  prepared,  one  copy  each  for  the  camp  sur- 
geon, the  attending  surgeon  in  Rockford,  the  hospital  chaplain,  the  chief  of 
the  laboratory,  and  one  to  be  retained.  The  undertaker  called  for  the  remains, 
and  reported  to  the  adjutant,  who  gave  him  a copy  of  the  death  certificate. 
This  certificate  was  the  authority  for  the  undertaker  to  receive  the  remains 
from  the  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  of  the  mortuary.  The  undertaker 
receipted  in  the  mortuary  book  for  the  remains,  and  that  the  remains  were 
properly  embalmed  was  certified  to  by  the  undertaker.  When  the  remains 
were  ready  for  shipment  the  undertaker  notified  the  chaplain  and  the  attend- 
ing surgeon  in  Rockford.  The  attending  surgeon  inspected  the  remains  in 
accordance  with  regulations  and  submitted  his  written  report  of  that  fact. 
The  chaplain  held  services,  of  which  he  submitted  a written  report.  The  chief 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


239 


of  the  laboratory  was  informed  in  order  that  he  might  perform  an  autopsy,  if 
advisable. 

All  of  the  above-mentioned  reports  were  returned  to  the  adjutant  and 
attached  to  the  death  check  sheet,  as  was  also  the  receipt  for  the  patient’s 
valuables,  in  compliance  with  the  one  hundred  and  twelfth  article  of  war. 

When  shipping  instructions  were  received  from  relatives,  a copy  was 
furnished  headquarters,  Camp  Grant,  where  the  necessary  transportation  was 
issued,  as  well  as  orders  for  an  attendant  when  necessary.  Copies  of  these 
proceedings  were  also  attached  to  the  death  check  sheet.  When  shipment 
had  been  made  and  all  reports  had  been  turned  in,  the  entire  proceedings  were 
brought  to  the  commanding  officer  for  signature,  after  which  they  were  filed 
with  the  patient’s  chart.  If  an  autopsy  had  been  performed  a report  of  this 
was  also  filed  with  the  chart. 

By  this  means  it  was  possible  to  double-check  every  action  taken,  and  out 
of  1,304  deaths  which  occurred  at  this  hospital  but  one  serious  error  was 
made.  This  error  was  due  to  the  fact  that,  during  the  influenza  epidemic,  among 
those  who  died  were  two  enlsited  men,  one  named  Toney  Mack  and  the 
other  Mack  Toney.  Both  bodies  were  shipped  to  the  same  address.  The 
error  was  discovered,  however,  before  the  remains  reached  their  destination 
and  the  shipment  was  stopped  by  telegram.  The  error  was  detected  in  the 
double-check  system. 

DUTIES  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  DAY  AND  ASSSISTANTS. 

Memorandum  No.  35. 

Headquarters,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant, 

Rockford,  III.,  May  26,  1919. 

By  direction  of  the  commanding  officer  the  tour  of  duty  of  the  officer  of  the  day  is  24  hours, 
9 a.  m.  to  9 a.  m.  He  will  report  on  duty  and  off  duty  to  the  commanding  officer  in  person  with  a 
written  report  and  his  recommendations  at  9 a.  m. 

During  his  tour  he  will  remain  in  touch  with  the  telephone  operator  and  the  receiving  office 
so  that  he  can  be  located  without  delay.  He  will  admit  all  patients  to  the  hospital  between  the 
hours  of  12  p.  m.  and  8.30  a.  m.  He  will  be  responsible  that  patients  are  admitted  to  the  proper 
wards,  that  their  money,  valuables,  and  trinkets  are  properly  collected  and  receipted  for  and 
delivered  to  the  registrar,  and  that  patients  receive  the  proper  treatment  after  the  ward  surgeons 
are  off  duty. 

Civilians  will  not  be  admitted  to  this  hospital  without  authority  from  the  commanding  officer 
except  civilian  employees  of  the  Quartermaster  Department  who  are  suffering  from  injuries  or 
extreme  emergencies,  and  in  either  case  the  report  of  the  officer  of  the  day  will  give  the  details  in 
full.  A separate  written  report  will  be  made  for  all  civilians  treated  at  this  hospital  who  are  not 
admitted,  giving  name,  date,  circumstances,  diagnosis,  and  treatment. 

No  charges  will  be  entered  against  any  patient,  except  the  hospital  charges  under  Army 
Regulations,  and  no  one  will  receive  payment  from  the  patients  for  services  of  any  character. 

The  officer  of  the  day  will  inspect  the  hospital  once  between  6 p.  m.  and  midnight  and  once  be- 
tween midnight  and  6 a.  m.  At  each  inspection  he  will  satisfy  himself  that  the  night  guards  are 
properly  performing  their  duties,  that  all  unauthorized  lights  are  extinguished  at  9 p.  m.  and  that 
the  hospital  is  quiet  and  orderly.  He  will  visit  all  wards  and  satisfy  himself  that  all  patients 
are  receiving  the  necessary  treatment  and  that  the  ward  attendants  are  properly  performing  their 
duties.  At  each  inspection  he  will  check  the  patients  in  the  detention  ward  and  verify  the  pres- 
ence by  observation  of  every  prisoner  in  the  hospital.  He  will  inspect  at  least  two  meals  a day  in  all 
kitchens  except  nurses’  quarters  and  officers’  mess  (officers  on  duty). 

Any  medicine  or  property  issue  urgently  required  for  the  cure  and  treatment  of  the  sick  after 
the  ward  surgeons  are  off  duty  will  be  signed  by  the  officer  of  the  day,  entering  the  word  “emer- 
gency ” over  his  signature. 


240 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IIST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  adjutant  will  be  notified  of  all  seriously  ill  patients  that  have  not  been  previously  reported, 
and  all  deaths,  giving  the  name  of  patient,  his  organization,  and  name  and  address  of  his  nearest 
relative  in  order  that  the  required  telegrams  may  be  sent.  The  remains  will  be  labeled  by  placing 
a strip  of  adhesive  plaster  1 inch  wide  around  the  middle  of  the  left  forearm,  giving  the  full  name, 
rank,  and  organization,  and  promptly  removed  to  the  morgue  and  placed  in  the  morgue  refrigerator. 
The  officer  of  the  day  or  ward  surgeon  will  see  all  patients  before  death  if  possible;  otherwise, 
immediately  after  death.  A report  of  death  will  not  be  accepted  from  nurses. 

Interchange  of  a part  of  a tour  of  duty  between  officers  is  prohibited,  but  officers  may  change 
entire  tours  by  notifying  the  adjutant  the  day  before  the  tour  commences. 

At  the  termination  of  his  tour,  the  officer  of  the  day  will  enter  on  his  report  any  untoward 
events  which  have  happened,  sign  this  report,  along  with  signature  of  new  officer  of  the  day,  and 
present  it  in  the  proper  manner  to  the  commanding  officer. 

In  addition  to  the  officer  of  the  day  there  will  be  a medical  and  surgical  officer  of  the  day 
detailed  by  the  chief  of  their  respective  services.  These  officers  will  report  to  the  officer  of  the 
day  at  7 p.  m.  in  the  receiving  ward,  and  the  report  of  the  officer  of  the  day  will  give  the  names 
of  these  officers.  The  duties  of  these  professional  officers  of  the  day  will  be  to  attend  the  sick 
in  their  respective  services  between  the  hours  of  7 p.  m.  and  8.30  a.  m.  They  will  make  at  least 
two  rounds  during  their  tour  of  duty,  visiting  all  wards  in  their  service,  give  the  necessary  emer- 
gency treatment,  and  assure  themselves  that  the  attendants  are  awake  and  on  duty,  and  that 
the  patients  are  receiving  the  proper  care.  Any  neglect  in  the  care  of  patients  or  other  factor 
worthy  of  note  is  to  be  reported  to  the  officer  of  the  day,  who  will  incorporate  it  in  his  report.  These 
officers  will  remain  in  touch  with  the  receiving  office  at  all  times  during  their  tour  so  they  can  be 
located  without  delay,  and  will  sleep  in  the  receiving  ward.  These  officers  will  not  remain  in 
their  permanent  quarters  while  on  duty.  Any  unnecessary  delay  in  being  able  to  locate  any 
one  of  these  three  officers  will  be  taken  as  a neglect  of  duty  on  the  part  of  the  officer  in  not  keeping 
the  receiving  office  properly  informed. 

In  case  of  fire  or  fire  drill  the  officer  of  the  day  is  directed  to  report  at  the  scene  of  the  fire  and 
take  charge  of  the  Government  property.  He  will  order  the  necessary  number  of  soldiers  who  may 
be  standing  around  to  guard  the  property.  In  case  of  fire  drill  he  is  to  report  to  the  fire  marshal. 

All  orders  issued  prior  to  this  date  that  are  contradictory  to  this  order  are  hereby  rescinded. 

By  order  of . 


FIRE  PREVENTION  AND  FIRE  DRILL  ORDERS. 

General  order  No.  6. 

Headquarters,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant, 

Rockford,  III.,  May  26,  lr>}8. 

For  purposes  of  instruction,  fire  prevention,  and  fire  fighting  at  the  base  hospital  units,  this 
unit  is  divided  into  eight  zones,  as  follows: 

Zonel. — Including  nurses'  quarters,  A,  C,  and  D;  officers'  quarters,  wards  11,  12,  13,  21, 
22,  23,  24;  commanding  officers'  quarters,  administration  building,  laboratory,  operating  room, 
and  receiving  ward. 

Zone  2. — Including  officers’  ward,  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  building,  wards  31,  32,  33,  34, 
41,  42,  43,  44,  and  Red  Cross  building. 

Zone  3. — Including  wards  15,  16,  17,  18,  25,  26,  27,  28,  general  mess  hall,  kitchen,  and 
guardhouse. 

Zone  4 ■ — Including  wards  35,  36,  37,  38,  45,  46,  47,  and  48. 

Zone  5. — Those  buildings  north  of  the  first  line  of  wards,  including  wards  A.  B.  C,  E.  F,  G, 
and  H,  psychopathic  ward,  morgue,  chapel,  power  house,  nurses'  annex,  nurses  quarters  B.  E. 
and  F,  and  base  hospital  barn. 

Zone  6. — That  part  of  the  base  hospital  unit  east  of  Kishvaukee  Road,  including  the  detach- 
ment mess  and  kitchen,  barracks,  and  lavatories,  medical  supply  depot  warehouses,  shops,  laun- 
dry, and  garage. 

Zone  7. — Including  wards  51,  52,  53,  and  54. 

Zone  8. — Including  wards  55,  56,  57,  and  58. 

The  zones  will  be  designated  by  sounding  fire  call,  followed  by  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  or  S blasts, 
indicating  the  proper  zone.  This  to  be  repeated  as  long  as  necessary. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


241 


The  noncommissioned  officer  in  charge  of  the  detachment  will  take  charge  of  the  hose  cart 
located  near  the  power  house.  The  recruiting  sergeant  will  take  charge  of  the  hose  cart  located 
south  of  ward  46.  The  senior  noncommissioned  officer  in  the  sergeant  major’s  office  will  take 
charge  of  the  hose  cart  immediately  in  front  of  the  administration  building. 

The  detachment  commander  will  detail  10  men  to  report  to  each  of  the  above  noncommis- 
sioned officers  to  handle  the  above  hose  carts. 

When  fire  is  discovered  it  will  be  immediately  reported  to  the  telephone  operator,  who  will 
report  it  to  the  central  fire  station,  Camp  Grant,  175;  he  will  also  notify  the  fire  marshal  of  the  base 
hospital,  the  officer  of  the  day,  the  commanding  officer,  the  adjutant,  and  the  detachment  office. 
One  male  nurse  will  remain  in  each  ward,  all  others  reporting  to  the  fire  marshal  at  the  scene  of 
the  fire,  bringing  with  him  a pail  of  water.  The  operating  room  force  will  immediately  repair 
to  the  operating  room  and  prepare  for  an  emergency.  All  available  men  from  the  dining  room, 
kitchen  police,  all  men  of  the  outside  police  section,  casual  section,  and  of  the  quartermaster 
section,  will  report  to  the  fire  marshal  at  the  scene  of  the  fire.  The  officer  of  the  day  will 
report  at  the  scene  of  the  fire,  obtain  a detail  from  the  men  available,  and  guard  all  Gov- 
ernment property.  The  officer  in  charge  of  the  laboratory  will  keep  two  litters  in  the  laboratory 
and  detail  four  litter  bearers  to  report  to  the  officer  of  the  day  at  the  scene  of  the  fire  to  handle 
such  cases  as  may  be  necessary.  WTard  surgeons  and  the  necessary  administrative  officers  will 
report  at  their  respective  places  of  assignment  and  maintain  order. 

Fire  extinguishers  and  fire  buckets  are  in  the  various  buildings  of  tliis  hospital  and  everyone 
is  expected  to  use  every  possible  means  to  extinguish  a fire  as  soon  as  it  is  discovered:  the  use  of 
fire  buckets  for  any  other  purpose  than  fighting  fire  is  prohibited,  and  the  officers  in  charge  of 
the  various  buildings  where  these  are  located  will  be  held  responsible  that  these  buckets  are  kept 
filled  with  water  and  used  only  for  the  fighting  of  fire. 

When  fire  is  discovered  and  the  alarm  given,  the  various  details  ■will  procure  their  fire  apparatus 
and  report  to  the  fire  marshal  at  the  scene  of  the  fire.  The  various  noncommissioned  officers  will 
familiarize  themselves  with  the  location  of  all  of  the  fire  plugs  of  the  base  hospital  unit  so  that 
there  will  be  no  delay  in  finding  these  plugs. 

G.  0.  No.  7,  headquarters,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111.,  dated  December  25,  1917,  is 
rescinded. 

By  order  of . 

HOSPITAL  DEPARTMENTS. 

MEDICAL  SERVICE. 

During  the  first  year  in  the  history  of  the  hospital,  the  great  problem  was 
the  control  and  treatment  of  contagious  diseases.  Of  these  infectious  diseases, 
measles  was  the  most  difficult  to  deal  with,  though  streptococcus  pneumonia 
complicated  the  measles  in  only  a small  proportion  of  cases.  Mumps  assumed 
considerable  proportions  because  of  the  increase  in  the  noneffective  rate;  but 
contagious  diseases  in  general  did  not  assume  alarming  figures  in  this  camp 
during  the  first  year. 

The  medical  service  from  the  first  was  well  organized,  and  it  was  changed 
in  no  essential  afterwards.  It  was  here  that  the  mask  and  the  cubicle  system 
of  curtaining  the  beds  were  first  used;  and  it  was  also  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  first  chief  of  the  medical  service  that  patients  were  masked  when  sent 
from  camp  infirmaries  to  the  hospital.  This  system  of  masking  was  extended, 
by  instructions  from  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  to  all  hospitals  in  this  country. 

Following  in  the  wake  of  the  outbreaks  at  Camp  Devens,  the  Great  Lakes, 
and  other  camps,  Camp  Grant  was  visited  by  the  so-called  Spanish  influenza  in 
an  explosive  manner  Saturday,  September  21,  1918.  So  sudden  and  appall- 
ing was  this  visitation  that  it  required  the  greatest  energy  and  cooperation  of 
every  officer,  every  man,  and  every  nurse  to  meet  the  emergency.  Up  to  that 
45269°— 23 16 


242 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


time  the  12  ward  barracks  were  occupied  as  quarters  and  storehouses,  and  12 
wards  of  the  main  part  of  the  hospital  were  empty.  It  was  obvious  that  the  epi- 
demic was  on  hand  and  that  great  effort  would  have  to  be  made  to  provide 
sufficient  bed  space.  Therefore,  all  two-story  ward  barracks  were  vacated  and 
every  available  officer,  nurse,  and  enlisted  man  was  called  upon. 

On  Sunday,  September  22,  1918,  the  admissions  to  hospital  numbered  194. 
The  main  portion  of  the  hospital  was  made  ready  for  occupancy,  increasing  the 
available  beds  to  1,318.  The  total  number  of  patients  in  hospital  was  836. 
On  the  following  day  the  admissions  to  the  hospital  were  370,  making  a total 
of  1,159. 

Telegrams  were  then  sent  to  all  officers  on  leave  to  return  without  delay. 
Every  effort  was  put  forth  to  open  all  two-story  ward  barracks,  and  by  night- 
fall six  of  these  buildings  were  completely  equipped  for  480  patients.  Property 
meetings  were  held  among  the  various  executive  departments  of  the  hospital, 
the  camp  medical  supply  officer  and  his  assistants,  as  well  as  the  local  director 
of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Immediate  steps  were  taken  to  obtain  more 
property. 

Tuesday,  September  24,  admissions  were  494.  SLx  additional  beds  were 
added  to  every  influenza  ward  and  two  convalescent  barracks  were  completely 
equipped.  On  the  following  day  the  admissions  were  711.  Patients  were 
placed  in  corridors  2,  3,  and  4.  A property  meeting  was  held,  and,  because 
of  the  emergency,  the  camp  medical  supply  officer  sent  his  assistant  to  Chicago 
to  expedite  shipments  of  supplies.  One  thousand  units  of  mess  equipment  were 
ordered  by  the  mess  officer,  and  the  Red  Cross  placed  an  order  in  Chicago  for 
6,000  sheets  and  other  supplies. 

On  Thursday,  September  26,  there  were  607  admissions,  making  a total 
in  hospital  of  2,598.  Up  to  this  time  there  had  been  three  deaths  from  the 
disease.  The  detachment,  Medical  Department,  moved  out  of  its  barracks 
into  tents,  and  these  barracks,  the  exchange,  and  the  corridors  were  made  into 
a 500-bed  hospital. 

Evacuation  Hospital  No.  37  turned  over  its  entire  personnel  to  the  hos- 
pital; the  depot  brigade  furnished  250  men  as  laborers;  beds  were  set  up  and 
bedding  sacks  stuffed  with  straw;  and  quartermaster  property  was  used 
entirely  to  enlarge  the  hospital  over  1,800  beds.  Officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted 
men  were  sick  in  the  hospital.  Four  carloads  of  medical  supplies  were 
received  by  express,  and  about  30  motor  vehicles  were  put  into  use  handling  the 
heavy  supplies.  The  receiving  office  was  overtaxed  but  found  to  be  handling 
the  patients  very  satisfactorily.  The  Red  Cross  took  over  the  handling  of 
the  patients’  money.  The  depot  brigade  cared  for  patients  also.  Approxi- 
mately 300  patients  were  sick  in  the  infirmaries.  Tent  floors,  Sibley  stoves, 
and  electric  lights  were  supplied  the  tents  occupied  by  the  enlisted  men  of  the 
hospital  detachment.  The  clothing  room  becoming  overtaxed,  the  patients’ 
clothing  was  checked,  bundled,  and  placed  under  the  heads  of  the  patients 
beds.  The  mules  of  the  animal-drawn  ambulances  became  exhausted,  and  Quar- 
termaster trucks  and  private  motor  vehicles  were  called  into  use.  Seventy-five 
enlisted  men  from  the  depot  brigade  were  attached  to  the  base  hospital,  but 
many  of  these  men  were  sick  upon  arrival.  The  registrar's  office  was  moved 
to  the  ward  room  (officers’  ward),  and  the  entire  receiving  ward  was  turned 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


243 


over  to  the  receiving  officer.  Patients  who  were  discharged  were  sent  with  a 
request  to  their  commanding  officer  that  they  be  relieved  from  duty  for  one 
week;  and,  because  of  the  weakened  condition  of  the  patients,  they  were  not 
allowed  to  walk  to  their  barracks. 

The  number  of  nurses  was  inadequate,  and  the  Red  Cross  transferred  25 
from  Chicago  and  surrounding  points. 

On  Friday,  September  27,  1918,  the  admissions  were  671;  total  patients 
in  hospital  2,936;  deaths,  3.  Because  of  the  cold  nights  and  threatening  weather, 
it  was  considered  a risk  to  place  patients  on  the  various  verandas  without 
inclosures,  so  the  constructing  quartermaster  was  called  upon  for  assistance. 
He  furnished  50  carpenters,  and  the  utilities  department  furnished  a like  number. 
With  their  cooperation,  39  verandas  were  inclosed  with  roofing  paper  and  muslin, 
and  800  beds  were  placed  on  them  and  made  ready  for  occupancy.  The  War 
Relief  Committee  was  called  upon  to  make  sputum  cups,  thus  relieving  nurses 
of  this  work;  and  the  school  for  bakers  and  cooks  was  requested  to  furnish  14 
cooks. 

On  Sunday,  September  29,  1918,  the  admissions  to  the  hospital  numbered 
788;  the  patients  then  in  hospital  numbered  3,346;  deaths,  6.  Nine  barrack 
buildings  of  the  sanitary  train  were  turned  over  to  the  hospital  for  hospital 
purposes.  Barracks  827-N  was  fully  equipped  for  126  patients,  and  all  mumps 
cases  were  transferred  thereto  from  the  main  part  of  the  hospital.  A kitchen 
was  started  in  this  building,  and  all  mumps  patients  were  subsisted  there.  The 
heavy  equipment  was  placed  in  six  other  barrack  buildings  in  preparation  for 
further  expansion.  A check  was  made  of  the  hospital,  and  all  wards  were 
furnished  with  additional  hospital  property,  principally  linen,  as  a working 
surplus.  Two  hundred  and  sixty  additional  enlisted  men  were  attached  to 
the  hospital;  the  others  from  the  depot  brigade,  as  well  as  officers,  nurses,  and 
enlisted  men,  were  showing  marked  fatigue  at  that  time.  There  were  4 med- 
ical officers,  45  nurses,  and  63  enlisted  men  of  the  base  hospital  detachment 
sick,  principally  with  influenza. 

By  extreme  effort  on  the  part  of  all  concerned,  and  using  all  means  to 
obtain  property,  the  hospital  was  expanded  from  610  occupied  beds  to  a capac- 
ity of  4,102  beds  within  a period  of  six  days. 

The  American  Red  Cross  opened  an  emergency  canteen  service  in  the  Red 
Cross  house  from  which  to  serve  light  lunches  and  hot  coffee  to  officers,  nurses, 
and  enlisted  men  of  the  base  hospital. 

On  Monday,  September  30,  1918,  there  were  6S3  admissions  to  the  hospital; 
490  patients  discharged;  and  8 deaths.  The  total  number  of  patients  in  hos- 
pital was  3,546.  During  the  day  160  beds  were  added  to  the  various  verandas 
of  the  influenza  wards,  thereby  increasing  the  hospital  bed  capacity  to  4,381, 
and  two  additional  barracks  of  the  sanitary  train  were  fully  equipped  as 
wards,  making  three  barracks  in  that  area  available  for  patients. 

Patients  in  hospital,  plus  personnel  on  duty  (including  those  attached) , 
brought  the  total  population  of  the  base  hospital  up  to  approximately  11  per 
cent  of  the  entire  camp.  The  main  kitchen  served  the  major  portion  of  these 
and  during  the  day  prepared  2,780  liquid  diets  and  between  1,500  and  2,000 
regular  diets.  As  the  number  of  persons  becoming  sick  was  increasing,  all 
those  on  duty  at  the  hospital  were  advised  to  take  advantage  of  every  oppor- 


244 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tunity,  when  off  duty,  to  take  light  exercise  in  the  open,  or  rest  or  relaxation. 
On  this  date  there  were  5 officers,  51  nurses,  and  about  100  enlisted  men  on 
sick  report.  In  the  event  ward  men  were  left  on  duty  for  more  than  12  hours 
a day,  they  were  instructed  to  call  the  detachment  commander  and  inform  him 
accordingly,  as  occasionally  this  detail  was  overlooked  during  the  rapid 
expansion  of  the  hospital. 

The  nursing  force  of  the  wards  was  extremely  inadequate.  However, 
every  nurse  and  available  man  was  assigned.  In  order  to  help  the  situation,  a 
service  corps  was  organized  and  divided  into  eight  sections;  and  a student 
nurse  was  placed  in  charge  of  each  section,  with  6 men  as  her  assistants.  The 
hospital  was  divided  into  eight  areas,  a service  section  being  assigned  to 
each  area.  The  principal  duties  of  these  sections  were  to  assist  the  ward  per- 
sonnel by  policing  the  ward  and  doing  the  heavy  work.  Their  hours  of  duty 
were  from  7.30  a.  m.  to  5.30  p.  m. 

Tuesday,  October  1,  1918,  561  patients  were  admitted  to  the  hospital;  496 
were  discharged,  making  a total  in  hospital  of  3,601.  There  were  14  deaths. 
All  deaths  were  due  to  pneumonia  following  influenza  (clinical).  The  admis- 
sions to  the  hospital  had  diminished  approximately  100  daily  for  the  preceding 
three  days.  To  keep  relatives  of  patients  ill  in  hospital  informed  as  to  the 
condition  of  the  patients,  “ danger”  telegrams  were  sent  out  at  regular  intervals. 

On  Wednesday,  October  2,  1918,  the  admissions  were  412,  discharges  426, 
total  number  in  hospital  3,587.  There  were  30  deaths  that  day,  due  to  pneu- 
monia, all  following  clinical  influenza.  The  number  of  admissions  was  smaller 
than  during  the  previous  day,  but  the  patients  admitted  were  more  seriously 
ill,  and  a major  number  of  litter  cases  was  among  them.  The  number  of  pneu- 
monia complications  rapidly  increased;  nine  wards  were  filled  with  this  type 
of  disease. 

Local  undertakers  were  unable  to  cope  with  the  situation,  their  capacity 
being  estimated  at  13  to  15  bodies  a day.  Inspection  of  their  establishment 
revealed  25  untouched  bodies  at  5 p.  m.,  while  47  remained  in  the  mortuary 
at  the  base  hospital.  Their  establishment  was  in  confusion  and  was  not  being 
systematically  managed;  so  two  soldiers  (embalm ers)  were  sent  to  their  assist- 
ance to  work  under  a sergeant  of  the  base  hospital  detachment,  an  experienced 
embalmer.  Five  more  soldiers  and  a clerk  were  asked  for. 

Great  confusion  in  the  records  of  the  information  bureau  resulted  from 
many  transfers  of  patients  in  and  about  the  hospital  without  the  information 
bureau  being  properly  notified.  A consultation  was  held  and  it  was  decided 
that,  generally  speaking,  pneumonia  patients  would  be  as  well  cared  for  in 
influenza  wards  as  they  would  be  if  transferred  to  pneumonia  wards.  One 
ambulance  and  three  wheel  litters  and  a motor  truck,  together  with  many  men, 
had  been  in  use  an  entire  day  in  transferring  pneumonia  patients  to  pneumonia 
wards. 

On  Thursday,  October  3,  525  patients  were  admitted  to  the  hospital;  4S2 
were  discharged;  total  remaining  in  hospital,  3,659.  There  were  42  deaths  due 
to  pneumonia  following  influenza.  There  was  a slight  increase  in  the  number 
of  cases  admitted  and  a large  increase  in  the  death  rate.  Patients  admitted 
to  the  hospital  were  more  critically  ill  than  before;  there  were  more  litter  cases 
admitted;  and  more  patients  were  developing  pneumonia  throughout  the 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


245 


hospital  than  had  been  the  rule.  Approximately  40  nurses  arrived  for  the 
emergency,  and  telegraphic  notice  was  received  that  a like  number  would  arrive 
in  the  near  future.  The  ladies  of  Chicago  volunteered  their  services  in  large 
numbers.  The  services  of  these  ladies  were  used  for  filling  capsules,  work  at 
the  information  bureau,  the  preparation  of  paper  cups,  clerical  work  in  the 
wards  (transferring  temperatures  from  memoranda  to  clinical  records),  and 
in  the  supervision  of  the  Red  Cross  canteen. 

The  number  of  visitors,  relatives  who  had  been  summoned  by  “danger” 
or  “death”  telegrams,  greatly  increased.  The  ward  personnel  was  instructed 
to  show  these  visitors  every  consideration  during  their  moments  of  deep  dis- 
tress. Authority  was  received  to  employ  civilian  nurses,  and,  as  they  were 
sadly  needed,  a great  many  were  employed. 

There  were  438  telegrams  sent  out  and  received  by  the  hospital  on  this 
day;  and  as  the  telephone  lines  were  swamped  a letter  was  written  to  the  com- 
manding officer,  Camp  Grant,  recommending  additional  lines.  From  400  to 
500  telegrams  were  sent  and  received  daily.  The  establishment  of  an  emer- 
gency telegraph  office  was  recommended. 

All  the  undertakers  of  Rockford  were  called  into  a conference,  at  which 
each  agreed  to  take  his  share  of  the  base  hospital  work  at  850,  the  contract 
price.  There  were  at  that  time  49  bodies  in  the  mortuary  and  about  30  in 
Rockford  untouched.  Each  undertaker  took  his  capacity,  which  was  from  3 
to  10  bodies,  and  after  all  had  their  establishments  filled  there  were  about,  30 
bodies  left  in  the  hospital  mortuary.  It  was  obvious  that  something  had  to 
be  done  in  the  way  of  organization  and  increased  capacity.  The  president  of 
the  Western  Casket  Co.,  of  Chicago,  was  requested  to  come  to  Camp  Grant  for 
consultation  and  assistance. 

On  Friday,  October  4,  the  admissions  to  hospital  numbered  437 ; discharges, 
520;  and  deaths,  76 — all  due  to  pneumonia.  The  total  number  of  patients 
in  hospital  was  now  approximately  3,396.  There  was  a decrease  of  approxi- 
mately 100  patients  admitted  to  hospital,  but  the  condition  of  those  admitted 
was  of  a more  serious  nature. 

The  exact  hour  of  death,  to  the  minute,  had  to  be  given  on  the  clinical 
record,  and  ward  surgeons  were  instructed  to  see  that  this  information  was 
placed  on  all  clinical  histories  before  they  were  sent  to  the  office. 

The  handling  of  the  effects  of  the  deceased  grew  into  an  enormous  burden. 
To  meet  this  emergency,  an  Infantry  officer  was  attached  to  the  base  hospital 
on  this  date  to  handle  all  patients’  clothing,  valuables,  trinkets,  etc.  His 
office  was  established  in  the  clothing  room  of  the  receiving  ward,  and  to  him 
company  commanders  had  to  report  in  order  to  obtain,  and  receipt  for,  the 
effects  of  the  deceased. 

The  procuring  of  transportation  for  remains  developed  into  a large  and 
important  problem.  A sergeant  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  transportation  for  remains  as  well  as  the  clearing  of  the  same 
from  the  hospital  mortuary.  His  office  was  located  in  the  administration 
building  of  the  hospital,  and  all  inquiries  relative  to  the  shipment  or  location 
of  a body  were  referred  to  him. 

The  president  of  the  Western  Casket  Co.  arrived,  on  this  date,  with  a num- 
ber of  embalmers.  He  consulted  with  the  local  undertakers,  and  by  evening  a 


246 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


building  had  been  secured  which  satisfactorily  cared  for  the  situation.  Ar- 
rangements were  made  whereby  local  undertakers  were  to  transport  the  bodies. 
Three  trucks,  without  tops  or  sides,  were  furnished  for  this  purpose,  but  these 
were  rejected  and  Army  trucks  were  used,  with  an  officer  of  the  Quartermaster 
Corps  in  charge.  By  midnight  the  mortuary  was  empty,  although  there  had 
been  103  bodies  during  the  day. 

On  Saturday,  October  5,  1918,  there  were  439  admissions,  328  discharges, 
and  102  deaths,  all  of  the  latter  due  to  pneumonia,  and  the  total  number  of 
patients  in  hospital  was  3,579.  The  admission  rate  remained  practically  at  this 
level  for  several  days.  The  mortality  rate  having  increased  steadily  from  the 
first  week  of  the  epidemic,  it  was  thought  probable  that  the  apex  had  not  yet 
been  reached. 

There  was  no  known  specific  treatment  for  this  disease  and  no  known  abso- 
lute prevention.  Therefore,  the  following  memorandum  was  issued:  ‘‘The 
wearing  of  masks  and  gowns,  frequent  washing  of  the  hands,  and  avoiding  put- 
ting the  hands  in  mouth  or  nose  are  very  important.  Persons  must  avoid 
crowding  whether  on  duty  or  not,  and  all  officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  men 
shoidd  use  every  effort  to  avoid  this.  Fatigue  plays  a very  important  part  in 
rendering  one  susceptible  to  sickness  and  should  be  avoided  as  much  as  possible.” 

A sufficient  number  of  nurses  arrived  under  orders,  together  with  an  ade- 
quate number  of  enlisted  men.  There  being  a division  of  responsibility  be- 
tween the  service  corps  and  the  ward  men,  the  wards  were  not  sufficiently 
policed.  The  service  corps  was  then  abandoned.  The  embalming  problem 
was  solved  through  untiring  effort. 

On  Sunday,  October  6,  the  admissions  numbered  370;  discharges,  430; 
deaths,  99 — all  due  to  pneumonia.  The  total  number  of  patients  in  hospital 
was  3,420.  During  the  day  the  head  house  was  equipped  and  opened  as 
nurses’  quarters.  The  eye  department  was  moved  to  the  former  electrother- 
apeutie  room;  the  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department  was  moved  into  operating 
room  No.  3;  and  the  recruiting  office  was  moved  into  the  hallway  of  the  dental 
department.  There  were  now  370  nurses  (including  student  nurses)  and  these 
were  quartered  in  the  Red  Cross  house  and  barracks  1029-N,  as  well  as  in  the 
head  house  and  in  the  regular  nurses’  quarters. 

The  death  rate  reached  its  highest  point  October  6,  when  116  deaths  were 
recorded.  The  city  mortuary  was  overtaxed,  leaving  20  bodies  at  the  base 
hospital  at  8 p.  m. 

The  number  of  visitors  increased  until  thousands  of  persons  called  upon  the 
information  bureau  daily  for  various  kinds  of  information.  During  a day  several 
thousand  telephone  calls  were  answered  and  sent  and  768  telegrams  received 
and  sent  out.  The  space  was  inadequate,  and  in  order  to  meet  the  demand  a 
hospital  ward  tent  was  erected,  floored,  and  wired  with  drop  lights.  Three  tele- 
phones were  installed,  desks  conveniently  arranged,  seats  provided  for  visitors, 
emergency  beds  placed  for  persons  who  might  need  them,  cloak  and  coat  hooks 
provided,  and  stoves  installed.  The  new  information  bureau  was  conspicuously 
marked  by  signs,  electric  lights,  and  a Red  Cross  flag.  An  arc  light  was  pro- 
vided and  the  parking  area  in  the  vicinity  of  the  information  bureau  brilliantly 
illuminated.  The  tent  communicated  with  the  near-by  corridor  through  which 
visitors  were  conducted  to  the  various  wards  by  Red  Cross  representatives,  after 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


247 


masks  and  gowns  had  been  provided  them.  The  index  was  transferred  and  only 
direct  information  to  visitors  was  given,  the  clerical  side  of  the  information 
bureau  being  retained  in  its  original  place. 

On  Monday,  October  7,  the  admissions  numbered  235;  discharges,  301; 
deaths,  116;  total  patients  in  hospitals,  approximately  3,238. 

The  number  of  pneumonia  cases  increased  until  there  were  about  1,250 
patients  in  the  hospital  suffering  from  this  disease.  Following  a conference  held 
among  the  medical  men  of  the  institution,  it  was  decided  to  group  pneumonia 
patients  so  that  those  acutely  ill,  coughing,  and  running  high  temperatures 
would  be  in  one  group,  the  convalescents  in  another  group,  and  the  intermediate 
cases  in  a third  group.  Transfers  were  made  accordingly.  The  idea  of  the  plan 
was  to  prevent  reinfection  of  the  convalescent  patients.  It  was  also  decided 
that  cubicle  sheets  extending  to  the  foot  of  the  bed  both  interfered  with  venti- 
lation and  prevented  the  ward  attendants  from  keeping  a close  watch  on  the 
patients;  so,  thereafter,  cubicle  sheets  were  so  arranged  as  to  extend  from  the 
wall  to  a point  not  beyond  the  patient’s  waistline. 

There  were  several  instances  where  mistakes  were  made  in  the  addresses 
of  the  deceased.  So  far  as  known  such  errors  were  discovered  before  shipment 
of  the  remains.  Case  numbers  were  used  on  all  records  after  death,  including 
a numerical  roster,  alphabetical  card  index,  death  certificate,  history,  reports 
to  the  quartermaster  and  company  commanders,  the  arm  band,  the  check 
sheet,  and  telegrams.  This  proved  of  the  greatest  value.  A list  of  the  admis- 
sions was  made,  in  triplicate,  in  the  receiving  office,  one  copy  being  sent  to 
the  chief  of  medical  service,  one  to  the  camp  surgeon,  and  one  to  the  receiving 
office.  The  receiving  office  handled  only  the  blotter  sheet  and  the  valuables 
of  the  patients.  At  the  time  Form  55 a was  made,  the  register  of  patients’  card, 
No.  77,  was  made,  with  a carbon  for  the  index  and  the  discharge  of  the  patient. 
The  receiving  office  also  prepared  a discharge  sheet  in  duplicate,  one  for  the 
information  bureau  and  one  to  be  retained. 

On  Tuesday,  October  8,  the  admissions  dropped  to  195;  358  patients  were 
discharged;  and  the  total  number  in  hospital  was  2,957.  There  were  98  deaths, 
all  due  to  pneumonia  following  influenza. 

The  genera]  improvement  in  the  appearance  of  the  hospital  during  the 
preceding  48  hours  exhibited  a better  control  and  a nearer  approach  to  the 
previous  efficiency  of  the  hospital  organization.  The  extra  beds  were  removed 
from  the  30  rows  of  wards.  There  was  every  indication  that  the  epidemic 
had  reached  its  peak. 

On  Wednesday,  October  9,  133  patients  were  admitted,  268  were  dis- 
charged, leaving  a total  in  hospital  of  2,782.  There  were  107  deaths,  all  due  to 
pneumonia.  As  there  were  approximately  1,500  cases  of  pneumonia  in  the 
hospital,  this  death  rate  was  not  considered  surprisingly  high. 

During  the  early  days  of  the  epidemic,  the  increasing  morbidity  rate  among 
the  personnel  was  alarming.  The  civilian  nurse  personnel  showed  the  highest 
percentage,  and,  of  those  sick,  three  died.  There  was  great  difficulty  in  getting 
these  nurses  to  wear  masks  or  gowns,  or  to  carry  out  many  other  orders.  The 
graduate  nurses  came  next  in  number,  on  the  sick  list,  and  three  of  the  Army 
nurses  died.  The  detachment,  Medical  Department,  had  a very  high  sick  rate. 
About  10  per  cent  were  sick  in  hospital  and  the  deaths  were  12.  The  nurses, 


248 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Army  School  of  Nursing,  had  the  lowest  sick  rate,  with  but  one  death.  This 
nurse  was  not  in  good  health  and  appeared  below  normal  on  admission  to  the 
school.  As  the  pupil  nurses  worked  in  the  wards,  on  long  hours,  it  was  thought 
that  the  reasons  for  their  low  sick  rate  were  strict  adherence  to  carrying  out 
orders  pertaining  to  masks  and  gowns,  their  outdoor  training  before  the  epi- 
demic, and  their  physical  condition  in  general.  Eleven  medical  officers  con- 
tracted influenza,  but  among  them  there  were  no  deaths. 

Many  of  the  emergency  nurses  did  not  render  satisfactory  service  and 
caused  considerable  work  and  worry  by  expressing  their  desire  to  resign  and  go 
home.  It  was  believed  that  the  service  would  he  better  off  without  this  class, 
and  they  were  allowed  to  return,  although  some  of  them  rendered  less  than  one 
day’s  service. 

The  sick  rate  for  the  nurses  continued  high,  and  on  October  8 there  were 
71  off  duty  out  of  400,  while  of  1,600  enlisted  men  on  duty  there  were  but  57 
excused  because  of  sickness.  To  this  date  4 nurses  and  12  enlisted  men  died; 
there  were  no  deaths  among  the  medical  officers. 

On  Thursday,  October  10,  1918.  1 18  patients  were  admitted  to  the  hospital; 
214  were  discharged;  and  the  total  number  in  hospital  was  2,579.  There  were 
77  deaths,  all  due  to  pneumonia.  There  was  a noticeable  improvement  in  the 
general  condition  of  the  epidemic  during  the  previous  24  hours — there  were 
fewer  deaths,  fewer  admissions,  and  the  patients  as  a whole  seemed  in  better 
condition. 

On  Friday,  October  1 1 , 86  patients  were  admitted;  175  were  discharged. 
There  were  37  deaths,  all  due  to  pneumonia.  One  thousand  five  hundred 
pneumonia  patients  still  remained  in  hospital. 

Every  effort  was  made  to  furnish  as  much  fresh  air  to  patients  during  the 
epidemic  as  possible,  as  rest  in  bed  and  fresh  ah',  with  ample  water  to  drink, 
were  believed  to  be  the  most  important  forms  of  treatment  known  at  that  time. 

On  Saturday,  October  12,  the  admissions  numbered  99,  discharges  112, 
and  deaths  54,  all  due  to  pneumonia.  The  total  number  of  patients  in  hos- 
pital was  2,391.  The  small  number  of  patients  discharged  was  due  to  the 
fact  that  convalescents  were  being  held  longer  in  hospital.  Up  to  this  time  it 
had  been  necessary  to  discharge  patients,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  infirmaries, 
because  of  the  pressing  need  of  beds. 

On  Sunday,  October  13,  85  patientswere  admitted;  128  were  discharged; 
deaths  from  pneumonia  numbered  36;  and  the  total  number  of  patients  in 
hospital  was  2,331.  There  were  1,504  cases  of  pneumonia,  24  less  than  on 
the  preceding  day.  The  general  appearance  of  the  patients  in  hospital  was 
greatly  improved  and  the  number  of  convalescents  seen  in  the  wards  rapidly 
increased. 

On  Monday,  October  14,  40  patients  were  admitted;  124  were  discharged; 
and  there  were  29  deaths  due  to  pneumonia. 

Tuesday,  October  15,  65  patients  were  admitted,  123  were  discharged,  and 
20  died  from  pneumonia.  The  patients  in  hospital  numbered  24  39.  The 
two-story  ward  barracks  were  now  standardized  at  SO  beds  each,  and  all  Quarter- 
master property  was  removed  and  replaced  by  Medical  Department  property. 

On  Wednesday,  October  16,  95  patients  were  admitted  and  E5  were  dis- 
charged. There  were  22  deaths,  one  of  which  was  due  to  scarlet  fever,  the 
remainder  to  pneumonia. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


249 


On  Thursday,  October  17,  there  were  67  admissions  and  146  discharges; 
1 0 patients  died  from  pneumonia. 

The  total  number  of  cases  of  influenza,  pneumonia,  and  deaths  reported 
daily  is  tabulated  below: 


Table  12. — Influenza  and  pneumonia  statistics,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant.  III. 


Date. 

New  cases 
of  influ- 
enza. 

New  cases 
of  pneu- 
monia. 

Deaths. 

Date. 

New  cases 
of  influ- 
enza. 

New  cases 
of  pneu- 
monia. 

Deaths. 

1918. 

1918. 

Sept.  21... 

70 

0 

0 

Oct.  16 

19 

25 

10 

Sept.  22... 

177 

0 

0 

Oct.  17 

30 

17 

IS 

293 

0 

0 

Oct.  IS 

19 

11 

9 

Sept.  24 

488 

0 

1 

Oct.  19 

6 

4 

13 

689 

0 

0 

Oct.  20 

19 

8 

9 

864 

6 

0 

Oct.  21 

15 

8 

984 

3 

3 

Oct.  22 

9 

Sept.  28 

872 

19 

6 

Oct.  23 

14 

3 

3 

Sept.  29 

803 

9 

8 

Oct.  24 

1 

1 

2 

Sept.  30... 

616 

6 

14 

Oct.  25 

3 

2 

3 

133 

30 

Oct.  26 

10 

0 

1 

Oct.  2 

697 

380 

42 

Oct.  27 

8 

1 

1 

Oct.  3 

408 

193 

76 

Oct.  2S 

6 

4 

3 

409 

247 

102 

Oct.  29 

3 

0 

1 

318 

276 

99 

Oct.  30 

4 

0 

0 

Oct.  6 

21S 

231 

116 

Oct.  31 

3 

0 

1 

186 

201 

98 

Nov.  1 

0 

2 

0 

Oct.  8 

171 

160 

107 

Nov.  2 

2 

0 

2 

100 

97 

Nov.  3 

1 

3 

1 

86 

S7 

37 

Oct.  11 

96 

54 

Total 

9,554 

2,332 

1,060 

Oct.  12 

120 

33 

36 

Not  reported  a 

1,185 

34 

32 

25 

29 

Oct.  14 

32 

20 

Total 

10, 739 

2, 332 

1,030 

Oct.  15 

20 

25 

21 

a Upon  investigation  by  the  epidemiologist  it  was  found  that  approximately  1,185  cases  were  not  reported  by  the 
medical  officers.  These  were  the  mild  cases  which  were  taken  care  of  in  the  various  infirmaries. 


Table  13. — Drugsusedin  dispensary,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant , III.,  during  the  influenza  epidemic, 

1918. 


Magnesium  sulphate — solution(3,600,000 

Brown  mixture  (900,000  c.  c.). gallons. . 

250 

c.  c.) 

gallons . . 

900 

Liquor  ammonium  acetate  (40,000 

Liquid  green  soap  (800,000  c.  c.).do 

200 

c.  c.) 

. -gallons. . 

10 

Alcohol  (360.000  c.  c.) 

. .do 

90 

Tincture  digitalis  (20,000  c. 

c.).  .do 

5 

Whisky  (108,000  c.  c.) 

. . . do 

27 

Calomel  tablets 

20,  000 

Chloroform  cough  mixture  (800,000  c.  c.) 

Aspirin  tablets 

92,  000 

-gallons. . 

200 

Aspirin  powder 

. .pounds. . 

40 

Liquor  antiseptic,  alkaline 

(600.000 

Codeine  tablets 

3,  000 

c.  c.) 

-gallons. . 

150 

Morphine  tablets 

2,  400 

Dobell's  solution  (400.000  c.  c.)..do 

100 

Strvchnine  tablets 

25,  000 

Liquor  cresolis  compound 

(160.000 

Adrenalin  tablets 

5,  000 

c.  c.) 

-gallons. . 

40 

Atropine  tablets  ( hypodermic) 

7,  500 

Castor  oil  (80,000  c.  c.) 

. .do 

20 

Quinine  tablets 

2,  000 

Formaldehyde  (80,000  c.  c.)_. 

..  .do 

20 

Digifoline 

. ampules . . 

250 

Elixir  iron,  quinine,  and  strychnine 

(120.000  c.  c.) 

. gallons . . 

30 

Table  14. — Figures  and  statistics  from  the  influenza  epidemic  compiled  by  the  Quartermaster  Depart- 
ment, Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  III. 


Carloads 17 

Total  weight  of  supplies  handled 

pounds..  750.000 

Cubicle  wire  (about  50  miles). . .do 260.  000 

Muslin yards. . 11.  000 

Tar  paper do 30.  000 

Straw pounds. . 125.  000 

Sheets 25,  000 


Total  blankets  used 20,  000 

Pillowcases 7,  600 

Supplies  transported  i truck  loads) 240 

Supplies  transported  > wagonloads) 520 

Electric  wiring Over  1 mile 

Labor  days,  1 man  for  1 day 2,  675 


Emergency  tents  with  stoves  and  floors.  215 


250 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


There  were  81  officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital  when  the  epidemic  com- 
menced. This  number  being  very  soon  inadequate  some  medical  officers  were 
transferred  from  the  camp,  and  request  was  made  to  the  Surgeon  General  for 
additional  officers.  The  number  was  rapidly  increased  to  130.  Medical  officers 
were  relieved  from  all  duties,  such  as  detachment  commanders,  that  could  he 
performed  by  line  officers,  and  line  officers  were  assigned  to  the  hospital  hv 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  camp. 

In  order  that  the  medical  service  could  function  properly  with  the  rest  of 
the  hospital  it  was  necessary  to  create  an  additional  office.  The  officer  in  charge 
of  this  additional  office  was  designated  “chief  of  clinics.”  Special  orders  were 
issued  placing  this  officer  in  charge  of  all  hospital  services,  and  empowering  him 
with  the  authority  to  issue  orders  in  the  name  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
hospital.  The  chief  of  clinics  continually  made  rounds  over  the  hospital, 
visiting  every  ward  daily,  examining  such  cases  as  he  thought  necessary, 
instructing  the  ward  surgeons  and  taking  general  charge  of  the  distribution 
and  discharge  of  patients.  His  services  were  of  the  greatest  value,  not  only 
in  this  capacity  but  as  an  adviser  to  the  commanding  officer. 

Much  time  was  spent  in  preparing  required  reports.  The  services  of  five 
experienced  officers  of  the  medical  service  were  required  for  from  two  to  five 
hours  each  morning  in  preparing  the  reports  for  the  camp  epidemiologist,  and 
then  frequently  the  reports  were  only  relatively  correct.  Other  reports  required 
by  higher  authorities  demanded  much  time  and  necessitated  the  services  of 
valuable  medical  officers. 

During  this  epidemic  the  medical  service  constituted  almost  the  entire 
hospital,  since  only  a few  surgical  and  special  wards  remained  beyond  the  juris- 
diction of  the  service.  Yet,  in  spite  of  this  enormous  expansion  within  the 
short  period  of  a week,  there  was  system  and  order  in  the  work  of  the  medical 
officers.  The  chief  of  the  medical  service  established  a system  of  inspection 
and  consultation  that  kept  the  service  coordinated,  and  by  means  of  a night 
force  of  medical  officers  on  duty  from  10  p.  m.  to  8 a.  m.  all  medical  officers 
had  adequate  rest  and  were  at  all  times  capable  of  performing  efficient  work. 

The  post-epidemic  period  until  January  1,  1919,  was  one  of  anticlimax,  both 
because  of  a let  down  after  the  epidemic  and  because  the  signing  of  the  armistice 
brought  a lessening  of  enthusiasm  in  all  branches  of  the  service.  Logically, 
there  was  no  reason  for  the  latter  effect  in  the  Medical  Corps,  but  it  existed 
nevertheless.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  the  hospital  organization  and  its  personnel 
that  this  state  of  mind  did  not  result  in  any  lowering  of  professional  standards. 

The  arrival  of  overseas  convalescents  brought  a great  variety  of  chronic 
cases,  including  some  of  the  rarer  diseases.  During  the  first  year  of  hospital 
activity  there  was  a certain  monotony  in  the  type  of  disease  cared  for.  During 
the  second  year,  and  especially  after  January,  1919,  there  was  a greater  number 
of  chronic  cases,  the  nephritic,  cardiac,  rheumatic,  gastrointestinal,  essential 
blood  diseases,  and  diseases  of  ductless  glands.  Another  circumstance  which 
increased  professional  interest  considerably  was  diagnostic  work  done  in 
cooperation  with  the  medical  discharge  board  in  the  demobilization  organiza- 
tion. Many  obscure  cases  reached  the  hospital  from  this  source. 


TYPES  OP  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


251 


SURGICAL  SERVICE. 

When  the  hospital  was  opened  there  were  no  surgical  patients;  and  under 
the  direction  of  the  commanding  officer  drills  were  held  daily  for  the  pur- 
pose of  teaching  operating-room  technique. 

The  first  operation  was  a herniotomy.  Following  it,  the  number  of  opera- 
tive cases  gradually  increased,  until  at  the  end  of  the  year  1917  the  total  sur- 
gical admissions  had  reached  the  not  inconsiderable  number  of  631. 

The  work  of  the  surgical  service  was  very  much  the  same  as  that  of  any  of 
the  general  hospitals  of  the  larger  cities  of  the  country.  Only  2 deaths  in  a 
series  of  228  operations  occurred,  each  the  result  of  general  peritonitis  follow- 
ing acute  appendicitis,  the  peritonitis  existing  at  the  time  the  patient  was 
admitted  to  the  hospital. 

Until  the  middle  of  December,  1917,  the  sterilizing  of  all  surgical  supplies 
for  the  operatingroom  was  done  in  an  Arnold  sterilizer;  in  spite  of  this  fact, 
there  was  but  one  case  of  postoperative  sepsis.  This  complication  was  very 
mild  and  occurred  in  a double  hernia,  the  interesting  feature  being  that  both  sides 
of  the  patient  were  done  without  any  change  in  gloves  or  gowns,  and  the  side 
operated  upon  first  became  infected,  the  opposite  side  healing  by  first  intention. 
Subsequent  to  the  middle  of  December,  the  sterilizing  was  done  in  a modern 
steam  sterilizer  of  the  Morris-Scanlan  type. 

Prior  to  October  23,  1917,  the  operating  was  accomplished  in  the  end  room 
of  one  of  the  wards  originally  intended  for  either  recovery  of  patients  or  as  an 
isolation  room.  On  October  23  the  operating  personnel  and  equipment  were 
moved  into  the  operating  pavilion,  which  was  devoted  entirely  to  operating- 
room  work.  This  pavilion  had,  with  the  exception  of  elaborate  details  of  con- 
struction, all  the  advantages  of  a modern  metropolitan  hospital.  Primarily,  all 
the  enlisted  personnel  on  duty  in  this  operating  suite  had  absolutely  no  knowl- 
edge of  any  of  the  principles  of  asepsis  or  antisepsis,  but  very  soon  they  reached 
a high  state  of  efficiency. 

The  surgical  service  at  the  end  of  its  first  year  of  existence  had  the  equipment 
of  a first-class  surgical  unit.  In  the  operating  pavilion  there  were  two  large  oper- 
ating rooms  which  were  connected  by  an  anesthesia  room  and  sterilizing  room, 
containing  ample  sterilizers  to  easily  meet  the  demand  of  50  operations  weekly. 
Adjoining  the  operating  room  was  the  office  of  the  chief  of  surgical  service, 
which  was  added  in  May,  1918,  and  a small  laundry  to  reclaim  soiled  gauze  and 
bandages.  The  latter  proved  of  great  economic  value  by  reducing  the  use  of 
surgical  dressing  materials  to  a remarkable  minimum. 

A third  operating  room,  used  only  for  septic  cases,  with  an  adjoining  dress- 
ing room  for  emergency  cases,  was  opened  in  the  building  for  head  surgery. 

Surgical  wards  comprised,  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  of  the  hospital’s  exist- 
ence, a receiving  ward,  which  was  opened  in  April,  1918.  To  this  receiving  ward 
were  sent  cases  which  did  not  go  directly  to  the  operating  room.  Here  their 
histories  were  taken,  physical  examinations  of  them  were  made,  and  diagnoses 
of  their  conditions  reached  after  careful  consideration.  There  was  installed  in 
this  ward  a unit  clinical  laboratory  in  which  the  various  blood  and  urine  ex- 
aminations were  made  in  shorter  time  than  by  the  usual  routine.  Here  also  the 
laboratory  work  of  the  other  surgical  wards  was  done.  By  using  this  ward  as  a 
diagnosis  and  observation  ward,  better  diagnostic  conclusions  could  be  reached, 


252 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  the  danger  of  occasional  contagious  diseases  being  admitted  to  other 
wards  was  lessened.  It  was  here  that  instructions  to  new  officers  were  given 
in  paper  work,  in  the  keeping  of  charts,  and  in  the  routine  work  of  the  ward. 

In  addition  to  the  receiving  ward,  the  surgical  department  had  two  recovery 
wards  for  clean  postoperative  cases,  one  ward  for  pus  cases  and  one  for  ortho- 
pedic patients,  including  those  with  fractures. 

About  150  officers  were  instructed  in  the  surgical  service  and  prepared  for 
overseas  work,  many  lectures  and  lantern  slide  demonstrations  being  given  for 
this  purpose.  Officers  of  Base  Hospital  No.  58  and  Evacuation  Hospital  No. 
20,  both  organized  at  Camp  Grant,  were  afforded  opportunities  to  work  in  the 
wards  and  operating  rooms,  thus  enabling  their  respective  chiefs  to  observe  the 
staffs  concerned  and  to  assign  members  of  them  in  accordance  with  their  quali- 
fications. In  addition  to  the  regular  officer  class  for  instruction,  special  surgical 
meetings  were  held  three  times  weekly;  and  ward  “walks”  through  different 
wards  took  place  practically  daily,  to  keep  up  the  interest  of  the  surgical  staff. 

In  so  far  as  the  surgical  work  at  the  base  hospital  is  concerned,  three  epochs 
may  be  distinguished : The  period  of  development  from  the  beginning  of  the  hos- 
pital to  September,  1918.  In  September,  1918,  the  second  period  was  ushered 
in  by  the  influenza  epidemic  which  demanded  all  hospital  space  and  brought 
into  the  surgical  service  approximately  100  empyema  cases.  Fortunately,  this 
period  was  of  short  duration  and  was  followed  by  the  period  after  the  armistice, 
when  the  entrance  of  overseas  cases  into  the  surgical  service  of  the  hospital 
changed  the  character  of  the  surgical  work  entirely.  During  the  first  period,  the 
fitting  of  soldiers  for  duty,  by  operating  on  remediable  defects,  constituted  the 
main  activity  of  the  service.  Incidentally,  appendicitis,  accidents,  and  rarer 
surgical  conditions,  to  be  expected  in  a camp  population  of  over  40,000,  gave  a 
variety  to  the  work.  In  the  second  period,  the  work  consisted  principally  of 
operative  procedures  on  the  empyemas  occurring  in  the  influenza  epidemic.  The 
statistics  of  the  hospital  show  a mortality  rate  of  all  the  empyema  cases  with  all 
complications  to  be  but  20  per  cent.  In  the  reconstruction  period  many  cases 
of  compound  fractures  following  gunshot  wounds,  in  all  stages  of  repair  and 
nearly  all  accompanied  by  osteomyelitis,  kept  the  hospital  surgeons  and  the 
departments  of  physiotherapy  and  reeducation  busy.  A number  of  aneurysms, 
skull  defects,  in  juries  to  peripheral  nerves,  were  of  special  interest.  During  this 
time,  patients  in  the  surgical  department  numbered  as  many  as  1,400. 

SECTION  OF  ORTHOPEDIC  SURGERY. 

This  section  was  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  chief  of  surgical 
service,  and  no  sharp  line  of  demarcation  appeared  between  the  orthopedic 
and  surgical  sections.  The  arrangement  worked  with  complete  satisfaction 
because  of  the  willing  cooperation  of  the  various  chiefs  concerned. 

The  orthopedic  section  was  one  of  the  innovations  in  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment, and  by  reason  of  its  newness  in  the  military  hospital,  the  limits  of  its 
field  of  activity  were  not  clearly  defined;  and  there  was  at  this  hospital,  as  in 
many  civil  hospitals,  some  concern  in  the  assignment  of  the  cases  to  the  various 
sections  of  surgery. 

Previous  to  the  receipt  of  overseas  wounded,  the  major  portion  of  the 
orthopedic  cases  in  hospital  were  fractures  or  joint  injuries,  the  remainder 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


253 


being  back  cases,  arthritic  conditions,  and  deformities  admitted  for  study  or 
corrective  work. 

Other  important  work  of  this  section  was  the  examination  of  men  to  deter- 
mine their  fitness  for  various  arms  of  the  service  or  for  their  retention  in,  or 
rejection  from,  the  Army.  As  a matter  of  course,  a large  percentage  of  such 
examinations  was  made  on  subjects  of  real,  imaginary,  or  pretended  foot  disa- 
bility. The  handling  of  these  foot  cases  for  the  best  interests  of  the  service 
presented  quite  a problem.  During  the  earlier  days  of  the  orthopedic  section, 
considerable  time  was  given,  by  the  out-patient  service,  to  the  correction  of  such 
deformities.  With  the  growth  of  the  camp,  and  increasing  activities  within 
the  hospital,  this  work  was  taken  up  in  the  development  battalion,  and  the 
orthopedic  section  acted  only  in  an  advisory  capacity  or  as  a board  of  review 
in  these  cases. 

Other  important  groups  examined  were  those  suffering  from  low-grade 
arthritis  of  long  standing,  traumatic  or  focal  in  origin,  and  subjects  of  old 
healed  bone  and  joint  injuries  which,  though  not  incapacitating  them  for 
relatively  inactive  civilian  occupations,  produced  sufficient  disability  to  neces- 
sitate rejection  from  the  military  service.  Particularly  was  this  the  case  with 
internal  derangements  of  the  knee,  and  the  fact  was  strongly  impressed  upon 
the  officers  of  this  service  that  this  type  of  injury  merited  much  more  considera- 
tion than  had  been  given  many  men  already  treated  by  them. 

In  the  wards  themselves  the  grouping  of  the  bone  and  joint  cases  had  very 
material  advantages  in  the  application  of  definite  lines  of  treatment  and  in 
comparisons  of  end  results  obtained.  The  standard  splints  were  used  routinely 
and  did  not  apparently  lessen  a man’s  initiative.  They  left  much  opportunity 
for  ingenuity  in  their  application  to  individual  cases  and  at  the  same  time 
offered  strong  evidence  of  the  fact  that  simple  apparatus,  properly  applied, 
gives  the  desired  result.  Such  standard  splints  simplified  the  kind  of  supplies 
very  much  and  their  use  made  the  officers  in  training  familiar  with  them  before 
these  officers  were  assigned  to  units  for  overseas  service. 

With  the  admission  of  overseas  cases  in  December,  1918,  the  service  began 
to  expand  rapidly  and  take  on  a very  different  character.  The  signing  of  the 
armistice,  and  the  demobilization  following  it,  had  greatly  reduced  the  work  of 
the  orthopedic  section;  but  after  December  15,  1 9 1 S,  the  wards  quickly  filled 
with  open  and  closed  injuries  of  bone,  nerves,  and  soft  parts.  Dressing  cases, 
hitherto  rather  rare  in  the  orthopedic  section,  became  the  rule  and  the  character 
of  work  to  be  done  changed  completely.  The  resources  of  the  department 
were  taxed  to  the  utmost  and  the  officers  within  it  at  this  time  were  called  on 
for  more  activity  than  at  any  time  in  the  existence  of  the  hospital,  save  during 
the  days  of  the  influenza  epidemic.  Once  again  the  orthopedic  section  and 
the  general  surgery  section  had  no  sharp  line  of  demarcation,  for  the  cases  were 
border  line  in  such  a large  proportion  of  instances  that  only  by  active  coopera- 
tion could  the  best  results  be  obtained.  At  this  time  the  orthopedic  section, 
besides  caring  for  wards  where  patients,  more  definitiely  orthopedic,  were 
collected,  acted  in  an  advisory  capacity  on  splinting  and  physiotherapy 
throughout  the  hospital. 

The  addition,  in  January,  1919,  of  the  department  of  physiotherapy,  sup- 
plied the  orthopedic  service  with  a very  necessary  help  in  the  way  of  massage 


254 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  supervised  gymnastics.  The  contribution  by  this  department  to  the 
results  obtained  was  a very  large  one  and  demonstrated  the  need  of  permanent 
provision  of  this  kind  wherever  bone  and  joint  injuries  were  treated. 


LABORATORY  SERVICE. 


The  degree  of  development  and  progress  attained  by  the  laboratory  sec- 
tion could  be  equaled  only  by  the  best  civilian  institutions  in  the  larger  cities. 
Many  physicians  entering  the  military  service  at  this  hospital  were  astonished 
to  find  such  a well  organized  and  well  equipped  laboratory  in  the  posses- 
sion of  facilities  anticipating  their  demands  to  a marked  degree  in  almost 
every  phase  of  clinical  medicine.  In  fact  many  men  recently  graduating 
from  class  A medical  schools  found  the  facilities  for  obtaining  clinical  laboratory 
data  practically  along  the  same  lines  and  with  the  same  degree  of  refinement 
as  had  been  taught  them  while  at  school.  Those  who  had  been  in  general 
practice  came  to  realize  the  importance  of  blood,  urine,  and  other  examinations 
in  a way  not  before  recognized;  and  discovered  that  clinical  bacteriology, 
including  pneumococcus-typing,  claimed  a position  not  to  be  disregarded  in 
the  intelligent  care  of  medical  and  surgical  patients.  This  much  may  be  said 
regarding  the  relation  of  the  laboratory  to  the  ward  surgeon,  covering,  in 
general,  the  examinat  ions  usually  regarded  as  routine.  The  laboratory  at  this 
hospital  did  all  this  but  its  organization  plans  included  a field  of  development 
almost  equally  important  to  the  hospital  and  of  paramount  significance  to  its 
personnel,  namely,  constructive  investigation.  Unfortunately,  its  growth  in 
this  direction  was  cut  short  by  the  disorganization  incident  to  demobilization 
of  the  Army. 

During  the  most  trying  period  of  the  existence  of  the  laboratory,  when  the 
hospital  was  suddenly  crowded  with  sick  of  the  influenza  epidemic,  and  when 
demands  for  laboratory  supplies  and  equipment  exceeded  by  far  any  antici- 
pations, special  provision  was  made  locally,  and  so  promptly  were  requests 
carried  out  that  not  once  was  the  laboratory  work  delayed  on  account  of  want 
of  equipment  or  supplies. 

X-RAY  DEPARTMENT. 

The  X-ray  department  was  opened  on  October  31,  1917,  when  the  space 
allotted  to  it  consisted  of  but  three  rooms.  The  first  room  was  used  as  an 
office  and  viewing  room  as  well  as  for  filing  exposed  plates.  As  the  volume 
of  work  increased,  the  space  allotted  for  the  filing  of  plates  became  congested 
and  it  was  found  necessary  to  remove  the  old  plates  from  the  file.  These 
were  carefully  placed  in  boxes  and  were  moved  out  into  the  corridor;  and  the 
boxes  were  numbered  and  so  placed  that,  when  it  was  necessary  to  look  at 
an  old  plate,  it  could  be  very  easily  found.  The  second  room  was  used  for 
radiographic  and  fluoroscopic  purposes,  a small  room  being  walled  off  in  which 
the  transformer  and  unexposed  plates  were  kept.  The  third  room  was  used 
for  a dark  room  and  as  a storeroom  for  chemicals  and  accessories. 

The  transformer  installed  was  the  Universal  type  (Wantz  model)  manu- 
factured by  the  Victor  Electric  Corporation,  and  the  accessories  used  were 
manufactured  by  the  various  X-ray  firms  of  the  country.  Due  to  the  unusu- 
ally heavy  demands  on  the  transformer  and  to  minor  errors  in  installation, 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


255 


some  difficulty  was  experienced  in  the  early  weeks  of  operation,  but  after  the 
troubles  were  located  and  rectified  no  further  difficulties  were  experienced 
and  a greater  volume  of  work  was  handled  daily. 

Until  the  end  of  1917  there  was  a chief  of  service,  one  officer  as  an  assistant, 
and  three  Medical  Department  enlisted  men,  acting  as  technicians.  This 
personnel  handled  the  work  satisfactorily  during  that  period.  Subsequent  to 
the  end  of  1917  there  was  a steady  increase  in  the  number  and  variety  of  X-ray 
examinations,  as  a result  of  which  the  work  grew  to  such  an  extent  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  increase  the  personnel  and  make  some  additions  to  the 
equipment.  The  personnel  was  increased  to  two  officer  assistants  and  six 
enlisted  men.  The  principal  addition  to  the  equipment  was  one  United  States 
Army  table  and  one  portable  X-ray  outfit  complete,  this  being  added  about 
the  middle  of  the  year  1918. 

The  apparatus  and  laboratory  space  permitted  the  accomplishment  of  any 
ordinary  X-ray  work,  but  was  grossly  insufficient  for  the  volume  of  work  de- 
manded during  the  year  1919. 

The  X ray  proved  to  be  a very  important  factor  during  the  last  quarter 
of  1918,  when  the  influenza  epidemic  was  present,  the  major  portion  of  the 
work  consisting  of  X-raying  pneumonia  and  empyema  cases;  also  during  the 
first  quarter  of  1919,  when  overseas  patients  in  large  numbers  were  X-rayed. 
The  majority  of  these  overseas  patients  were  recovering  from  the  effects  of 
gunshot  wounds  and  were  for  the  most  part  such  surgical  cases  as  those  with 
foreign  bodies,  fractures,  and  osteomyelitis;  but  there  were  some  gassed  cases 
and  miscellaneous  conditions  which  were  included  in  the  medical  service. 
This  great  inrush  of  patients  placed  a heavy  demand  on  the  X-ray  department, 
both  for  diagnostic  purposes  and  as  a means  of  obtaining  a complete  record 
of  the  man’s  physical  condition  before  his  discharge  from  the  Army.  During 
this  time  from  60  to  80  patients  were  handled  daily  and  a great  many  instructive 
and  interesting  cases  were  encountered. 

After  Camp  Grant  was  made  a demobilization  center,  numerous  patients 
were  sent  to  the  X-ray  department  for  examination.  A great  many  of  these 
were  men  who  had  been  overseas  and  had  been  seriously  gassed.  Each  case 
was  fluorscoped  and  if  anything  suspicious  was  found  a set  of  stereoscopic  plates 
was  made.  A report  was  sent  to  the  medical  examining  board  the  same  day; 
and  in  that  way  the  men,  in  case  their  conditions  did  not  warrant  observation 
or  treatment,  were  able  to  receive  their  discharges  with  the  other  members 
of  their  respective  organizations.  On  account  of  the  inconvenience  of  sending 
the  men  from  the  examining  board  to  the  hospital,  and  because  the  number 
of  suspicious  cases  increased,  a fluoroscopic  machine  was  installed  at  the  place 
where  the  men  were  examined.  This  took  a great  amount  of  work  from  the 
X-ray  department,  and  only  cases  that  needed  plating  were  sent  thereafter  to 
the  X-ray  department. 

The  addition  of  the  portable  apparatus  to  the  X-ray  equipment  made 
possible  radiographic  work  in  the  pneumonia  and  empyema  wards.  It  proved 
to  be  an  indispensable  aid  during  the  influenza  epidemic. 

All  acute  chest  conditions  were  X-rayed  as  a routine  on  their  entrance  to 
the  hospital.  The  empyema  cases  had  a plate  and  a film  taken  on  the  same 
exposure.  The  plate  was  kept  on  file  in  the  main  laboratory  and  the  film  was 


256 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


sent  to  the  ward  with  the  roentgenologist’s  report,  both  of  which  served  as  a 
means  of  reference  until  the  case  was  dismissed  from  the  hospital.  The  film 
was  then  returned  to  the  main  X-ray  laboratory  and  was  placed  with  the  plate. 

A complete  set  of  localization  apparatus  was  added  to  the  X-ray  depart- 
ment; and  during  the  rush  of  convalescent  overseas  cases  some  localization 
for  foreign  bodies  was  required;  but  the  work  was  not  done  on  an  extensive 
scale. 

GENITOURINARY  DEPARTMENT. 

Immediately  upon  the  opening  of  the  genitourinary  service  of  the  base 
hospital,  a definite  policy  was  established  to  minimize  to  the  greatest  possible 
extent  the  loss  of  effectives  from  venereal  diseases.  To  accomplish  tins  it  was 
necessary  to  organize  and  train  a force  of  men  to  properly  treat  venereal  dis- 
eases; and  each  enlisted  man  of  the  Medical  Department,  assigned  to  this 
service,  was  given  individual  instruction.  A small  unit  laboratory  was  estab- 
lished and  within  a month  after  the  opening  of  the  base  hospital  the  genito- 
urinary department  was  functioning  in  every  way  and  running  smooth^. 

The  percentage  of  venereal  diseases  detected  among  the  inducted  men 
differed  in  no  way  from  the  average  percentages  detected  at  other  camps; 
however,  only  active  venereal  diseases  were  admitted  to  this  hospital  for  treat- 
ment. A working  plan  was  established  in  connection  with  the  organization 
of  the  camp,  and  all  ambulatory  venereal  cases  were  treated  as  out-patients 
at  the  base  hospital.  By  so  doing  it  was  possible  to  limit  the  service  to  two 
wards  of  the  hospital  and  at  the  same  time  give  the  best  possible  treatment 
to  all  cases  of  the  camp. 

Each  venereal  case  was  gone  over  thorougly  and  its  pathological  condition 
was  located.  No  routine  treatment  was  followed  for  cases  affected  with 
gonorrhea;  each  case  was  individualized  and  treated  according  to  the  patho- 
logical condition  present.  When  urethritis  existed  there  was  no  self-treatment 
by  the  soldier.  Each  venereal  ulcer  was  thoroughly  examined  for  spiroclueta 
pallida.  Many  times  this  required  repeated  examinations.  Once  the  spiro- 
chseta  pallida  was  demonstrated,  intensive  luetic  treatment  was  started  im- 
mediately. By  following  this  plan  of  procedure  not  many  cases  of  active 
secondary  lues  developed.  The  luetic  treatment  which  was  administered  was 
in  accordance  with  instructions  issued  by  the  Surgeon  General.  Venereal 
ulcers  which  were  not  luetic  were  handled  in  such  a way  that  the  stay  in 
hospital  of  those  having  them  was  comparatively  short  and  among  them  very 
few  suppurating  buboes  developed. 

Cases  of  pyuria,  hematuria,  etc.,  were  carefully  studied  to  locate  the  true 
pathological  condition.  Most  of  these  complications  were  found  to  have 
existed  prior  to  enlistment  and  men  suffering  from  them  were  discharged  on 
surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability.  Those  that  were  contracted  after  entrance 
into  the  service  were  given  appropriate  treatment.  Very  little  operative  work 
was  done.  Many  soldiers  were  observed  with  varicocele.  It  was  borne  in 
mind  that  operative  intervention  in  this  condition  was  often  followed  by 
untoward  results,  and  these  cases  were  given  palliative  treatment,  an  effort 
being  made  whenever  possible  to  have  the  men  affected  assigned  to  a duty 
compatible  with  the  condition  present. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


257 


During  the  spring  of  1918  the  camp  received  a large  number  of  colored 
troops  and  among  them  there  was  a high  rate  of  venereal  disease.  Because 
of  this  condition  a camp  venereal  infirmary  was  established.  The  conditions 
which  these  colored  recruits  presented  were  such  that  they  were  not  fit  for 
military  service,  still  it  was  felt  nothing  special  could  be  gained  by  placing 
them  in  hospital.  A thorough  understanding  between  the  officers  at  the  base 
hospital  and  those  on  duty  at  the  camp  venereal  infirmary  made  it  possible 
for  these  two  units  to  work  hand  in  hand,  and  the  same  policy  Avas  pursued 
relative  to  minimizing  the  number  of  noneffectives  by  sending  only  those  cases 
to  hospital  in  which  there  Avas  a definite  indication  for  hospital  treatment.  No 
soldier  Avas  denied  hospital  treatment  whenever  such  treatment  Avas  necessary. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  OPHTHALAIOLOGY. 

The  work  done  in  the  department  of  ophthalmology  consisted  of  the  folloAA'- 
ing  four  distinct  classes  of  activity:  That  hi  the  out-patient  department,  Avhere 
most  of  the  work  Avas  done;  the  care  of  patients  in  the  eye  ward;  consultations 
in  other  wards  of  the  hospital;  and  the  fitting  and  dispensing  of  eye  glasses. 
The  work  of  the  out-patient  department  consisted  of  the  treatment  of  the  vari- 
ous eye  diseases,  refraction,  numerous  examinations  for  commissions,  pro- 
motions, discharges  on  Surgeon’s  Certificate  of  Disability  and  special  examina- 
tions for  the  air  service.  The  total  number  of  new  cases  treated  in  the  depart- 
ment av as  4, 0S3;  return  patients  6,583.  The  total  number  of  refractions  Avas 
2,529.  Only  serious  cases,  accidents,  etc.,  were  sent  to  the  eye  ward. 

In  a great  many  instances  men  Avere  accepted  for  military  service  Avhen  they 
had  surprisingly  low  vision.  Correction  of  the  error  in  these  cases  was  most  neces- 
sary for  their  usefulness  in  the  Army  and  after  their  return  to  civil  life.  A 
gratuitous  issue  of  glasses  Avas  made  to  these  men.  They  were  inclined  to  take 
tAvo  pairs  of  glasses,  that  furnished  by  the  Army,  and  another,  of  better  appear- 
ance, at  their  oaatl  expense.  When  the  glasses,  gratuitously  issued,  were  sent 
to  the  soldiers  it  was  very  difficult  to  secure  a receipt  for  them,  accordingly,  the 
practice  was  adopted  of  obtaining  their  receipt  at  the  time  the  glasses  were  fitted. 
Many  pairs,  having  been  receipted  for,  were  never  called  for,  and  it  Avas  neces- 
sary to  use  the  frames  and  lenses  for  other  soldiers. 

Among  the  negro  soldiers  there  were  many  absurd  complaints,  but  in  gen- 
eral their  eyes  were  very  good.  Some  cases  of  trachoma  were  seen,  however, 
as  Avell  as  some  cases  of  true  night-blindness. 

The  influenza  epidemic  left  but  one  medical  officer  in  the  eye  department, 
the  tAvo  others  being  called  upon  to  assist  in  the  handling  of  the  epidemic.  A 
great  deal  of  work  Avas  done  in  the  eye  department  during  the  epidemic  period, 
the  influenza  patients  being  affected  usually  Avith  conjunctivitis. 

During  the  period  in  which  overseas  patients  AATere  being  handled  in  large 
numbers  at  this  hospital  there  were  many  cases  of  Avound  of  the  eye  and  brain. 
In  addition,  many  cases  Avere  referred  to  the  department  from  the  demobiliza- 
tion center  of  the  camp  for  examination. 

45269°— 23 17 


258 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


OTOLARYNGOLOGY  SECTION. 

The  arrangement  by  which  the  work  in  the  several  specialties  was  taken 
care  of  in  departments  devoted  to  these  specialties  proved  to  be  one  of  the  great- 
est features  in  the  organization  of  the  base  hospital.  This  provision  made  it 
possible  to  utilize  the  services  of  men  whose  years  of  work  in  each  field  pre- 
pared them  for  this  task. 

The  department  of  otolaryngology  was  an  important  part  of  the  base 
hospital  at  Camp  Grant,  as  has  been  evidenced  by  the  number  of  cases  cared 
for  in  the  department.  The  work  naturally  fell  into  three  divisions:  That  in 
the  otolaryngological  ward;  consultation  on  cases  confined  to  other  wards  in 
the  hospital;  and  the  out-patient  department.  All  the  cases  which  required 
surgical  treatments  were  included  in  the  otolaryngological  ward.  The  cases 
on  which  operations  had  been  done  under  local  anesthesia,  such  as  the  various 
intranasal  operations,  were  placed  in  the  ward  for  at  least  the  first  night,  in 
order  to  guard  against  risk  from  a possible  bleeding.  Consultation  work  on 
patients  in  other  wards  of  the  hospital  included  the  examination  and  treatment 
of  a great  many  patients,  especially  in  the  wards  assigned  to  the  care  of  acute 
infectious  fevers.  These  cases  included,  for  the  most  part,  those  suffering 
from  otitis  media,  acute  tonsillitis,  particularly  where  the  condition  was  compli- 
cated by  peritonsillar  abscess,  of  which  there  were  a great  many,  and  cases  of 
acute  infection  of  the  nasal  accessory  sinuses.  The  work  carried  on  in  the  out- 
patient department  was  especially  important.  As  in  most  out-patient  de- 
partments where  otolaryngology  has  been  represented,  the  number  of  patients 
applying  for  treatment  was  very  great,  the  major  portion  of  them  requiring 
advice  rather  than  special  treatment.  Every  effort  was  made  to  discourage 
unnecessary  revisits  to  this  department.  This  was  done  by  directing  the  pa- 
tient himself  how  to  take  care  of  such  local  treatment  as  could  be  readily  done 
by  the  patient.  Such  cases  were  chiefly  those  who  applied  for  treatment  of 
nose  anil  throat  conditions,  where  surgical  measures  were  not  called  for.  Cases 
suffering  from  chronic  defects  in  hearing  were  carefully  diagnosed;  and  all 
those,  where  local  treatment  could  offer  no  hope  for  improvement,  were  advised 
to  return  for  a course  of  treatments.  This  latter  group  included  cases  of 
otosclerosis,  many  cases  of  chronic  middle  ear  catarrh,  and  those  with  nerve 
defects.  By  this  policy,  not  only  was  unnecessary  congestion  in  the  out- 
patient department  avoided,  but  soldiers  were  not  kept  unnecessarily  from  duty. 

An  important  part  of  the  work  which  fell  to  this  department  was  the  exam- 
ining of  cases  found  to  have  defective  hearing  after  they  had  been  sent  to  Camp 
Grant  for  discharge.  It  was  important  to  differentiate  the  cases  of  deafness 
due  to  shell  concussion  from  those  of  chronic  deafness,  the  result  especially 
of  otosclerosis  or  nerve  deafness.  This  differentiation  required  a careful  analy- 
sis such  as  could  be  carried  out  only  by  making  a functional  examination  of 
the  hearing  with  tuning  forks. 

Due  to  the  large  number  of  cases  treated,  efficiency  in  the  work  of  the  out- 
patient department  was  possible  only  through  the  intelligent  assistance  of  the 
enlisted  personnel,  and  that  obtained  from  the  nursing  department.  Where 
so  many  cases  were  passed  upon,  as  was  found  to  be  necessary  in  this  depart- 
ment each  day,  it  meant  that  much  of  the  work,  particularly  that  dealing  with 
the  administrative  part,  the  selection  and  preparation  of  instruments,  etc., 
had  to  be  entrusted  largely  to  assistants  other  than  medical  officers. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


259 


NEUROPSYCHIATRIC  SECTION. 

The  function  of  the  neuropsychiatric  service  in  the  hospital  was  chiefly  the 
examination  of  recruits  referred  by  the  division  psychiatrist,  during  the  early 
days  of  the  emergency,  and  the  care  of  the  psychoneurotic,  and  of  the  frankly 
psychotic,  soldiers  during  the  entire  period. 

From  the  beginning,  of  course,  it  was  understood  that  all  the  insane  would 
be  discharged  from  the  Army  as  quickly  as  possible.  In  consequence,  the 
psychopathic  ward  was  based  on  retention  rather  than  treatment.  Quite  fre- 
quently, however,  it  was  found  that  patients  had  to  be  retained  in  the  ward 
for  a considerable  length  of  time,  due  to  various  unforseen  circumstances.  The 
construction  of  the  ward  was  found  to  be  quite  adequate  and  well  arranged, 
but  it  hardly  met  the  requirements  for  the  insane,  the  psychoneurotic  and  the 
neurological  cases  and  a guardhouse  for  the  prisoners.  It  was  very  obvious 
that  the  insane,  especially  the  disturbed  type,  should  be  isolated,  preferably  in 
single  rooms  with  windows  well  secured  and  barred.  It  was  rare  that  three  or 
four  patients  of  this  class  were  in  the  ward  at  the  same  time,  when  four  or  five 
single  rooms  constructed  in  this  manner  would  have  been  sufficient. 

The  lack  of  trained  attendants  and  nurses  was  one  of  the  handicaps  in  the 
neuropsychiatric  service.  A large  percentage  of  the  enlisted  personnel  on  duty 
therein  had  little  or  no  training  in  the  care  of  the  insane. 

DENTAL  DEPARTMENT. 

When  the  first  dental  officers  arrived  in  camp,  four  of  them  were  assigned 
to  the  base  hospital.  One  of  these  happened  to  have  with  him  a student  case 
of  dental  instruments  and  a foot  engine.  There  being  at  that  time  no  Govern- 
ment  dental  equipment  in  camp,  these  four  dental  officers  alternated  in  the  use 
of  this  secondary  outfit.  For  a dental  chair  they  used  a plain  wooden  kitchen 
chair  with  an  improvised  headrest  made  of  a piece  of  board,  and  the  cuspidor 
was  a galvanized-iron  bucket.  Wfith  this  equipment  they  took  care  of  such 
emergency  cases  as  presented  themselves. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  portable  dental  outfit,  the  hospital  dental  infirmary 
was  moved  into  the  bacteriological  laboratory.  When  the  hospital  took  over 
its  permanent  building  the  dental  infirmary  was  temporarily  established  in  two 
rooms  of  the  administrative  building.  One  of  these  two  rooms  was  used  as  the 
office  of  the  camp  dental  surgeon,  the  other  was  used  as  a dental  operating 
room.  The  personnel  consisted  of  four  dental  officers  and  one  assistant. 

The  arrival  of  the  base  hospital  dental  equipment  marked  the  next  and 
final  move  of  the  dental  infirmary.  This  was  on  December  29,  1917.  The 
equipment,  which  consisted  of  three  complete  base  outfits,  each  of  which 
contained  a Columbia  dental  chair,  Ritter  wall  bracket,  electric  all-cord  engine, 
and  pressed  steel  aseptic  dental  cabinets,  was  finished  in  white  enamel.  Other 
articles  of  equipment,  such  as  bedside  tables,  electric  grills  for  the  sterilization 
of  small  instruments,  and  electric  fans,  were  issued  from  the  supply  room  of  the 
base  hospital,  by  direction  of  the  commanding  officer.  These  three  base 
equipments  were  installed  in  offices  especially  planned  as  to  wiring,  plumbing, 
and  lighting;  and  gave  the  hospital  a three-chair  dental  office,  comparable  to 


260 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  better-equipped  offices  found  in  civil  life.  In  addition,  and  in  connection 
with  these  offices,  there  was  a well-equipped  dental  laboratory  with  electric  air 
compressors,  electric  lathes,  vulcanizers,  etc.  Later  there  was  added  an  X-ray 
equipment  in  a separate  room,  with  an  adjoining  dark  room.  This  was  found 
to  he  necessary  because  the  main  X-ray  laboratory  was  so  busy  as  to  make  it 
impracticable  to  do  the  necessary  dental  work. 

The  surgical  work  included  corrections  of  jaw  fractures,  partial  jaw  resec- 
tions, draining  of  antra,  removal  of  oral  growths  of  various  kinds,  apiectomies, 
and  extractions.  This  work  was  done  under  conduction  anesthesia,  except 
in  rare  instances  where  a general  anesthetic  was  indicated,  when  either  nitrous 
oxide  and  oxygen,  or  ether  was  used.  This  particular  branch  of  the  dental 
service  of  the  hospital  handled  also  between  400  and  500  cases  of  so-called 
trench  mouth,  or  Vincent’s  angina  (oral). 

PHYSICAL  RECONSTRUCTION. 

Prior  to  January  1,  1919,  there  was  no  need  of  physical  reconstruction  at 
this  hospital  because  the  class  of  patients  treated  was  principally  of  an  acute 
type.  Patients  requiring  prolonged  convalescence  were  transferred  to  general 
hospitals.  With  the  arrival  of  large  numbers  of  overseas  patients,  however, 
it  became  essential  to  revise  some  of  the  policies  of  the  hospital.  Among 
the  more  important  changes  were  those  permitting  patients  more  liberties,  and 
the  institution  of  means  of  procuring  contentment,  largely  of  a recreational 
nature. 

The  first  1,000  overseas  patients  admitted  to  this  hospital  proved  to  be 
extremely  difficult  to  handle.  They  were  disorderly,  undisciplined,  defiant, 
and  were  not  willing  to  abide  by  military  law  as  had  been  the  case  with  other 
patients.  Many  of  them  had  not  been  paid  for  months.  They  were  improperly 
uniformed  and  were  self-ornamented  by  many  types  of  improvised  so-called 
war  insignia.  They  had  a very  exalted  opinion  of  themselves  and  openly 
stated  that  persons  who  had  not  gone  overseas  were  not  in  their  class.  From  a 
professional  standpoint  the  overseas  patients  varied  a great  deal  in  grades  of 
physical  condition,  representing  those  cured  and  ready  for  immediate  discharge, 
and  all  grades  up  to  and  including  bed-ridden  patients  of  months’  duration. 
Among  them  were  all  classes  of  general  medical  and  general  surgical  cases. 

It  was  obviously  necessary  to  use  military  discipline  cautiously.  It  was 
also  necessary  to  expand  the  hospital  and  its  facilities  to  care  for  the  entirely  new 
type  of  patients.  This  expansion  was  provided  along  two  general  lines:  First, 
to  care  for  the  professional  needs  of  the  patient;  and  second,  to  provide  for  his 
contentment  in  so  far  as  that  was  practicable.  It  was  to  meet  this  latter  re- 
quirement that  physical  reconstruction  was  destined  to  exercise  its  most  im- 
portant function,  and  it  was  about  January  1,  1919,  that  instructions  were 
received  to  organize  this  new  service. 

There  were  no  persons  at  Camp  Grant  in  the  possession  of  any  experience 
in  physical  reconstruction.  There  were  no  funds  available  nor  was  there  ex- 
istent space.  Every  effort  ivas  made  to  obtain  officers  and  enlisted  men  at 
Camp  Grant,  but  this  was  exceedingly  difficult  since  nearly  all  pei-sons  then  in 
the  service  were  highly  interested  in  being  discharged  therefrom.  However, 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


261 


personnel  was  secured  wherever  possible,  and  officers  and  reconstruction  aides 
were  subsequently  assigned  by  the  War  Department.  Funds  were  allotted  the 
latter  part  of  January,  1919,  but  it  was  found  difficult  to  utilize  these  funds 
because  of  either  the  complicated  procedure  in  obtaining  them,  or  misunder- 
standing on  the  part  of  local  authorities.  The  entire  hospital  being  occupied 
for  purposes  other  than  physical  reconstruction,  it  was  difficult  to  secure  ade- 
quate space  for  this  activity.  This  was  overcome,  however,  by  assigning  one 
of  the  two-story  ward  barracks  and  securing  the  entire  sanitary  train  area 
(which  was  adjacent  to  the  base  hospital)  as  a part  of  the  hospital.  It  was  not 
until  the  latter  part  of  February  that  it  was  found  possible  to  organize  the  re- 
construction department,  but  thereafter  its  growth  was  reasonably  rapid.  The 
occupational  and  educational  work  was  originally  outlined  in  two  sections: 
The  academic  and  the  manual  training;  and  ward  work.  The  first  or  academic 
and  manual  training  work  was  prescribed  for  those  patients  who  were  con- 
valescent and  who  wore  their  uniforms.  This  was  necessary  because  the  build- 
ings used  for  this  purpose  were  outside  the  base  hospital  area,  necessitating 
patients  going  a considerable  distance  in  order  to  reach  them.  The  ward  work 
was  carried  on  exclusively  in  the  wards  among  those  confined  either  to  bed  or 
to  ward  clothing.  There  was  little  difficulty  in  organizing  the  academic  and 
manual  training  department  excepting  the  procurement  of  supplies.  Consider- 
able difficulty  arose,  however,  following  the  development  of  ward  reconstruction 
activities  in  the  same  place  and  at  the  same  time  that  a great  deal  of  surgery 
was  being  accomplished.  The  wards  were  filled  with  surgical  patients,  many 
of  whom  were  more  or  less  seriously  ill.  The  confusion,  necessary  noise,  and 
dirt  incident  to  carrying  on  this  work  interfered  with  the  care  of  the  patients. 
Ward  surgeons  became  apprehensive  over  infections,  and  the  worry  on  the  part 
of  some  of  the  patients.  The  nurses  and  ward  men  complained  bitterly  of  the 
dirt  and  their  inability  to  keep  their  wards  in  a presentable  condition.  Con- 
sequently, it  became  necessary  to  make  a change  as  follows:  The  two-story  ward 
barracks,  nearest  to  the  surgical  ward,  was  set  aside  for  electrotherapy  and 
massage  on  its  first  floor.  One  half  of  the  second  floor  was  converted  into  a 
collective  gymnasium,  the  other  half  being  equipped  for  making  such  articles  as 
basketry,  bead  work,  and  rugs,  which  hitherto  had  been  carried  on  in  the  wards. 
This  plan  became  so  popular  as  to  necessitate  having  more  space,  and  in  con- 
sequence one  veranda  was  closed  in,  where  clay  modeling,  poster  painting, 
and  other  activities  were  carried  on.  This  building  was  used  principally  by 
ambulatory  ward  patients  of  the  bath-robe  type,  every  effort  being  made  to 
make  their  ward  attractive.  The  patient  was  taken  out  of  the  hospital  en- 
vironment in  going  to  this  ward  and  was  given  every  opportunity  for  work  and 
amusement  at  one  and  the  same  time.  Smoking  materials  were  furnished  by 
the  hospital  exchange  and  welfare  organizations,  a victrola  and  piano  player 
were  provided,  and  the  recreational  committee  furnished  refreshments  and 
entertainment  from  time  to  time.  The  corridor  leading  to  this  building  was 
inclosed  to  protect  the  patients  from  undue  exposure.  The  use  of  this  two- 
story  ward  for  reconstruction  work  for  ambulatory  patients  eliminated  a great 
deal  of  confusion  and  many  objectionable  features  from  the  sick  wards.  How- 
ever, it  was  necessary  to  carry  on  some  ward  work  for  those  patients  who  were 
not  able  to  walk  or  propel  themselves  in  invalid  chairs.  This  necessitated  con- 


262 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tinning  reconstruction  work  among  the  bed  patients,  hut  on  a much  smaller 
scale,  and  included  not  only  those  in  general  wards  but  in  the  psychopathic 
and  tuberculosis  wards  as  well. 

The  occupational  therapy  for  patients  who  were  permitted  to  leave  their 
wards  consisted  of  the  following  activities:  Woodworking,  toy  making,  basketry, 
metal  working,  block  printing,  sketching,  poster  making,  bookbinding,  leather 
work,  weaving,  and  plastic  art.  The  work  was  continuous  and  the  teaching 
staff  comprised  a group  of  efficient  instructors  in  the  arts  mentioned. 

Occupational  therapy  for  patients  in  the  wards  consisted  of  the  following 
activities:  Bead  work,  weaving,  leather  work,  and  macrame. 

The  educational  work  was  instituted  to  provide  every  possible  course  for 
which  there  was  a need.  Several  members  of  the  teaching  staff  gave  their 


Pig.  84. — Ward  class  in  physical  reconstruction,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant. 


entire  time  to  helping  the  men  to  decide  correctly  as  to  what  work  was  most 
worth  while  for  them  after  reentering  civil  life.  The  classes  met  at  8.30.  9.30. 
10.30  a.m.,  1,  2,  and  3 p.  m.,  each  day  except  Sunday.  The  usual  period  was 
40  minutes  with  15  minutes  at  the  end  for  individual  help.  Some  of  the  shop 
and  study  classes  extended  over  a longer  time.  Ward  classes  were  independ- 
ent of  the  general  schedule.  The  course  given  covered  commercial  art, 
academic  subjects,  shop  work  (including  electricity,  elementary  electrical 
engineering,  automotive  features,  farm  machinery),  commercial  subjects  (in- 
cluding bookkeeping,  accounting,  auditing,  commercial  geography,  shorthand, 
and  typewriting),  and  agriculture. 

No  man  was  retained  for  courses  after  he  had  become  physically  ready  for 
discharge  from  the  hospital,  except  after  arrangements  had  been  made  on  his 
own  request.  On  discharge  each  student  was  given  a certificate  stating  the 
number  and  kinds  of  credits  that  he  had  earned.  A credit  represented  two 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


263 


weeks  of  satisfactory  work  in  a course,  and  was  of  value  in  planning  further 
educational  work  under  the  Federal  Vocational  Guidance  Board. 

RECREATION. 

The  policy  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  was  to  further  prop- 
erly conducted  recreation  in  moderation.  With  this  in  view,  practically  every 
entertainment  was  outlined  and  approved  by  him  before  any  steps  were  taken 
to  put  it  into  effect,  and  practically  every  entertainment  was  attended  by  him 
with  a view  to  studying  it  for  future  use  and  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  that  all 
persons  conducted  themselves  with  decorum. 

From  the  very  beginning  no  social  relationship  was  permitted  between 
the  nurses  and  enlisted  men,  and  entertainments  were  given  for  officers  and 
nurses,  the  enlisted  men  and  patients.  The  entertainments  for  ambulatory 
patients  were  of  two  kinds — those  for  patients  able  to  dance;  and  those, 
including  such  games  as  cards  and  checkers,  for  patients  with  injured  legs. 
Ward  entertainments,  such  as  victrola  concerts,  moving  pictures,  singing, 
musicales,  and  games,  were  given,  but  victrolas  were  not  kept  constantly  in 
wards  because  of  the  noise  and  disturbance  that  continuous  playing  would 
create.  The  duration  and  type  of  ward  entertainments  were  made  to  conform 
with  the  sickest  patients  in  the  ward.  Dancing  was  the  favorite  form  of  enter- 
tainment for  the  nurses,  and  the  first  and  third  Tuesday  evenings  were  set 
aside  for  graduate  nurses,  the  second  and  fourth  Friday  evenings  for  student 
nurses.  The  first  and  third  Thursday  evenings  were  for  the  detachment, 
Medical  Department,  while  on  every  Monday  evening  parties  were  given  for 
convalescent  patients.  These  entertainments  were  held  in  the  Red  Cross 
Convalescent  House;  the  hospital  band  furnished  the  music:  and  the  refresh- 
ments were  provided  from  the  general  mess.  The  nurses  were  permitted  to 
invite  officers  from  the  entire  camp  personnel.  Young  lady  guests  to  the 
entertainments  for  the  Medical  Department  detachment  were  obtained 
through  the  Patriotic  League  of  Rockford  or  through  the  Young  Women’s 
Christian  Association. 

Besides  the  regular  entertainments,  special  entertainments  were  given  on 
all  appropriate  occasions  such  as  Halloween,  Thanksgiving,  Christmas,  and  New 
Year’s  Day. 

The  entertainments  for  the  Medical  Department  detachment  were  alter- 
nately dances  and  smokers.  It  was  found  that  about  one-third  of  the  enlisted 
men  attended  the  dances  and  practically  all  of  them  the  smokers.  The 
smokers  were  divided  into  two  parts.  The  first  part  was  a vaudeville  perform- 
ance in  the  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House;  the  second  part  was  a supper, 
with  music  and  monologues,  in  the  general  mess.  It  was  noted  that,  though 
many  arrangements  were  made  and  a certain  amount  of  money  expended, 
unless  there  was  some  person  who  was  especially  trained  to  conduct  the  parties 
they  were  frequently  unsuccessful. 

In  the  spring  of  1919,  a country  cottage  was  secured  at  the  junction  ot 
Rock  and  Kishwaukee  Rivers,  about  three  and  one-half  miles  from  the  hospital, 
in  a grove  on  a bluff  overlooking  the  river.  It  was  electric  lighted  and  had  a 
capacity  of  about  15  people.  This  capacity  was  augmented  by  means  of  tents, 


264 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


which  were  floored  and  electric  lighted,  to  accommodate  50  people.  The 
cottage  was  used  alternately  by  the  officers  and  their  families,  the  nurses,  or 
by  the  enlisted  men,  one  week  being  given  to  each.  Large  tables  were  built 
outdoors  and  a detail  of  enlisted  men  was  assigned  to  do  the  major  portion  of 
the  work.  All  persons,  however,  were  required  to  assist  in  keeping  the  grounds 
clean  and  taking  care  of  the  quarters  and  tables.  During  the  week  one  or 
more  special  entertainments  were  given  and  the  entire  personnel,  or  officers, 
nurses,  or  enlisted  men,  were  invited  to  spend  the  evening.  Such  enter- 
tainments as  corn  roasts,  barbecues,  and  cotillions  were  given.  Ham- 
mocks, swings,  boats,  bathing  suits,  fishing  apparatus,  and  many  forms  of 
games  were  provided  for  the  amusement  of  the  cottage  occupants.  Each 
nurse  was  given  three  days  off  duty,  and  each  enlisted  man  was  given  24  hours 


Fig.  85. — Cottage  used  by  the  hospital  personnel  for  outing,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant. 


off  duty,  to  spend  at  the  cottage.  An  officer  was  kept  at  the  cottage  at  all 
times  and  when  there  were  ladies  present  a chaperon  was  provided. 

THE  HOSPITAL  BAND. 

Although  there  were  several  military  bands  in  the  camp,  it  was  difficult  to 
obtain  them  for  use  at  the  hospital,  and  it  was  thought  advisable  to  drill  and 
train  a band  solely  for  the  hospital.  Authorization  was  requested  to  organize  a 
2S-pieee  band  on  the  basis  of  bands  of  this  size  for  Infantry  regiments.  This 
was  approved,  and  in  the  spring  of  191S  all  the  enlisted  men  who  possessed  any 
knowledge  of  music  were  requested  to  meet  at  the  chapel  with  a view  to  organ- 
izing a military  band.  A complete  set  of  instruments  was  purchased  and  the 
band  leader  of  one  of  the  Infantry  regiments  offered  his  services  in  training  the 
new  band.  Daily  rehearsals  were  held;  and  with  the  acquisition  of  several 
experienced  musicians  a creditable  band  was  soon  obtained,  so  that  in  about 


TYPES  OP  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL. 


265 


three  weeks  after  its  organization  it  was  playing  at  retreat  and  in  six  weeks 
accompanied  the  hospital  nurses  to  Chicago  and  paraded  them  in  a large  Red 
Cross  drive.  The  organization  rapidly  improved  in  efficiency  and  was  fre- 
quently called  upon  to  furnish  music  in  the  surrounding  towns.  An  orchestra 
was  organized  from  the  band  and  furnished  music  for  practically  all  of  the 
entertainments  given  for  the  personnel  and  patients  of  the  hospital.  The 
band  participated  in  every  Liberty  Loan  drive  and  all  other  large  patriotic 
drives  that  were  made  by  the  hospital  organization. 

During  the  summer  of  1918,  chill  of  the  personnel  was  held  daily,  the  music 
for  which  was  furnished  by  the  hospital  band.  It  proved  a great  stimulus  to 
enthusiasm  and  made  it  possible  to  cor.duct  drills  daily  without  apparent  fatigue 
to  the  enlisted  men. 

Improvement  in  efficiency  was  continuous  until  the  band  came  to  be 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  best  at  Camp  Grant.  It  was  not  possible  to  have  a 
commissioned  officer  as  director,  but  the  leader  was  promoted  through  con- 
secutive grades  until  he  reached  that  of  hospital  sergeant.  Noncommissioned 
officers  were  appointed  in  the  band  in  conformity,  as  nearly  as  practicable, with 
Infantry  organizations.  This  was  necessary  to  hold  the  musicians,  as  the 
various  musical  organizations  of  the  camp  were  continually  trying  to  get  the 
better  musicians  transferred  away  from  the  hospital  band.  The  organization 
remained  intact  until  the  7th  of  July,  1919,  when  it  was  discharged  as  a group. 

WELFARE  ORGANIZATIONS. 

During  the  early  period  of  the  hospital’s  existence  everyone  was  too  busy 
to  give  thought  to  any  form  of  recreation,  and  it  was  not  until  about  the  time 
of  the  signing  of  the  armistice  that  recreational  problems  could  be  considered. 
The  welfare  organizations,  namely,  the  Red  Cross,  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association,  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  were  repre- 
sented at  this  hospital  from  about  the  beginning.  The  War  Camp  Community 
Service  entered  into  the  activities  during  the  fall  of  1918,  and  the  Salvation 
Army  frequently  offered  its  services,  but  there  was  no  place  that  this  organiza- 
tion could  take  without  overlapping  the  activities  of  some  other  organization. 

In  so  far  as  the  hospital  was  concerned,  the  Red  Cross  was  by  far  the  most 
active.  They  had  no  representative  at  the  hospital  until  about  February,  1918, 
but  the  field  secretaries  frequently  visited  the  hospital  and  distributed  such 
articles  as  sweaters,  caps,  chest  protectors,  and  socks.  They  offered  to  do  any- 
thing that  the  commanding  officer  would  suggest  for  the  improvement  of  the 
hospital,  within  their  limitations.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 
confined  its  activities  during  the  years  of  1917  and  1918,  almost  exclusively  to 
visiting  the  wards  and  distributing  stamps  and  stationery,  while  the  Knights  of 
Columbus  activities  were  restricted  to  religious  lines. 

About  February,  1918,  the  Red  Cross  placed  a representative  at  the  hos- 
pital to  work  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  commanding  officer,  to  provide  means 
of  writing  letters  for  patients  who  were  too  sick  or  whose  disabilities  were 
such  as  to  prevent  writing.  The  hospital  furnished  this  home  service  section  of 
the  Red  Cross  with  a daily  list  of  seriously  sick  patients  in  the  hospital. 
A Red  Cross  representative  visited  each  ward  and  wrote  any  letters  that 
the  patients  desired  to  have  written  for  them.  These  letters  were  all  stamped 
with  the  Red  Cross  and  censored  by  one  of  the  officers  of  the  hospital  personnel. 


266 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


After  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  and  after  the  arrival  of  overseas  patients 
in  December,  1918,  there  was  a real  need  for  recreational  work.  The  personnel 
became  restless  with  the  desire  to  return  to  their  homes,  and  the  patients  from 
overseas  were  disorderly,  undisciplined,  and  frequently  defiant  of  military  law. 
It  was  quite  evident  that  a crisis  was  at  hand  unless  the  root  of  the  evil  could  be 
detected  and  corrected. 

Under  date  of  December  6,  1918,  the  Surgeon  General  promulgated  a 
bulletin  outlining  the  various  recreational  activities  for  hospitals.  In  this 
bulletin  there  was  a statement  to  the  effect  that  the  Red  Cross  would  furnish 
a recreational  officer  to  take  charge  of  its  activities;  that  the  recreational  officer 
would  work  under  the  chief  educational  officer;  and  all  welfare  organizations 
would  work  under  the  Red  Cross  recreational  officer.  Because  of  the  increase 
in  the  size  of  the  Red  Cross  organization  at  this  hospital  it  was  necessary  to 
move  their  office  from  the  administration  building  to  the  Red  Cross  Convalescent 
House.  This  was  done  at  the  time  the  first  recreational  officer  reported  for  dut v. 
Instead  of  placing  this  Red  Cross  recreational  officer  in  entire  control,  a recrea- 
tional committee  was  organized  with  the  chaplain  as  chairman,  the  Red  Cross 
representative  as  first  assistant  , and  the  social  director  for  nurses  and  the  band 
director  as  other  assistants.  This  committee  was  given  a tentative  outline  to 
follow.  The  committee  did  not  work  harmoniously,  as  the  conduct  of  the  chap- 
lain in  general  was  such  that  it  was  necessary  to  recommend  his  discharge  from 
the  Army.  The  Red  Cross  recreational  officer  was  then  placed  in  charge. 
Entertainments  were  given  for  the  patients,  officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  men, 
but  the  hospital  bore  the  expenses  and  planned  practically  all  the  details. 

The  number  of  patients  and  personnel  had  considerably  increased  and  the 
problem  of  their  entertainment  was  growing  more  extensive  and  complex. 
The  various  welfare  organizations  were  working  in  the  hospital  without  very 
definite  outline  and  their  work  was  constantly  overlapping.  As  it  was  obvious 
that  a civilian  could  not  carry  on  the  recreational  activities  harmoniously  with 
the  requirements  of  the  commanding  officer  and  in  such  a way  as  not  to  interfere 
with  the  running  of  the  hospital,  the  entire  recreational  activities  were  reor- 
ganized, an  officer  of  the  hospital  was  placed  in  charge,  and  each  welfare  organi- 
zation supplied  a member  to  represent  it  on  the  recreational  committee.  Meet- 
ings were  held  once  a week  at  which  various  recreational  problems  were  dis- 
cussed. Certain  phases  of  the  work  were  assigned  to  definite  organizations 
upon  their  approval,  each  organization  being  required  to  make  a written  weekly 
report  covering  its  activities.  These  reports  were  consolidated  and  sent  to  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  for  his  approval.  Any  new  line  of  work 
required  the  commanding  officer’s  approval  before  it  was  placed  in  effect. 

It  was  never  possible  to  make  the  welfare  organizations  correctly  visualize 
the  military  view  of  recreational  work.  They  assumed  that  the  larger  the  num- 
ber of  post  cards,  sheets  of  paper,  and  other  supplies  they  gave  away,  the  more 
important  their  work.  They  took  the  view  that  every  man  should  have  exactly 
what  he  wanted  whenever  he  wanted  it ; that  a visitor  should  be  allowed  in  wards 
at  all  times;  that  all  military  discipline  was  wrong  if  it  interfered  with  the 
patients’ wishes;  and  that  the  treatment  of  patients  should  be  secondary  to  the 
recreational  work.  They  wished  to  place  talking  machines  and  other  musical 
instruments  in  all  wards  of  the  hospital,  and  it  Avas  difficult  to  make  them  under- 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


267 


stand  that  the  conduct  of  the  wards  must  necessarily  be  based  upon  the  sickest 
patients  therein.  To  meet  the  needs  of  the  patients,  victrolas  were  obtained 
on  movable  stands  and  a victrola  concert  was  given  every  evening  for  about  20 
minutes,  under  the  supervision  of  the  head  nurse  of  the  ward.  These  concerts 
were  especially  planned  and  the  victrolas  were  removed  if  any  patient  showed 
signs  of  being  disturbed  by  the  noise.  Moving  pictures  were  given  in  the  ward 
in  a similar  way.  The  welfare  organizations  conducted  the  concerts  and  moving 
pictures. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  had  two  secretaries  on  duty  at  the 
hospital  for  practically  the  whole  of  its  existence.  These  men  caused  no  trouble 
whatever  in  the  hospital  and  their  efforts  seemed  to  be  directed  largely  to  dis- 
tributing stationery  and  selling  stamps.  Although  they  assumed  certain 
obligations  on  athletics  for  the  detachment,  little  or  nothing  was  ever  accom- 
plished by  them  and  practically  all  athletic  work  was  carried  on  at  the  expense 
of  the  hospital  exchange  and  under  the  supervision  of  the  hospital  athletic 
officer.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  representatives  were  always 
willing,  but  seemed  to  be  greatly  handicapped  by  the  need  of  funds.  The 
association  had  a hut  located  near  the  hospital  but  it  was  not  made  use  of  by 
the  hospital  personnel  to  any  extent. 

The  Knights  of  Columbus  had  a hut  adjacent  to  the  hospital,  and  its 
local  organization  accomplished  much  in  the  provision  of  entertainments  for 
the  patients  during  the  year  of  1919.  Regularly  they  had  moving  pictures  and 
parties,  and  their  building  was  maintained  as  the  soldiers’  club  room. 

The  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House  was  at  all  times  under  the  immediate 
jurisdiction  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital.  A noncommissioned 
officer  was  detailed  in  charge  of  it  and  the  policing  of  it  was  done  by  the  members 
of  the  hospital  detachment.  An  information  bureau  was  located  within  it  and 
rooms  were  maintained  for  relatives  of  seriously  sick,  summoned  by  telegram  or 
letter.  A matron  was  maintained  and  within  the  building  the  Red  Cross 
associate  field  director  had  his  office.  It  was  constantly  required  that  this  Red 
Cross  building  be  kept  clean  and  orderly  and  its  conduct  such  that  ladies  could 
enter  at  all  times.  It  was  open  to  patients  from  11a.  m.  to  9 p.  m.  (for  bath- 
robe patients)  and  to  10.30  p.  m.  for  convalescent  patients.  All  patients  were 
required  to  remove  their  hats  on  entering  the  building  and  to  refrain  from 
smoking  in  its  main  room,  a smoking  room  being  provided  in  one  of  the  wings. 
This  Red  Cross  building  was  the  only  building  that  was  maintained  for  visitors, 
and  it  was  felt  perfectly  safe  at  all  times  to  send  ladies  to  it. 

The  American  Library  Association  opened  a library  at  the  hospital  in 
February,  1919.  Subsequent  to  the  arrival  of  the  large  number  of  overseas 
patients,  their  library  was  an  attractive  reading  room  and  their  representative 
visited  the  wards,  furnishing  books  and  other  reading  material  to  all  persons 
desiring  them.  This  association  also  assisted  in  the  nurses’  training  school  and 
in  the  reconstruction  work. 

THE  HOSPITAL  NEWSPAPER. 

Under  special  authority  granted  by  the  Surgeon  General  in  1918,  a semi- 
monthly newspaper  was  started  at  this  hospital,  the  first  issue  appearing  April 
1,  1919.  The  issues  that  were  published  from  time  to  time  were  as  follows: 


268 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


April  1,  1919  (introductory  number);  April  15,  1919;  May  1,  1919  (athletic 
number);  May  15,  1919  (reconstruction  number) ; June  1,  1919;  June  15,  1919 
(pictorial  number);  July  5,  1919  (band  number);  July  20,  1919;  and  August  1, 
1919  (combined  number — roster  of  personnel). 

The  publication  was  christened  The  Silver  Chev’ , this  title  being  selected 
from  a number  of  suggestions  as  being  most  typical  of  this  hospital  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  at  the  time  publication  was  begun  there  were  no  persons  on  duty 
at  the  hospital  who  had  actually  seen  service  overseas.  At  the  time  of  the  first 
appearance  of  the  publication,  overseas  patients  were  beginning  to  arrive  in 
large  numbers  and  demobilization  was  constantly  progressing.  Due  to  these 
circumstances  the  most  able  enlisted  men  were  fully  employed  on  other  duties 
and  it  was  difficult  to  secure  personnel  to  bring  out  the  paper.  This  difficulty 
was  accentuated  by  the  fact  that  enlisted  men  anxious  to  be  discharged  feared 
that  assignment  to  the  paper  would  delay  their  discharge.  Nevertheless,  there 
was  a creditable,  progressive  improvement  in  the  hospital  paper. 

A degree  of  difficulty  was  experienced  locally  in  securing  adequate  attention 
to  the  acutal  printing  of  the  publication,  and  it  was  necessary  to  go  to  Chicago 
or  Milwaukee  to  secure  satisfactory  service  at  reasonable  cost.  A firm  in 
Milwaukee  was  ultimately  secured  to  publish  the  paper  and  from  then  on  no 
difficulty  was  experienced. 

Late  in  March,  when  plans  for  the  publication  were  being  formulated, 
certain  of  the  enlisted  men  instituted  an  advertising  campaign  in  Rockford, 
111.,  with  very  gratifying  results.  Advertising  matter  was  secured  to  the  amount 
of  approximately  $300  per  calendar  month  (for  two  issues),  the  advertising  to 
continue  during  the  contemplated  existence  of  the  paper,  six  months  from 
April  1,  1919.  This  figure,  with  the  sale  of  the  paper  at  10  cents  per  copy  to 
the  members  of  the  personnel  of  the  hospital  and  to  the  patients,  as  well  as  to 
subscribers  in  Rockford,  constituted  a profit-paying  income.  In  securing  the 
advertising  matter,  however,  an  error  was  committed  on  the  part  of  the  enlisted 
force  assigned  to  that  work,  in  unwittingly  making  the  statement  that  the 
probable  circulation  of  The  Silver  Chev’  would  be  4,000  per  issue.  Furthermore, 
the  advertising  was  obtained  through  verbal  contract  only.  Alien,  therefore, 
it  became  evident  to  the  advertisers  that  the  circulation  was  approximately 
1,000  instead  of  the  estimated  4,000,  and  that,  owing  to  demobilization  and  the 
constantly  decreasing  number  of  patients,  this  circulation  would  decrease  still 
further,  it  became  impossible  to  retain  the  advertisers  and  some  of  the  contracts 
were  repudiated  by  the  merchants  who  made  the  statement  that  they  author- 
ized the  appearance  of  their  advertisements  for  but  one  month. 

Publication  of  the  hospital  paper  was  discontinued  with  a double  number, 
representing  the  issues  of  July  20  and  August  5,  1919,  there  being  at  that  time 
a deficit  of  approximately  $350. 

The  Silver  Chev ’ never  emerged  from  the  experimental  stage,  but  during 
its  brief  existence  it  was  of  distinct  value  to  the  personnel.  Its  financial  failure, 
attributable  to  demobilization  and  lack  of  adequate  supervision  in  its  earlier 
stages,  was  more  than  offset  by  its  influence  in  enhancing  the  morale  of  the 
hospital  during  that  critical  period  when  every  organization  in  the  camp, 
except  the  base  hospital,  was  deriving  all  the  benefits  of  demobilization. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — BASE  HOSPITAL. 


269 


Fig.  80. — Cover  design  for  one  of  the  issues  of  The  Silver  Chev’,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111. 


270 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


The  Wounded  Man  Speaks 


I left  an  ear  in  a dug-out, 

When  a shell  hit  made  us  dance. 

And  at  Belleau  Wood  where  the  mixing  was 
good 

I gave  up  a mitt  for  France. 


I ll  step  off  a ship  at  Hoboken 
And  I'll  say:  “Well,  here  I be. 

Straight  from  Belleau  Wood,  and  its  under- 
stood 

That  nobody  grieves  for  me/’ 


I lay  on  a cot  a-smoking 

And  thought  I was  getting  well. 

But  the  moon  was  blight  on  the  bomb  plane's 
sight 

And  the  Gothas  gave  us  hell. 


And  no  pussy  footing  sissy 
Shall  grab  at  my  one  good  hand. 

And  make  me  feel  drunk  with  the  good  old 
bunk. 

Just  to  make  hlmselt  sound  grand. 


They  certainly  spoiled  my  beauty. 

And  my  leg  is  a twisted  curve; 

They  busted  me  up  like  a mangled  pup. 
But— THEY  DID  NOT  BUST  MY  NERVE! 


For  I’m  damned  if  I’ll  be  a hero. 

And  I ain't  a helpless  slob. 

After  what  I’ve  stood,  what  is  left  is  good. 
And  all  I want  is — A JOB. 


PATIENTS 


The  next  issue  of  the  “ Chev* 99  will  be  devoted  entirely  to  news  and  live  stuff 
about  PATIENTS.  Get  into  the  game  and  help  us  make  it  go. 


Now  that  the  Easter  season  has  passed 
and  the  trees  and  flowers  are  busy  pushing 
forth  their  leaves  and  buds  to  the  call  of 
Mother  Nature’s  demand  to  bring  happiness 
to  mankind;  let  us  stop  and  ask  ourselves — 
“What  am  I doing  to  make  this  world  a bet- 
ter place  to  live  in,  what  part  am  I play- 
ing in  the  great  game  of  RECONSTRUC- 
TION WORK  at  our  Hospital,  for  those 
who  have  suffered  for  humanity.  Just  how 
much  interest  am  I taking,  and  is  it  gen- 
uine and  earnest,  or  merely  passive?” 


Someone  has  said  that  true  happiness  is 
found  only  in  making  others  happy.  Try 
this  yourself  and  prove  that  this  is  true,  see 
whether  you  can  make  the  other  fellow 
smile,  with  a cheery  salutation  as  you  pass 
by  his  bedside,  or  see  him  hobble  by  on 
crutches.  If  you  feel  blue  and  discouraged 
and  old  man  “Gloom”  is  hanging  around 
pretty  steadily, — look  above  you.  and  it’s 
a safe  bet  you'll  find  some  one  much  worse 
off  than  yourself,  and  if  you  are  sincere 
with  yourself,  you  can  discount  about 


(Continued  on  page  19.) 

Fig.  87. — Specimen  page  of  The  Silver  Chev 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS BASE  HOSPITAL, 


271 


Statistical  data.  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  III.,  from  September, 

1917,  to  July,  1919,  inclusive.11 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted 
for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
Number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to 
duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for 
disability. 

Deserted. 

1 Discharged,  ex- 
| pirationofterm. 

Transferred  to 
insane  asylums. 

Transferred  to 
| other  hospitals. 

1 Otherwise  dis- 
posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Other- 

wise. 

Hospital. 

| Quarters. 

Hospital. 

I Quarters. 

1917. 

9 

38 

165 

0 

912 

Ill 

2 

8 

3 

88 

1, 332 

88 

32 

515 

337 

4 

41 

1 

252 

252 

33 

582 

867 

536 

3 

19 

1 

9 

299 

9, 393 

299 

64 

801 

7 

1,171 

617 

3 

66 

28 

457 

11,503 

1918. 

457 

113 

1,414 

15 

1,999 

732 

11 

73 

46 

300 

837 

21,046 

837 

91 

l'  045 

7 

1,980 

733 

16 

54 

118 

170 

889 

21, 626 

689 

68 

1,023 

5 

1, 785 

1,063 

12 

12 

47 

595 

21,816 

595 

87 

1,286 

1, 973 

1,096 

24 

16 

802 

21 ; 135 

802 

1 079 

4 

1,930 

1,305 

17 

40 

23 

4 

541 

22,  474 

541 

21 

'908 

2 

1,472 

895 

27 

19 

3 

523 

14,  852 

523 

33 

1,312 

1 

1,  869 

1,270 

6 

25 

1 

12 

9 

546 

17,  538 

546 

41 

1, 083 

3 

l'  673 

1, 139 

11 

37 

2 

10 

9 

472 

16',  079 

472 

344 

7 

6,'  602 

2,845 

43 

30 

10 

4 

3,670 

32, 352 

3, 670 

226 

3'  868 

10 

7,  774 

5,239 

1,024 

13 

18 

8 

1,472 

65,  012 

1,472 

66 

'902 

3 

2,  443 

1,635 

24 

23 

1 

'760 

30;  480 

'760 

68 

2, 141 

10 

2,979 

1, 888 

28 

9 

15 

1,032 

23, 257 

1919. 

1,032 

84 

2,522 

3, 643 

2,443 

18 

6 

20 

1,141 

32, 698 

1, 141 

87 

2,044 

4 

3,  276 

1,895 

14 

18 

47 

1, 2S7 

34;  397 

1 ' 287 

105 

1,'  808 

9 

3,209 

1,990 

9 

8 

141 

39 

1,022 

33, 789 

l'  022 

7? 

1,  686 

2 

2,  788 

1,897 

7 

14 

81 

29 

760 

'760 

46 

1,695 

13 

2,514 

1,706 

4 

54 

33 

32 

685 

24, 362 

June 

685 

27 

'373 

5 

Togo 

'473 

2 

144 

54 

27 

390 

15;  450 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

September 

1 

1 

January  

185 

1S5 

October 

0 

0 

191 

191 

November 

215 

215 

March  .1 

196 

196 

December 

215 

215 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 6 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

employ- 

ees.’ 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

244 

October 

43 

2 

2 

47 

249 

40 

November 

63 

2 

2 

67 

273 

50 

1 

December 

76 

1 

1 

78 

277 

1918. 

January 

72 

2 

1 

75 

272 

16 

288 

71 

F ebruary 

65 

2 

1 

68 

274 

16 

290 

79 

March..! 

74 

2 

1 

77 

300 

20 

320 

79 

April 

86 

1 

1 

88 

529 

20 

549 

88 

May 

82 

2 

2 

86 

612 

20 

632 

108 

June 

67 

3 

2 

72 

579 

20 

599 

105 

1 

July 

78 

3 

3 

84 

647 

19 

666 

114 

1 

August 

89 

5 

2 

96 

496 

19 

515 

169 

1 

September 

79 

6 

2 

87 

741 

18 

759 

125 

1 

October 

96 

7 

2 

105 

846 

IS 

864 

211 

2 

November 

101 

7 

113 

830 

18 

848 

250 

December 

82 

8 

3 

93 

803 

18 

821 

132 

1919. 

January 

75 

2 

77 

810 

18 

828 

100 

F ebruary 

79 

7 

86 

816 

17 

833 

95 

March 

70 

1 

11 

82 

878 

17 

895 

92 

April 

66 

11 

77 

790 

790 

82 

May 

61 

10 

71 

608 

608 

73 

June 

40 

10 

50 

455 

46 

a From  A.  G.  O.  records. 

b Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office,  (name  of  hospital). 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THE  GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 

WALTER  REED  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.<* 

PRE-WAR  PERIOD. 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  is  a monument  to  the  memory  of  Maj.  Walter 
Reed,  Medical  Corps,  United  States  Army,  whose  biography  is  so  rich  in  records 
of  research  work  of  far-reaching  consequences.  It  is  also  an  unfinished  monu- 
ment to  the  Medical  Department,  whose  aim  it  is  ultimately  to  make  it  not  only 
an  adequately-sized  group  of  attractive  buildings,  permanently  constructed  and 
equipped  for  the  definitive  care  of  all  classes  of  patients,  but  an  educational 
center  where  will  be  located  technical  schools  for  the  advancement  of  knowl- 
edge of  the  members  of  the  different  branches  of  the  Medical  Department.  This 
effort  to  have  established  in  the  city  of  Washington  a permanent  general  hos- 
pital, and  in  connection  with  it  a training  school,  germinated  during  the  early 
days  of  the  Civil  War. 

In  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General  of  the  Army,  1862,  a recom- 
mendation was  made  to  the  Secretary  of  War  that  a permanent  general  hospital 
be  established  in  Washington,  and  in  connection  therewith,  the  establishment 
of  an  "Army  Medical  School,  in  which  medical  cadets  and  others  seeking  ad- 
mission to  the  corps  could  receive  such  special  instruction  as  would  better  fit 
them  for  commissions.”  This  recommendation  came  to  naught.  In  1S93, 
however,  Surgeon  General  Sternberg  succeeded  in  accomplishing  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Army  Medical  School  in  Washington;  but  it  was  not  until  189S,  as 
an  incidence  of  the  Spanish- American  War,  that  the  organization  of  a permanent 
general  hospital  in  Washington  was  effected.  General  Orders,  No.  140,  War 
Department,  September  8,  1898,  designated  the  post  hospital,  Washington 
Barracks,  D.  C.,  a general  hospital,  and  placed  it  under  the  exclusive  control  of 
the  Surgeon  General  of  the  Army. 

While  this  was  a step  forward  in  securing  a permanent  Army  general  hospital 
in  the  city  of  Washington,  a step  which  demonstrated  the  great  advantage  of 
such  an  institution,  the  building  in  itself  was  in  no  way  adequate  and  it  was 
necessary  to  add  one-story  ward  buildings  of  a temporary  character.  These 
temporary  buildings  rapidly  deteriorated  and  there  was  a ceaseless  and  untiring 
effort  on  the  part  of  the  Medical  Department  to  secure  a more  permanent  hos- 
pital of  sufficient  capacity  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  Army  dming 
peace  times,  with  reasonable  possibilities  for  expansion  dining  war.  Certain 
conditions  arising  in  1903  rendered  the  situation  acute.  In  the  Annual  Report 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  ^ ashington, 
D.  C.,”  by  Capt.  H.C.  Dean,  M.  A.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used 
by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


273 


of  the  Surgeon  General,  United  States  Army,  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 
1903,  this  statement  appears: 

The  work  of  construction  at  Washington  Barracks,  now  well  underway,  will  render  the  removal 
of  the  general  hospital  imperative  in  the  near  future.  Plans  for  the  War  College  and  Engineer 
School  contemplate  a new  building  on  the  present  site  of  the  hospital.  It  has  been  proposed  to 
move  the  present  building  and  use  it  as  a post  hospital  during  the  construction  work,  and  for  the 
purpose  it  is  neither  too  large  nor  too  good. 

It  is  inadequate  in  size  for  a general  hospital,  however,  and,  being  largely  built  of  timber  it  has 
shrunk  and  settled  until  is  is  no  longer  possible  to  maintain  it  in  the  perfect  sanitary  condition 
absolutely  necessary  where  aseptic  operations  are  to  be  performed. 

The  building  is  about  10  years  old  and  cost  about  $40,000.  It  is  always  crowded,  so  that  nurses 
must  be  lodged  outside,  and  there  are  no  private  rooms  for  officers  or  special  cases.  The  location  is 
not  suitable,  even  if  it  were  possible  to  retain  the  site,  as  the  ground  is  low  and  the  heat  excessive 
in  summer. 

The  Company  of  Instruction  of  the  Hospital  Corps  is  quartered  in  temporary  wooden  pavilions 
in  bad  repair,  which  were  built  during  the  war  with  Spain  and  are  now  worthless  for  any  purpose. 

I repeat  most  earnestly  my  previous  recommendation  that  a general  hospital  of  sufficient  size 
and  perfect  in  every  respect  be  built  in  the  District  of  Columbia  for  the  following  purposes: 

First.  Treatment  of  cases  needing  the  services  of  specialists,  surgical  or  other  observation,  and 
treatment  of  officers  incapacitated  for  service  prior  to  their  appearance  before  retiring  or  examining 
boards. 

Second.  Training  enlisted  men  of  the  Hospital  Corps  in  nursing  and  military  duties. 

Thud.  Instruction  at  the  Army  Medical  School  in  military  surgery,  hospital  administration, 
Hospital  Corps  drill,  and  establishment  of  field  hospitals. 

Fourth.  To  serve  as  a nucleus  around  which,  in  time  of  war,  temporary  wards  may  be  erected 
without  delay  to  any  extent  and  at  minimum  expense. 

The  recommendation  of  the  Surgeon  General  was  followed  closely  by 
official  action  looking  to  its  realization.  On  October  12,  1903,  The  Adjutant 
General  of  the  Army  appointed  a board  of  officers  "To  meet  as  soon  as  practi- 
cable for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  most  suitable  location  within  the 
District  of  Columbia  for  the  erection  of  a general  hospital.”  Subsequent  to  the 
receipt  of  the  order  the  board  met  at  different  times  and  its  individual  members 
carefully  scanned  the  District  for  land  which  might  be  available. 

In  deciding  upon  the  suitability  of  a site  the  board  was  governed  by  the  use 
to  which  the  hospital  was  to  be  put,  and  these  uses  dictated  the  following  re- 
quirements: That  the  site  be  well  drained,  that  it  have  water  and  gas  supply, 
and  an  accessible  sewer,  if  possible,  and  that  it  be  situated  on  a good  road,  acces- 
sible to  street  cars  and  near  a railroad  so  that  sick  might  be  transferred  directly 
to  the  hospital  without  being  carried  to  the  city.  This  combination  of  require- 
ments limited  the  choice  of  locations,  and  from  32  available  tracts  the  less 
desirable  were  gradually  eliminated  until  the  judgment  of  the  board  narrowed 
to  the  final  selection  of  the  "Cameron  tract.”  This  tract  had  an  elevated,  sub- 
urban situation,  near  the  northern  boundary  of  the  District,  two  street  car 
connections  with  the  city  of  Washington  and  direct  communications  with  the 
cars  running  near  the  Army  Medical  School,  and  was  less  than  a mile  removed 
from  a station  of  the  metropolitan  branch  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad. 

The  purchase  of  this  site,  as  recommended  by  the  board,  was  accomplished 
on  May  20,  1905,  the  tract  containing  43.27  acres  at  $2,311.07  per  acre,  the  total 
cost  being  $100,000.  Funds  for  the  purchase  were  made  available  by  act  of 
Congress  approved  March  3,  1905,  which  appropriated  $100,000  to  be  immedi- 
45269°— 23 IS 


274 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ately  available,  and  provided  that  the  “ total  cost  of  said  hospital,  including 
site  therefor,  * * * shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  $300,000.” 

The  tract  thus  purchased  was  announced  as  a military  reservation  May  2, 
1906,  in  War  Department  general  orders  of  that  date,  the  name  of  the 
hospital  having  been  previously  announced  in  General  Orders  No.  172,  War 
Department,  October  18,  1905.  Under  the  urgency  deficiency  bill  approved 
by  the  President  February  27,  1906,  there  was  made  available  the  sum  of 
$200,000  for  the  building  of  a general  hospital. 

The  main  building,  known  as  building  No.  1,  was  completed  December  4, 
1908.  It  was  of  brick,  its  dimensions  being  192  by  48  feet.  Its  total  floor 


Fig.  S8_ — Administration  building,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 


area  was  27,648  square  feet.  The  foundation  was  concrete  and  there  were  a 
basement,  three  floors,  and  an  attic,  with  a tin  roof.  The  building  was  heated 
by  hot  water,  lighted  by  electricity,  and  provided  with  water  and  sewer  connec- 
tions. It  was  intended  primarily  for  administrative  purposes  principally,  and 
its  bed  capacity  was  only  65.  On  the  first  floor  space  was  provided  for  the 
following  activities:  The  commanding  officer,  adjutant,  clerks,  first  sergeant, 
reception  hall,  resident  physician,  eye,  ear,  and  throat,  officer  of  the 
day,  library,  reception  room,  laboratory,  etc.;  on  the  second  floor  were  one 
large  ward  and  several  small  ones,  the  prison  ward,  reception  room,  rooms  for 
ward  masters,  toilets,  etc. ; on  the  third  floor  were  the  operating  suite,  recovery 
rooms,  dressing  rooms,  and  several  small  wards. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  275 

The  original  construction  cost  of  the  main  building  was  $197,860,  but 
additional  cost  has  been  incurred  by  improvements  and  additions  as  follows: 
In  1909,  $1,985;  1910,  $705,000;  and  in  1912,  $106,540.  The  cost  of  repairs 
made  to  March  1,  1918,  a period  covering  practically  the  first  10  years  of  the 
life  of  the  building,  totaled  $9,204.37. 

Building  No.  2,  a double  set  of  hospital  stewards’  quarters,  was  completed 
April  18,  1908.  It  was  of  brick,  with  a concrete  foundation;  and  contained  a 
basement,  two  floors,  and  an  attic,  with  slate  roof. 


I*'IG.  89. — Hospital  stewards’  quarters,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 


Building  No.  3 was  similar  to  No.  2 in  construction  and  use  to  which  it 
was  put. 

Building  No.  4 was  a storehouse  for  quartermaster  and  commissary 
supplies. 

Building  No.  5 was  a stable;  and  No.  6 was  a wagon  shed  and  garage, 
with  capacity  for  12  animal-drawn  vehicles  in  addition  to  three  automobiles. 

Building  No.  7,  a barracks  for  the  enlisted  personnel,  had  a capacity  of 
200  men.  This  building  was  completed  March  8,  1910.  It  was  of  brick  with 
concrete  foundation  and  a roof  of  slate.  Its  dimensions  were  137  by  119  feet, 
with  total  floor  area  of  21,230  square  feet.  It  was  heated  by  steam  and  lighted 
by  electricity.  Water  and  sewer  connections  were  provided. 

Building  No.  8 was  a captains’  set  of  quarters  and  was  completed  March  8, 
1910.  This  building  was  likewise  of  brick  with  concrete  foundation  and 
slate  roof.  Its  dimensions  were  33  feet  by  46  feet  5 inches,  and  its  total  floor 
area  3,  812  square  feet;  it  was  heated  by  steam,  lighted  by  electricity,  and  was 


276 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


provided  with  water  and  sewer  connections.  The  original  cost  of  this  building 
was  $12,757. 

Building  No.  9 was  completed  March  8,  1910,  and  was  similar  to  building 
No.  8. 

Building  No.  11  was  the  mortuary. 

Building  No.  12,  the  Army  Nurse  Corps  home,  with  capacity  of  20  nurses, 
was  completed  April  9,  1911.  It  was  of  brick  with  concrete  foundation,  and 
roof  of  slate;  it  was  heated  by  hot  water,  lighted  by  electricity,  and  provided 
with  water  and  sewer  connection.  The  original  construction  cost  of  this  build- 
ing was  $24,998. 


Fig.  90. — Detachment  barracks,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 


Building  No.  13,  the  isolation  hospital,  with  a capacity  of  12  beds,  was 
completed  on  November  15,  1913.  It  was  constructed  of  brick  with  concrete 
foundation  and  a roof  of  slate.  The  total  cost  of  its  original  construction  was 
$22,302.24. 

On  April  6,  1904,  ward  A,  the  west  addition  to  the  main  building  (building 
No.  1)  was  completed.  It  was  of  brick  construction  to  correspond  with  the 
main  building,  and  had  concrete  foundation  and  a tin  roof.  The  dimensions 
of  this  west  wing  were  43  by  54  feet,  and  the  corridor  connecting  it  with  the 
main  building  was  17  feet  by  34  feet  6 inches.  The  total  floor  area,  including 
the  corridor,  was  2,3S0  square  feet.  This  addition  had  a basement  and  one  floor. 
In  the  basement  there  were  a recreation  room,  toilet,  closet,  corridor,  and 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


277 


stair  hall.  On  the  first  floor  there  was  a ward,  51  by  24  by  13  feet.  The  cost 
of  the  construction  of  this  wing  was  $23,158. 

A second  addition  to  the  main  building  was  completed  December  28,  1914. 
This  addition,  joined  to  the  rear  of  the  main  building,  was  the  kitchen  and  mess, 
and  was  constructed  of  material  similar  to  that  of  the  parent  building.  Its 
dimensions  were  28  by  37  feet  and  28  by  63  feet.  There  were  three  floors 
and  a basement.  The  basement  was  used  for  the  storage  and  preparation  of 
food;  the  first  floor  contained  the  dining  hall;  and  on  the  second  and  third 
floors  the  rooms  were  used  as  wards.  The  construction  cost  of  the  building 
was  $43,258. 


Fig  91.— Officers’  quarters,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 


On  May  8,  1915,  ward  B,  the  east  addition  to  the  main  building  was 
completed.  It  was  similar  in  size  and  appearance  to  the  west  addition,  and 
was  used  for  wards.  In  the  basement  were  the  wards  for  the  insane. 

On  April  26,  1915,  the  addition  to  the  nurses’  home  (building  No.  12), 
with  a capacity  of  six  beds,  was  completed.  The  original  construction  cost  of 
this  addition  was  $18,729. 

On  May  1,  1909,  when  there  were  only  the  main  building  and  the  two  double 
sets  of  hospital  stewards’  quarters,  the  hospital  opened  for  the  reception  of 
patients,  in  compliance  with  General  Orders  No.  702,  War  Department,  April 
14,  1909.  The  post  return  for  May,  1909,  shows  that  there  were  on  duty  at 
the  opening,  5 officers,  62  enlisted  men  of  the  Hospital  Corps  and  3 civilian 
employees — a carpenter,  an  engineer,  and  a cook.  There  was  also  a matron. 


278 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Company  C of  the  Hospital  Corps,  representing  1 officer  and  82  enlisted  men. 
was  attached  to  the  hospital  for  quarters  and  rations.  That  the  hospital 
began  to  function  promptly  is  indicated  by  the  post  return  record  of  the  patients 
remaining  at  Walter  Reed  on  May  1,  1909,  the  end  of  the  first  month  of  activity. 
At  that  time  5 officers  and  1 1 enlisted  men,  2 retired  enlisted  men  and  1 civilian 
were  under  treatment  at  the  hospital. 

Members  of  the  Army  Nurse  Corps  were  first  assigned  to  the  hospital 
in  June,  1911,  after  completion  of  the  nurses’  quarters.  One  chief  nurse  and 
three  nurses  joined  for  duty  on  June  21,  1911,  and  a fourth  nurse  joined  on 


Fia  92. — Nurses’  quarters,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 


June  24.  Their  assignment  to  the  hospital  facilitated  the  admission  of  female 
patients,  who,  prior  to  that  date,  had  been  dependent  upon  the  matron  for 
nurse’s  care. 

The  annual  reports  for  the  years  preceding  1917  indicate  steady  progress 
in  the  work  at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  and  marked  improvement  in 
the  physical  aspect  of  the  buildings  and  grounds.  The  register  shows  that 
up  to  April  6,  1917,  the  day  on  which  war  was  declared,  7,017  cases  had  been 
admitted  to  Walter  Reed. 

The  post  return  for  April,  1917,  gives  the  following  personnel  record  for 
that  month:  On  duty — 15  officers,  145  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Depart- 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  279 

ment  and  13  enlisted  men  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps;  patients — 19  officers, 
89  enlisted  men,  3 retired  officers  and  enlisted  men  and  10  members  of  the 
National  Guard. 

The  administrative  system  at  that  time  was  comparatively  simple.  There 
were  one  commanding  officer,  one  chief  of  the  medical  service  (who,  in  addition, 
performed  the  duties  of  the  summary  court  officer),  one  chief  of  the  surgical 
service,  one  chief  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  service  (who  also  performed 
the  duties  of  recruiting  officer  and  acted  as  assistant  professor  of  ophthalmology 
at  the  Army  Medical  School,  Washington),  one  officer  who  performed  the 


Fig.  93. — Isolation  building,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 

duties  of  post  quartermaster,  post  ordnance  officer,  signal  and  medical  property 
officer,  and  the  commanding  officer  of  the  detachment,  Medical  Department 
and  Quartermaster  Corps,  one  officer  who  acted  as  adjutant,  registrar,  and 
mess  officer,  and  one  officer  who  performed  the  duties  of  pathologist  and  roent- 
genologist. One  dental  officer  was  on  duty  and  gave  dental  service  to  the 
entire  command.  The  additional  officers  on  duty  were  assigned  as  assistants 
in  the  various  departments  and  performed  such  additional  duties  as  members 
of  boards,  post  exchange  officer,  athletic  officer,  and  librarian. 


280 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


HISTORY  SUBSEQUENT  TO  BEGINNING  OF  WORLD  WAR. 

PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

Geographic  location — Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  is  located  at  Takoma 
Park  near  the  northern  limit  of  the  District  of  Columbia.  It  may  be  reached 
by  street  car  in  one  hour’s  time  from  the  center  of  the  city  of  Washington. 
A main  highway,  Sixteenth  Street,  likewise  connects  it  with  the  center  of  the 
city,  extending  directly  from  the  Executive  Mansion,  the  White  House,  through 
an  attractive  part  of  Washington  to  the  western  entrance  to  the  hospital 
grounds. 

Terrain. — The  site  of  the  hospital  possesses  a varied  terrain.  Portions 
of  the  grounds  are  gently  rolling  and  admirably  suited  to  building  purposes; 
other  portions  are  roughly  hilly  and  not  adaptable  to  the  orderly  arrangement 
of  large  numbers  of  temporary  buildings  in  regular  rows.  The  grades  for  the 
necessary  roads  are  moderately  easy.  Serpentine  cmwes  of  the  main  roads 
through  the  grounds,  which  are  covered  with  a wide  variety  of  well  spaced 


Fig.  94 1 — Aeropbotograph,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 


trees,  furnish  a vista  both  parklike  and  picturesque.  The  elevation  of  the 
site  averages  300  feet. 

Soil. — The  tract  is  situated  where  the  Coastal  Plain  and  the  Piedmont 
Plateau  meet.  The  resultant  soil  is  diversified  in  character:  it  is  gravelly 
and  varies  in  color  from  grayish  yellow  to  yellowish  gray.  The  subsoil  is 
composed  of  partially  weathered  Piedmont  Rock  and  is  reddish  yellow  to 
brownish.  The  physical  characteristics  of  both  soil  and  subsoil  are  such  that 
moisture  is  moderately  well  conserved  except  during  unusually  dry  periods. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  moderate  throughout  the  year.  The  winters 
are  usually  relatively  short  and  “open  ’:  the  summers  are  proportionately 
long.  The  prevailing  winds  (averaged  for  20  years)  are  northwest  for  January, 
February,  March  and  April;  south  for  May,  June,  July,  August  and  Septem- 
ber; and  northwest  for  October,  November  and  December. 

Roads. — Within  the  hospital  grounds  the  roads  are  of  well-kept  concrete, 
bordered  by  side  walks  of  similar  material. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


281 


Hospital  environment. — The  sanitary  status  of  the  surroundings  of  the 
hospital  area  is  that  of  a well-managed  suburban  residential  section,  and  is 
entirely  satisfactory.  Asphalt  streets,  maintained  by  the  city  of  Washington, 
extend  to  the  entrance  to  the  hospital  grounds. 

1 Voter  supply. — Water  is  supplied  by  the  city  of  Washington,  its  original 
source  being  the  Potomac  River  about  22  miles  up  stream.  It  is  treated  in 
sand  filtration  beds  before  it  enters  the  city  system. 

Sewerage. — The  sewage  of  the  hospital  is  disposed  of  through  an  adequate 
sewerage  system,  which  becomes  a part  of  that  of  the  city  of  Washington. 
Surface  drainage  is  likewise  disposed  of  through  the  city  system. 

Garbage  disposal. — Garbage  is  stored  in  covered  receptacles  and  is  removed 
daily,  except  Sunday,  by  contract. 

WAR-TIME  PHYSICAL  EXPANSION. 

The  war  emergency  of  1917,  necessarily  assembling  a number  of  troops 
in  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  initiated  the  expansion  of  Walter  Reed  Hospital, 
which  continued  during  the  following  three  years.  It  will  be  recalled  that, 
in  his  recommendation  made  in  1903,  for  the  establishment  of  the  hospital, 
the  Surgeon  General,  United  States  Army,  had  contemplated  such  a war- 
time expansion  in  that  provision  of  his  report  which  urged  that  the  hospital 
"serve  as  a nucleus  around  which,  in  time  of  war,  temporary  wards  may  be 
erected  without  delay  to  any  extent  and  at  minimum  expense.” 

In  addition  to  its  functions  as  a general  Army  hospital  and  as  the  post 
hospital  for  Washington  Barracks,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  now  served 
as  a post  hospital  for  the  several  camps  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington. 

The  construction  of  temporary  buildings  was  commenced  June  15,  1917. 
By  the  end  of  the  year  the  hospital  had  a capacity  of  950  beds,  and  the 
following  buildings  of  the  temporary  groups  had  been  completed : 

Nurses’  quarters:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  497  feet  (3  wings),  used  as  quarters 
for  the  Army  Nurse  Corps  (female),  with  accommodations  for  50  nurses. 

Barracks:  Two-story  frame  construction,  93  by  111  feet,  used  as  quarters  for  enlisted  men, 
with  accommodations  for  250  men. 

Mess  hall:  One-story  frame  construction,  25  by  157  feet,  used  for  enlisted  men's  mess,  with 
accommodations  for  250  men  at  one  sitting. 

Storehouse:  One-story  frame  construction,  73  by  137  feet,  used  for  storage  of  medical  supplies. 

Guardhouse:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  35  feet,  used  for  confinement  of  prisoners. 
Capacity:  Guards,  4;  prisoners,  15. 

Linen  building:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  70  feet,  used  for  storage  of  linens. 

Receiving  ward:  One-story  frame  construction,  82  by  93  feet,  used  for  the  receiving  of 
patients,  and  storage  of  their  personal  effects,  with  accommodations  for  8 patients,  pending  their 
assignment  to  other  wards. 

Ten  single  wards:  Wards  E,  F,  G,  II,  I,  L,  M,  N,  Q,  and  R,  of  one-story  frame  construction, 
24  by  157  feet,  used  for  the  accommodation  of  enlisted  sick.  Capacity  of  each  ward,  45.  Thirty 
additional  patients  could  be  accommodated  on  the  porches  of  each  ward.  (These  wards  were  later 
designated  as  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  2,  31,  32,  33,  and  34,  respectively.) 

Three  double  wards:  A and  B,  C and  D,  J and  K,  of  one-story  frame  construction,  24  by  314 
feet,  used  for  the  accommodation  of  the  enlisted  sick.  Capacity  of  each  ward,  85  patients. 
(These  wards  were  later  designated  as  1-2,  16-17,  and  18-19.) 

All  of  the  above  enumerated  temporary  buildings,  erected  in  1917,  as 
will  appear  from  the  individual  descriptions,  were  of  frame  construction.  They 
were  built  on  concrete  piers,  had  composition  roofs  and  wooden  floors,  were 
lighted  by  electricity  and  were  provided  with  water  and  sewer  connections. 


282 


MILITABY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  May,  1917,  there  was  commenced  the  construction  of  a central  power 
plant  from  which  all  temporary  buildings  were  to  be  heated.  As  this  power- 
house was  not  completed  until  the  following  year,  the  heating  arrangements 
of  such  temporary  buildings  as  were  used  during  1917  were  necessarily  of  a 
makeshift  character. 

The  necessity  for  obtaining  additional  land  to  afford  ground  space  for 
the  rapidly  multiplying  buildings  became  apparent  and  immediate.  Three 
adjacent  sections  of  land  were  accordingly  purchased  during  1918.  On  January 
30,  1918,  a deed  recorded  in  liber  No.  4057,  folio  174,  of  the  land  records  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  conveyed  0.118  acre.  Release  and  quitclaim  deeds 
of  the  same  property  were  executed  on  February  1,  1918,  and  April  18,  1918. 
On  February  2,  1918,  a deed  recorded  in  liber  No.  4057,  folio  177,  of  the  land 
records  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  conveyed  5.988  acres.  Release  and  quit- 


claim deeds  to  this  property  were  executed  May  5,  191S.  The  land  conveyed 
by  the  above-described  deeds  constituted  two  triangular  sections.  One  sec- 
tion was  bounded  by  Dogwood  Street  on  the  north  and  by  Thirteenth  Street 
on  the  west,  while  the  hypothenuse  of  the  triangle,  to  the  southeast,  lay  along 
the  northwestern  boundary  line  of  the  original  hospital  reservation.  The 
other  section  was  bounded  by  Dahlia  Street  on  the  north  and  by  Fourteenth 
Street  on  the  west,  while  the  hypothenuse  of  the  triangle,  to  the  southeast, 
coincided  with  the  northwestern  botmdary  of  the  original  hospital  reservation. 
On  March  25,  1918,  a deed  recorded  in  liber  No.  4057,  folio  173,  of  the  land 
records  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  conveyed  19.76  acres.  This  addition 
extended  the  northern  and  southern  boundary  lines  of  the  original  reservation 
west  of  Sixteenth  Street.  The  above  enumerated  purchases,  consisting  of 
25.966  acres,  added  to  the  original  purchase  of  43.27  acres,  brought  the  total 
area  of  the  reservation  up  to  69.136  acres. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  < PERMANENT  ) . 


283 


At  the  end  of  the  year  1918  the  annual  report  for  the  hospital  shows  a 
capacity  of  2,500  beds,  and  in  the  same  report  the  record  of  the  completion 
of  temporary  buildings,  which  includes  the  construction  for  the  years  1917 
and  1918,  stands  as  follows: 

Nurses’  quarters:  Three  1-story  frame  constructions,  24  by  497  feet,0  24  by  217  feet,  and 
24  by  217  feet,  used  as  quarters  for  the  Army  Nurse  Corps  (female),  with  accommodations  for 
150  nurses.  (Known  as  nurses ’ homes,  Nos.  2,  3,  and  4,  respectively.) 

Barracks:  Two-story  frame  construction,  93  by  111  feet,  used  as  quarters  for  detachment, 
Quartermaster  Corps,  and  Motor  Transport  Corps,  with  accommodations  for  about,  250  men. 

Quartermaster  mess  hall:  One-story  frame  construction,  25  by  157  feet,  used  for  enlisted 
men ’s  mess,  with  accommodations  for  250  men  at  one  sitting. 

Mess  hall  No.  2:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  625  feet,  used  for  enlisted  patients’ 
mess,  with  accommodations  for  700  men  at  one  sitting. 

Medical  Property  storehouse:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  261  feet/'  used  for  the 

storage  of  medical  supplies. 

Kitchen  storehouse:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  70  feet,  used  for  the  storing  of  canned 
goods  and  other  staple  supplies  used  by  the  mess  department. 

Linen  building:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  70  feet,  used  for  the  storing  of  hospital 
linen. 

Baggage  storehouse:  One-story  building,  24  by  36  feet,  used  for  the  storing  of  baggage.  Frame 
construction. 

Quartermaster  storehouse:  One-story  frame  construction,  100  by  118  feet,  used  for  the  storing 
of  quartermaster  supplies. 

Guardhouse:  One-storv  frame  construction,  24  by  35  feet  6 inches,  used  for  the  confinement 
of  prisoners.  Capacity:  4 guards,  15  prisoners. 

Receiving  ward:  One-story  frame  construction,  82  by  93  feet,  used  for  the  receiving  of  patients 
and  storage  of  their  personal  effects,  with  accommodations  for  8 patients  pending  their  assignment 
to  other  wards.  Also  used  as  a post-office  substation . 

Two  2-story  isolation  wards,  24  by  156  feet  (designated  as  wards  23-24,  and  27-28),  of  frame 
construction,  each  ward  having  accommodations  for  72  patients. 

Two  1-story  isolation  wards,  24  by  151  feet  (designated  as  wards  25  and  26),  of  frame  con- 
struction; capacity,  36. 

Three  double  wards  and  lavatories,  24  by  314  feet  (designated  as  wards  1-2,  16-17,  and  18-19), 
of  frame  construction,  1-story  plan. 

Twenty-six  single-ward  buildings:  Wards  3 and  4 (orthopedic);  ward  5 (used  at  present  as  a 
nurses’  home);  ward  11  (orthopedic);  wards  12,  13,  14,  15  (medical);  wards  31,  32,  33  (orthopedic); 
wards  34,  35,  and  36  (eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat);  wards  41,  42,  43,  44,  and  45  (psychopathic);  wards 
65  and  66  (orthopedic);  wards  71,  72,  73,  74,  and  75  (orthopedic).  These  ward  buildings  were  1-story 
frame  construction  and  were  used  for  the  accommodation  of  enlisted  sick.  Capacity  of  each  ward, 
36.  Dimensions  of  each  ward,  24  by  157  feet. 

Thirteen  double-ward  buildings:  Wards  51-52  (used  as  quarters  for  detachment,  Medical 
Department);  wards  53-54,  55-56,  57-58,  59-60  (orthopedic);  wards  61-62  (occupied  by  the  con- 
struction quartermaster  and  used  as  office  buildings);  wards  63-64  (genitourinary);  wards  81-82, 
83-84,  87-88,  89-90,  91-92  (orthopedic);  wards  85-86  (occupied  as  quarters  by  detachment,  Medical 
Department).  These  ward  buildings  were  2-story  hollow-tile  construction.  Each  double  ward 
had  accommodations  for  72  patients  and  was  occupied  by  enlisted  sick.  Dimensions  of  each 
ward,  24  by  157  feet. 

Officers’  pavilions  1 and  2:  Two  1-story  frame  construction,  24  by  314  feet  and  24  by  272  feet, 
used  for  the  accommodation  of  officers’  sick.  Capacity,  50  patients  each. 

Red  Cross  building:  Tile  and  frame,  82  by  120  feet. 

Post-exchange  building  and  auditorium:  One-story  frame  construction,  44  by  157  feet,  used 
as  a salesroom  and  auditorium  by  the  post  exchange. 

Bakery:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  92  feet,  used  as  post  bakeshop. 

Wagon  shed:  One-story  frame  construction,  75  by  90  feet,  used  for  the  storing  of  wagons,  and 
also  occupied  by  the  hospital  fire  department. 


a This  building  had  3 wings. 


284 


military  hospitals  in  the  united  states. 


Bacteriological  laboratory:  One-story  frame  construction,  24  by  170  feet.  Laboratory  addi- 
tion, 40  by  81  feet  6 inches. 

Dental  building:  One-story  tile  construction,  24  by  350  feet,  occupied  by  the  dental,  eye, 
ear,  nose,  and  throat  clinics. 

Oil  shed:  One-story  frame  construction,  used  for  the  storing  of  oils. 

One  school  building:  Wards  93-94,  2-story  hollow-tile  construction,  24  by  157  feet,  used  as 
administrative  and  school  building  by  the  division  of  reconstruction. 

Wards  95,  96,  97,  and  98:  One-story  hollow-tile  construction,  24  by  157  feet,  used  as  curative 
workshops  by  the  division  of  reconstruction. 

The  physiotherapy  building:  One-story  hollow-tile  construction,  24  by  410  feet,  including 
rooms  for  the  hydrotherapy  department,  electrotherapy  department,  massaging,  and  also  a gym- 
nasium. (This  building  was  not  actually  ready  for  occupancy  until  1919.) 

Animal  house:  One-story  frame  construction,  10  by  20  feet. 

Most  of  these  buildings  had  concrete  foundations  (though  a few  were 
built  on  wooden  posts),  wooden  floors,  and  composition  roofs.  The  wagon 
shed,  bakery,  and  animal  house  had  concrete  floors.  All  were  lighted  by  elec- 
tricity and  provided  with  water  and  sewer  connections. 


Fig.  96. — A view  of  temporary  buildings,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 


In  addition  to  the  rapid  temporary  construction  during  the  war  period 
it  was  necessary  to  make  certain  permanent  improvements  in  the  hospital 
proper.  The  heaviest  expense  was  incurred  in  the  construction  of  a power 
house  from  which  all  the  temporary  buildings  were  heated.  The  power  plant, 
although  started  in  May,  1917,  was  not  completed  until  the  following  year. 
The  foundations  are  of  concrete,  the  walls  of  brick,  and  the  roof  steel  truss. 
It  has  two  stacks  of  radial  tile,  150  feet  high.  The  dimensions  of  the  plant 
are  140  by  40  feet  with  an  L wing  40  by  30  feet. 

Other  permanent  buildings  erected  at  this  time  include  an  incinerator,  a 
morgue,  and  a garage  addition.  The  incinerator  was  a Xye  odorless  crema- 


TYPES  OP  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( PERMANENT ) . 


285 


Lory  incinerator,  consisting  of  a basement  and  one  story,  of  brick  construction 
with  concrete  foundation. 

Aside  from  actual  building  operations  the  permanent  construction  of 
this  period  included  the  installation  of  various  systems  and  devices,  which, 
with  other  costs,  are  enumerated  below: 


Roads,  concrete §38,097.48 

Electric  lighting  system 794.  98 

Aero  alarm  system 19,  640.  00 

Water  supply  system  (in  reserve) 45,  886. 83 

Water  supply  mains  (to  reserve) 27,  071.  96 

Sewer  system 35,681.26 

Powerhouse,  heating,  original 293,000.00 

Heating  system  (exterior  to  buildings) 59,  311. 40 

Heating  system  (power  house  addition) 57,  331.  30 

Heating  system  (north  stack) 6, 250.  70 

Total  heating  system,  part  2 245, 408.  90 


Total 828,474.81 

The  cost  of  the  permanent  buildings  erected  during  the  war  period  is 
itemized  as  follows: 

Powerhouse,  building  proper,  original §36,000.00 

Incinerator  (old  building) 8, 000.  00 

Garage  addition 24, 373. 00 

Morgue 3,  346.  30 

Alterations,  attic  of  barracks 11,  830.  59 

Service  club  (a  gift  paid  for  from  National  Catholic  War  Council  Fund) 85,  000.  00 


Total 168,549.89 


In  September,  1918,  the  Lane  Convalescent  Home  was  taken  over  as  a 
convalescent  home  for  enlisted  sick.  This  home  was  located  in  Takoma 
Park,  D.  C.,  about  one-half  mile  distant  from  the  hospital,  and  had  accom- 
modations for  10  convalescent  enlisted  men. 

In  November,  1918,  the  Friendship  Home,  also  known  as  the  McLean 
Estede,  was  taken  over  as  a convalescent  home  for  sick  officers.  This  home, 
which  was  offered  to  the  Government  by  the  owner,  was  located  on  Wisconsin 
Avenue  NW.,  Washington,  D.  C.,  about  5 miles  from  the  hospital.  It  had 
accommodations  for  50  convalescent  officers. 


ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPANSION. 


After  the  declaration  of  war  the  personnel  of  the  hospital  rapidly  increased 
until  it  was  doubled  and  then  redoubled.  The  picked  men  of  the  Regular 
Army  of  this  time  had  furnished  a small  quota  of  sick,  and  Walter  Reed  Gen- 
eral Hospital  had  been  an  uncrowded,  unhurried  sanitarium  for  the  care  of 
this  small  number.  Under  the  pressure  of  the  war  emergency  it  expanded 
in  a little  over  a year’s  time  into  an  institution  the  inhabitants  of  which  were 
sufficient  to  make  a thriving  little  town,  and  possessing  many  more  activities 
than  such  a town  would  have  known.  The  forced  growth  required  unremitting 
care  and  control  and  the  widely  varied  elements  gathered  at  Walter  Reed 
General  Hospital  had  to  be  bound  together  with  a tight  organization.  In 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


perfecting  such  an  organization  a comprehensive  set  of  regulations  was  evolved, 
in  which  was  outlined  the  following  administrative  system: 

HOSPITAL  ORGANIZATION THE  COMMANDING  OFFICER. 

Department  of  administration: 

1.  The  executive  officer — 

(а)  Officer  of  the  day. 

(б)  Night  administrative  officer. 

2.  Correspondence  and  records — 

(a)  Adjutant. 

(b)  Personnel  adjutant — 

(1)  Insurance  officer. 

(c)  Supervisor  of  clinical  records — 

(1)  Registrar. 

(2)  Curator,  department  of  illustration. 

(3)  Medical  examining  board  for  officers. 

(4)  Disability  board  for  enlisted  men. 

(5)  Demobilization  board. 

3.  Inspection — 

(а)  Hospital  inspector  (inspection  of  administration  and  service  departments). 

(б)  Sanitary  inspector  (inspection  of  grounds  and  buildings  for  sanitation  and  main- 

tenance). 

(c)  Post  surgeon  (inspection  of  dairies,  food  supplies,  etc.). 

(d)  Adjutant  (inspection  of  public  funds). 

(e)  Survey  officer  (inspection  of  unserviceable  property). 

4.  Detachment  administration — 

(a)  Detachment  commander,  patients — 

(1)  Receiving  officer. 

(2)  Disposition  officer. 

( b ) Detachment  commander,  Medical  Department. 

(c)  Detachment  commander,  Quartermaster  Detachment. 

(d)  Detachment  commander  of  nurses. 

(e)  Detachment  commander  of  aides. 

5.  Police  and  fire  protection — 

(a)  Intelligence  officer. 

(b)  Prison  officer. 

(c)  Fire  marshals. 

(d)  Police  officer. 

(e)  Courts-martial. 

Department  of  service  and  supply: 

1.  Service  of  supply— 

(a)  Supply  officer. 

(b)  Ordnance  officer. 

(c)  Finance  officer. 

(d)  Transportation  officer. 

(e)  Salvage  officer. 

(/)  Medical  supply  officer. 

2.  Constructing  and  utilities  service — 

(a)  Constructing  quartermaster. 

( b ) Utilities  officer. 

3.  Mess  service — 

(a)  Mess  officer. 

(b)  Dietitians. 

4.  Motor  transport  service — 

(a)  Motor  transport  officer. 

5.  Telphone  and  telegraph  service — 

(a)  Signal  officer. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


287 


Department  of  service  and  supply — Continued. 

6.  Post  exchange — • 

(a)  Exchange  officer. 

7.  Recruiting  service — 

(a)  Recruiting  officer. 

8.  Morale,  education  and  recreation  service — 

(a)  Chaplains. 

(b)  Morale  officer. 

(c)  Education  and  recreation  officer. 

( d ) Service  club  hostess. 

(e)  Librarian. 

Department  of  professional  services: 

1.  Surgical  service:  Chief  of  service — 

(a)  Administration  officers — 

(1)  Assistant  to  chief  of  service. 

(2)  Chiefs  of  sections. 

(3)  Ward  surgeons. 

(4)  Surgical  emergency  officers. 

( b ) Professional  sections — 

(1)  General  surgery. 

(2)  Septic  surgery. 

(3)  Empyema. 

(4)  Maxillofacial. 

(5)  Neurosurgical. 

(6)  Eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat. 

(7)  Orthopedic. 

(8)  Amputation. 

(9)  Dermatology  and  syphilis. 

(10)  Urology. 

(11)  Obstetric  and  gynecologic. 

(c)  Professional  departments — 

(1)  Dental. 

(2)  X-ray. 

(3)  Orthopedic  appliance  shop. 

(4)  Anesthesia. 

2.  Medical  service:  Chief  of  service — 

(а)  Assistant  to  the  chief  of  service. 

(б)  Chiefs  of  section — 

(1)  General  medicine  section. 

(2)  Neuropsychiatric  section. 

(3)  Contagious  disease  section. 

(c)  Receiving  officer. 

( d ) Post  surgeon. 

( e ) Ward  surgeons. 

(/)  Medical  emergency  officer. 

Laboratory  department — 

(а)  Bacteriological  section. 

(б)  Chemical  section. 

(c)  Pathological  section  (mortuary). 

Reconstruction  and  education  departments: 

1.  Ward  handicrafts:  For  patients  unable  to  leave  their  wards. 

2.  Curative  shop  work:  For  patients  whose  primary  requirement  is  curative;  occupational 

therapy. 

(a)  Wood  working. 

( b ) Rug  weaving. 

(c)  Clay  modeling. 

(■ d ) Gardening. 

( e ) Typewriting. 


288 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Reconstruction  and  education  departments — Continued. 

3.  Educational  and  vocational  training — 

(a)  Academic:  English,  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  etc. 

( b ) Commercial:  Shorthand,  typewriting,  bookkeeping,  accounting,  office  appliances. 

(c)  Trade  and  vocational  training — 

(1)  Auto  mechanics. 

(2)  Garden  and  greenhouse  management. 

(3)  Electrical  wiring  and  dynamo  tending. 

(4)  Drafting. 

(5)  Jewelry  making  and  repairing. 

(6)  Machine  shop  practice. 

(7)  Motion  picture  operating. 

(8)  Photography. 

(9)  K,ug  weaving  and  repairing. 

(10)  Wireless  telegraphy. 

(11)  Oxyacetylene  welding. 

(12)  Vulcanizing  and  tire  repairing. 

(13)  General  printing. 

(14)  Linotype  operating. 

(15)  Wood  shop  practice. 

Physiotherapy  department: 

1.  Measurement  and  record  section. 

2.  Hydrotherapy. 

3.  Electrotherapy. 

4.  Massage. 

5.  Medical  gymnastics. 

Nursing  department: 

1.  Army  Nurse  Corps — principal  chief  nurse — 

(а)  Assistant  chief  nurse  (records  and  correspondence). 

(б)  Day  supervisor  for  graduate  nurses. 

(c)  Night  supervisor  for  graduate  nurses. 

2.  Army  School  of  Nursing — 

(a)  Superintendent — ■ 

(1)  Theoretical  instructor. 

(2)  Practical  instructor. 

(3)  Circulating  supervisors  for  student  nurses. 

HOSPITAL  DEPARTMENTS. 

The  activities  of  the  hospital  were  organized  under  a commanding  officer 
and  divided  into  six  departments,  namely,  administration,  service  and  supply, 
professional  services,  reconstruction  and  education,  physiotherapy,  and  nursing. 

Department  of  Administration. 

In  the  department  of  administration  there  were  five  functional  divisions: 
The  executive  officer;  correspondence  and  records;  inspection;  detachment 
administration;  police  and  fire  protection. 

The  executive  officer  was  charged,  under  the  direction  of  the  commanding 
officer,  with  the  coordination  of  all  departments  of  the  hospital.  Under  his 
supervision  the  duties  of  the  officer  of  the  day  and  the  night  administrative 
officer  were  performed.  The  officer  of  the  day  was  detailed  by  the  adjutant 
from  the  roster  of  the  officers,  below  field  rank,  on  duty  at  the  hospital,  and  the 
detail  took  precedence  over  all  other  details.  The  tour  of  duty  for  this  officer 
was  for  24  hours,  during  which  time  he  might  not  absent  himself  from  the  post. 
In  the  absence  of  the  commanding  officer  and  subordinate  administrative  officer, 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


289 


the  officer  of  the  day  acted,  and  he  was  further  specifically  charged  with  the 
duties  of  making  an  inspection  tour  of  the  main  building  and  all  wards  of  the 
hospital  at  least  once  during  his  tour  of  duty;  inspecting  the  guard  at  least 
three  times  during  his  tour  of  duty;  inspecting  at  least  one  meal  at  each  mess 
conducted  for  patients,  nurses,  and  enlisted  personnel  of  the  hospital;  in  case 
of  fire,  taking  charge  pending  the  arrival  of  the  commanding  officer  or  fire 
marshal,  reporting  in  detail  any  fire  occurring  during  his  tour  of  duty  and  visit- 
ing the  firehouse  at  least  once  during  his  tour  to  assure  himself  that  the  crew 
was  on  duty;  acting  for  the  commanding  officer  in  carrying  out  hospital  regu- 
lations regarding  uniforms,  passes  for  visitors,  extinguishing  lights,  and  in  the 
maintenance  of  order  and  discipline;  witnessing  the  preparation  of  the  bodies 
of  deceased  patients  and  forwarding  reports  of  deaths  to  the  registrar’s  office; 
opening  all  official  telegrams  received  outside  of  regular  office  hours,  and  sending 
telegrams  indicated  by  serious  illness,  deaths  or  other  emergencies;  conducting 
the  guard  detail,  in  which  connection  he  was  charged  with  the  responsibility 
of  safeguarding  the  prisoners. 

The  night  administrative  officer  was  the  night  representative  of  the 
executive  officer  in  the  coordination  of  the  hospital  administration.  He  was 
called  upon  to  render  all  possible  assistance  to  the  officer  of  the  day  in  the 
maintenance  of  good  order  and  military  discipline,  and  particularly  to  maintain 
by  frequent  inspection  and  necessary  action  the  police  and  fire  prevention  of 
the  post. 

CORRESPONDENCE  AND  RECORDS. 

The  adjutant  had  charge  of  all  incoming  and  outgoing  correspondence, 
orders,  and  circulars,  and  had  general  control  of  all  hospital  records.  He 
verified  and  issued  all  orders  and  details,  including  administrative  assignments, 
both  roster  and  special  of  officers  and  civilian  employees.  He  examined  in 
person  all  incoming  correspondence  and  referred  to  the  proper  officer,  letters, 
orders,  or  circulars,  for  guidance  or  action,  maintaining  such  record  of  disposi- 
tion of  papers  as  would  insure  prompt  and  certain  execution  of  public  business. 
He  caused  replies,  indorsements,  and  reports  to  be  prepared  for  the  signature 
of  the  commanding  officer  and  replied,  in  the  name  of  the  commanding  officer, 
to  letters  of  inquiry  concerning  patients.  In  cases  of  critical  illness  or  serious 
operative  procedure,  he  was  charged  with  the  notification  of  relatives,  and  in 
case  of  death  in  the  command,  he  was  charged  with  the  arrangement  for  the 
disposition  of  the  remains  and  the  effects  of  the  deceased  and  the  notification 
of  all  concerned.  He  insured  the  audit  of  all  public  funds  and  submitted  a 
report  of  audit,  together  with  a statement  of  all  funds,  as  soon  as  possible 
after  the  end  of  each  month,  to  the  commanding  officer.  He  also  acted  as 
historian  of  the  post. 

The  personnel  adjutant  maintained  the  official  records  of  all  commissioned 
officers  either  on  duty  or  sick  at  the  hospital.  He  prepared  all  pay  cards,  pay 
rolls,  and  reports  of  changes  in  the  status  of  officers  and  enlisted  men,  and  all 
papers,  other  than  professional,  relating  to  the  discharge  of  enlisted  personnel 
on  a surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability.  He  was  further  charged  with  the  main- 
tenance of  records  of  enlisted  casual  sick,  records  of  the  naturalization  of  aliens, 
with  notarial  duties,  instruction  in  income-tax  returns,  and  the  supervision  of 
45269°— 23 19 


290 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  insurance  officer  in  all  matters  relating  to  insurance,  compensation,  and 
allotments  under  the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  Insurance.  The  insurance  officer 
was  responsible  for  the  preparation  of  all  applications,  alterations,  conversions, 
or  discontinuances  of  insurance,  and  the  presentation  to  the  War  Risk  Bureau 
of  all  claims  for  insurance  in  cases  of  permanent  total  disability. 

The  supervisor  of  clinical  records  was  responsible  for  the  permanent 
record  of  all  patients  admitted  to  the  hospital  and  the  preparation  of  data  for 
the  commanding  officer  relating  to  the  clinical  records  or  professional  pronounce- 
ment for  record  and  correspondence.  He  was  charged  specifically  with  the 
following  duties:  Requiring  the  proper  clinical  records  to  be  submitted  from 
the  various  professional  services  upon  completion  of  cases  whether  by  dis- 
charge, transfer,  death,  or  other  disposition;  supervising  the  proper  classifica- 
tion, indexing,  filing,  and  preservation  of  clinical  records;  signing  death  certi- 
ficates; filing  records  of  clinical  importance  in  connection  with  discharge  or 
other  disposition  of  officers  admitted  to  the  hospital;  furnishing  the  command- 
ing officer  with  a definite  and  authoritative  statement  concerning  patients, 
when  called  upon  to  do  so ; representing  the  commanding  officer  on  the  advisory 
board  of  the  department  of  exhibits. 

The  registrar  maintained  in  an  indexed  and  available  form  all  medical 
and  surgical  records,  prepared  all  reports  and  returns  pertaining  to  the  sick 
and  wounded  and  kept  an  accurate  index  of  diseases. 

The  curator  had  charge  of  the  department  of  illustration.  The  purpose 
of  this  department  was  to  collect,  index,  preserve  and  exhibit  prints,  slides, 
sketches,  specimens  and  models  of  scientific  interest  in  connection  with  the 
work  of  the  hospital.  The  department  was  composed  of  a pictorial  sec- 
tion (oil,  black  and  white,  water  color) ; a photographic  section  (color,  portrait, 
specimens,  prints,  slides,  enlargements  and  reductions,  microphotography) ; 
and  a modeling  section  (plaster,  wax).  The  curator  received  requests  for  work 
from  any  department  of  the  hospital  and  assigned  the  execution  of  the  work  to 
the  proper  artists.  He  bore  the  responsibility  for  the  care,  preservation,  and 
proper  arrangement  of  all  exhibits.  The  policy  of  the  department  and  all 
questions  arising  in  connection  with  the  character  of  work  and  a priority  of 
consideration,  were  determined  by  an  advisory  board  consisting  of  the  chiefs 
of  the  medical  and  surgical  services,  the  chief  of  laboratory  service,  and  the 
supervisor  of  clinical  records. 

The  medical  examining  board  for  officers  consisted  of  the  chief  of  the  surgical 
service,  the  chief  of  the  medical  service,  the  chief  of  the  eye,  ear.  nose  and  throat 
department,  and  the  supervisor  of  clinical  records.  The  last  named  officer 
was  the  recorder  of  the  board.  The  board  acted  on  recommendations  for 
retirement  or  other  disposition  of  officers  of  the  Regular  Army;  the  disposition 
of  temporary  officers;  the  disposition  of  nurses;  and  the  review  of  cases  of  appeal 
from  action  of  the  disability  board. 

The  disability  board  for  enlisted  men,  the  duties  of  which  were  those 
indicated  by  the  name  of  the  board,  consisted  of  the  supervisor  of  clinical 
records,  the  first  assistant  supervisor  of  clinical  records,  a representative  of 
the  surgical  service,  a representative  of  the  medical  service,  a representative 
of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  department,  and  a representative  of  any 
speciality,  upon  call  of  the  chairman. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  291 

The  demobilization  board,  organized  for  the  purpose  of  examining  officers 
and  enlisted  men  prior  to  demobilization,  consisted  of  the  supervisor  of  clinical 
records,  the  first  assistant  supervisor  of  clinical  records,  the  second  assistant 
supervisor  of  clinical  records  and  a representative  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat 
department. 

INSPECTION  DIVISION. 

The  inspection  division  was  organized  as  follows:  Hospital  inspector 
(inspection  of  administration  and  service  departments) ; sanitary  inspector 
(sanitary  inspection  of  grounds  and  buildings) ; post  surgeon  (inspection  of 
dairies,  food,  food  supplies,  etc.);  adjutant  (inspection  of  public  funds);  and 
survey  officer  (inspection  of  unserviceable  property).  The  hospital  inspector 
was  required  to  make  a progressive  study  of  the  administration  and  service 
of  the  departments  of  the  hospital,  with  a view  to  increased  efficiency.  The 
sanitary  inspector  made  periodical  inspections  of  all  buildings  and  grounds  of 
the  station  for  the  adequate  maintenance  of  sanitation,  police,  fire  prevention, 
upkeep  of  building,  and  general  discipline  of  enlisted  personnel  on  duty. 
Seven  noncommissioned  officers  were  detailed  to  assist  him  in  such  inspection. 
The  post  surgeon  furnished  medical  attendance  to  the  personnel  on  duty.  He 
held  sick  call  and  prescribed  physical  inspection  for  detachments  of  the  enlisted 
men;  he  furnished  medical  attendance  to  nurses  and  aides.  He  was  responsible 
for  the  furnishing  of  medical  attendance  to  every  man  in  confinement  and  acted 
as  ward  surgeon  to  detention  wards.  He  was  authorized  to  call  upon  the 
special  professional  services  for  special  treatment,  when  necessary.  He  was 
responsible  for  the  maintenance  of  prison  wards  in  a proper  sanitary  condition. 
He  was  expected  to  make  a careful  survey  of  conditions  affecting  health  of  the 
command,  instituting  corrective  measures  whenever  indicated,  and  at  the  end 
of  every  month  to  prepare  the  surgeon’s  sanitary  report;  to  keep  informed 
concerning  the  source,  prevention,  and  disposal  of  food  supplies;  and  to  see  that 
food  handlers  were  free  from  contagious  or  communicable  diseases.  The 
disinfection  of  buildings  and  property  exposed  to  contagious  diseases  was  in 
his  charge.  To  the  survey  officer  fell  the  duty  of  disposing  of  property  which 
had  been  rendered  unserviceable  other  than  by  fair  wear  and  tear  in  the 
service,  as  indicated  in  paragraph  717,  Army  Regulations. 

DETACHMENT  ADMINISTRATION. 

The  division  of  detachment  administration  included  five  commanders, 
for  the  patients,  Medical  Department,  Quartermaster  Department,  nurses, 
and  aides.  The  commander  of  the  detachment  of  patients  performed  all  duties 
of  his  office  as  prescribed  in  Army  Regulations,  Manual  for  the  Medical  De- 
partment, general  orders  of  the  War  Department,  and  the  regulations  of  Walter 
Reed  General  Hospital.  Under  his  direction  the  receiving  officer  and  the  dis- 
position officer  performed  their  respective  duties.  The  receiving  officer  was 
charged  with  the  following  duties  and  responsibilities: 

(1)  To  receive,  examine,  classify,  and  send  to  the  proper  wards  all  incoming  patients, 
exercising  due  precaution  in  the  prompt  isolation  of  contagious  or  infectious  diseases. 

(2)  To  keep  informed  at  all  times  concerning  the  number  of  beds  available  in  the  various 
wards  and  to  foresee  and  provide  for  expected  arrivals. 

(3)  To  supervise  the  transportation  of  sick  and  wounded  to  and  from  the  hospital 


292 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(4)  To  care  for  all  incoming  patients  who  required  immediate  or  emergency  treatment. 

(5)  To  receive,  receipt  for,  and  safeguard  the  valuables  of  incoming  patients. 

(6)  To  provide  transportation  and  to  receive  and  receipt  for  the  baggage  of  the  patients. 

(7)  To  prepare  all  required  forms,  records,  and  notifications  in  connection  with  the  admis- 
sion of  patients. 

(8)  To  provide  medical  attendance,  nursing,  and  ward  service  for  patients  in  the  receiving 
ward. 

In  connection  with  the  duty  of  safeguarding  the  valuables  of  incoming 
patients,  when  such  patients  were  irresponsible,  the  receiving  officer  was 
required  to  cause  the  money  or  valuables  of  those  patients  to  be  collected  in 
his  presence  and  that  of  a competent  witness.  The  disposition  officer  was  held 
responsible  for  the  conduct  of  the  disposition  office,  the  post  office,  the  informa- 
tion desk,  the  patients’  baggage  room,  and  the  patients’  bank.  He  made  all 
necessary  arrangements  for  patients  expecting  to  leave  the  hospital,  providing 
special  transportation  for  crippled  or  invalid  patients.  Information  concerning 
railroad  transportation  was  furnished  as  well  as  assistance  in  procuring  it;  the 
delivery  of  baggage  and  personal  effects;  and  the  furnishing  of  transportation 
to  home  or  railroad  station.  Upon  receipt  of  approved  requests,  the  disposi- 
tion officer  issued  passes  to  patients  for  temporary  absence  from  the  hospital. 
In  performing  his  routine  duties  in  connection  with  the  personal  effects  and 
baggage  of  patients,  the  disposition  officer  was  required  to  keep  four  files:  A 
live  fde  for  the  effects  of  patients  in  the  hospital;  a dead  file  for  the  effects  of 
patients  who  had  left  the  hospital  and  taken  their  belongings  with  them;  a 
suspended  file  for  the  effects  of  patients  who  had  left  the  hospital  and  had  not 
taken  their  belongings  with  them;  and  a file  of  receipts  for  baggage  held  b}^  the 
supply  officer.  An  elaborate  filing  system  was  required  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  bureau  of  information,  for  all  patients  and  personnel  of  the  hospital. 
The  detachment  commander,  detachment,  Medical  Department,  assigned 
personnel  to  duty  in  the  hospital  and  made  prompt  replacements  for  casualties. 
He  provided  for  the  instruction  of  enlisted  personnel  assigned  to  him  and  main- 
tained the  discipline  of  the  detachment.  He  kept  a detachment  punishment 
book;  personally  investigated  accusations  before  preferring  charges;  and  he 
furnished  a record  of  company  punishments  or  prior  court-martials,  with  rec- 
ommendations, or  a brief  statement  of  his  investigations  in  submitting  charges. 
He  performed  such  other  special  duties  in  connection  with  the  personnel  on 
duty  at  the  hospital  as  were  assigned  to  him,  as  well  as  all  duties  of  a detach- 
ment commander.  The  detachment  commander,  quartermaster  detachment, 
performed  all  duties  of  a detachment  commander  as  prescribed  in  existent  regu- 
lations and  orders.  The  detachment  commanders  of  nurses  and  aides  were 
responsible  for  the  discipline,  performance  of  duty,  and  conduct  while  on 
duty,  of  nurses  and  aides  assigned  to  their  respective  departments. 

POLICE  AND  FIRE  PROTECTION. 

The  police  and  lire  protection  division  of  the  department  of  administration 
included  an  intelligence  officer,  a prison  officer,  fire  marshals,  a police  officer,  and 
courts-martial.  The  intelligence  officer  carried  out  the  instructions  of  the 
military  information  division  and  such  other  instructions  as  he  received  from 
the  commanding  officer.  The  prison  officer  exercised  immediate  command  of 
the  guard  detachment  and  assigned  the  guard  detail  by  roster.  He  kept  a 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


293 


record  of  all  prisoners  and  made  the  necessary  reports  of  prisoners:  he  also  kept 
a guard  report.  He  was  charged  with  direct  responsibility  for  the  security  of 
the  guardhouse  and  other  places  of  confinement  of  prisoners,  and  with  the 
cleanliness  and  sanitation  of  such  places.  The  prison  was  designated  and 
occupied  as  follows:  The  main  guardhouse,  for  garrison  prisoners  other  than 
patients;  the  detention  ward,  for  patients  under  detention;  and  ward  “A,” 
separate  rooms  for  the  confinement  of  prisoners  sick  with  contagious  diseases, 
and  for  other  special  purposes.  No  prisoner  suffering  with  a contagious  disease 
was  confined  with  other  prisoners  who  were  not  similarly  affected.  All  pris- 
oners in  confinement  were  equipped  with  proper  clothing  and  bedding,  and  any 
prisoner  claiming  to  need  medical  attention  was  given  prompt  medical  examina- 
tion. The  fire  marshal  was  charged  with  the  inspection  of  fire  apparatus,  and 
to  him  fell  the  duty  of  making  recommendations  for  fire  prevention  and  of 
initiating  additional  measures  for  this  purpose.  He  insured  the  instruction 
and  drill  of  the  regular  fire  crew  and  of  the  officers  and  enlisted  personnel  on 
duty.  Pending  the  arrival  of  the  District  of  Columbia  fire  department,  he  was 
expected  to  take  immediate  charge  of  fire  fighting.  The  following  is  a resume 
of  the  fire  regulations  of  the  hospital.  In  the  fire  protection  branch  of  the 
hospital  there  were  at  least  at  all  times  a fire  marshal,  a first  deputy  fire  marshal,  a 
second  deputy  fire  marshal,  the  officer  of  the  day,  and  the  fire  chief  (civilian). 
One  of  the  officials,  in  addition  to  the  officer  of  the  day,  was  on  duty  at  all  times. 
The  senior  officer  present  assumed  charge  of  fire  fighting  until  the  arrival  of  the 
commanding  officer  or  fire  department  officials.  In  order  to  prevent  fire, 
smoking  was  strictly  prohibited  in  storerooms,  garage,  motor  transport  office, 
repair  shops,  stables,  and  workrooms  of  the  reconstruction  shops  ; floor  bright- 
eners  and  other  highly  inflammable  materials  were  required  to  be  kept  in 
tightly  corked  original  containers,  and  with  the  cloths  used  in  applying  them 
were  stored  in  sealed  lockers,  not  in  wooden  closets  or  storerooms.  Smoking 
was  prohibited  in  the  post  auditorium  and  Red  Cross  house  during  performances 
or  assemblies,  and  the  closing  or  blocking  of  exits  from  these  buildings  was  pro- 
hibited. At  the  alarm  of  fire,  the  personnel  other  than  those  for  whom  special 
duties  were  provided  in  the  regulations,  proceeded  ’with  all  possible  speed  to 
the  scene  of  the  fire  and  reported  as  follows : 

Administrative  officers,  and  others  not  assigned  to  the  professional  services, 
to  the  executive  officer  or  his  deputy,  for  assignment  to  duty  with  sections  of 
the  fire-fighting  department.  Officers  of  the  surgical  service  to  the  chief  thereof 
or  his  deputy,  for  assignment  to  specific  stations  and  duties.  The  function  of 
the  surgical  service  was  the  removal  of  patients  from  threatened  buildings. 
The  chiefs  of  litter  squads,  upon  arrival  at  the  scene  of  a fire,  were  required  to 
report  to  the  chief  of  the  surgical  service  or  his  deputy.  Officers  of  the  medical 
service  to  the  chief  thereof,  or  his  deputy,  for  assignment  to  specific  stations 
and  duties  in  connection  with  salvage  operations.  The  chiefs  of  salvage  details, 
upon  arrival  at  the  scene  of  a fire,  were  required  to  report  to  the  chief  of  the 
medical  service  or  his  deputy.  All  ward  medical  officers,  whose  wards  were  in 
the  district  in  which  the  fire  developed,  repaired  to  their  respective  wards  to 
maintain  order  and  prepare,  if  necessary,  to  remove  their  patients.  Nurses 
repaired  to  their  wards  and,  if  danger  threatened,  prepared  their  patients  to 
be  moved.  Noncommissioned  officers  in  property  and  finance  offices  closed 
their  offices  and  proceeded  to  the  scene  of  the  fire.  Noncommissioned  officers 


294 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  attendants  on  duty  in  receiving  and  disposition  wards  remained  at  their 
posts  of  duty.  Cooks  preparing  meals  remained  at  their  posts,  but  dining-room 
attendants  proceeded  to  the  scene  of  fire.  All  enlisted  men  in  barracks,  not 
otherwise  provided  for,  assembled  upon  the  detachment  parade  grounds  under 
the  supervision  of  the  senior  noncommissioned  officer  present,  who  conducted 
them  at  double-time  to  the  scene  of  the  fire  and  reported  to  the  fire  marshal 
or  the  officer  in  charge.  Patients  in  buildings,  other  than  the  one  which  was 
on  fire,  did  not  leave  them  unless  the  fire  marshal  deemed  it  necessary  to  have 
them  moved  to  a place  of  safety.  The  officer  of  the  day  made  a personal  check 
of  all  motor  and  hand-drawn  equipment  reporting  at  the  scene  of  the  fire  and 
noted  the  time  of  arrival  of  each  vehicle.  The  fire  chief,  or  the  first  officer 
arriving  at  the  scene  of  the  fire,  notified  the  telephone  operator  if  it  was  appar- 
ent that  the  services  of  the  Washington  City  fire  department  would  be  required. 

The  fire  chief  was  charged  with  the  instruction,  discipline,  performance  of 
duty,  and  conduct  while  on  duty,  of  all  personnel  permanently  detailed  or 
employed  in  the  lire  department.  He  was  responsible  for  the  maintenance  in 
proper  condition  for  instant  use  of  all  fire-fighting  equipment  in  the  post.  lie 
was  further  charged  with  a daily  inspection  of  the  hospital,  with  the  view  to 
the  elimination  of  fire  risks,  and  he  was  placed  under  immediate  direction  of 
the  fire  marshal  in  all  particulars.  The  fire  marshal  held  frequent  fire  drills, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  commanding  officer,  and  immediately  following 
such  drills  all  fire  apparatus  was  inspected. 

The  aero  automatic  fire-alarm  system  which  was  installed  in  practically  all 
buildings  could  be  set  in  operation  in  two  ways:  by  breaking  the  glass  rod  in 
the  signal  box,  and  by  means  of  sudden  rise  in  temperature  on  the  aero  wires. 
Variations  in  temperature,  not  resulting  from  fire,  caused  frequent  false  alarms 
to  come  in  over  the  automatic  fire-alarm  system,  so  that  it  became  necessary 
to  map  out  a procedure  when  this  alarm  sounded.  All  personnel  heretofore 
specified  were  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  building  from  which  the  alarm  ema- 
nated, and  under  no  circumstance  to  leave  the  vicinity  until  the  fire  marshal 
or  other  competent  officer  made  a thorough  investigation  of  the  cause  of  the 
alarm.  If  the  alarm  proved  to  be  a false  one,  recall  was  sounded  and  personnel 
and  equipment  returned  to  their  proper  stations.  In  case  of  aero  alarm,  switch- 
board operators  were  not  required  to  give  notice  of  fire  until  notified  by  a respon- 
sible officer  that  a fire  actually  existed;  nor  did  the  sergeant  of  the  guard  have 
“fire  call’’  and  the  siren  sounded  until  after  receipt  of  like  information. 

The  officer  in  charge  of  the  utilities  department  was  responsible  for  the 
proper  manning  of  all  equipment  in  the  fire  department.  He  was  permitted 
to  call  upon  the  post  supply  officer  and  the  motor  transport  officer  for  such 
number  of  men  as  he  might  need.  The  detachment  commander,  Quartermaster 
Department,  detailed  from  his  detachment  properly  trained  day  and  night 
crews  for  handling  hose  and  ladder  trucks  and  22  carts.  The  detachment 
commander,  Medical  Department,  detailed  day  and  night  crews  to  handle 
other  hose  carts.  He  also  formed  and  instructed  in  their  duties  one  salvage 
section,  one  bucket  section,  one  fire  extinguisher  section,  and  one  ladder 
section. 

The  hospital  was  furnished  with  a complete  fire-fighting  equipment  and 
was  provided  with  numerous  fire  telephones,  marked  at  night  with  red  lights 
and  with  signal  boxes. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  295 

The  following  fire-fighting  equipment  was  maintained:  One  La  France 
auto  combination  pump,  chemical  and  hose  truck;  one  Ford  motor  chemical 
tank  (33  gallons);  one  Ford  motor  combination  chemical  and  hose  wagon  (33 
gallons) ; one  hand-drawn  hook  and  ladder  truck  with  a 55-foot  extension 
ladder,  two  24-inch  plain  ladders,  and  one  10-foot  roof  ladder;  four  hand-liose 
reel  carts  with  45  feet  of  24-inch  hose;  three  hand-drawn  chemical  carts  (66 
gallons);  15  hand-drawn  chemical  carts  (33  gallons);  7 extension  ladders,  40 
and  50  foot  lengths;  43  ladders,  plain  (30-foot  lengths);  641  buckets,  fire;  216 
chemical  fire  extinguishers,  1 quart  (Pyrene) ; 77  chemical  fire  extinguishers, 
1 quart  (Fight  Fire) ; 144  axes  (pick);  226  hand  grenades;  45  fire  hydrants; 
1,750  feet  of  f-inch  rubber  hose  for  chemical  tanks;  3,250  feet  of  24-inch  cotton 
hose. 

The  automatic  fire-alarm  system  was  installed  in  the  temporary  wards 
and  storehouses.  It  consisted  of  126  circuits,  2 punch  registers,  and  10  aero 
gongs.  In  addition  to  the  aero  alarm  system  there  was  a local  alarm  system 
for  the  administration  building  only,  with  a signal  alarm  in  the  basement  and 
on  all  floors.  An  electric  siren  and  alarm  was  installed  at  the  power  house,  but 
did  not  prove  to  be  satisfactory. 

The  police  officer  was  charged  with  the  general  policing  of  the  grounds  of 
the  post,  and  made  a systematic  inspection  of  each  section  of  the  post  for  this 
purpose.  Courts-martial  were  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  Manual  for 
Courts-Martial,  and  all  officers  charged  with  the  administration  of  justice  or 
with  the  execution  of  military  sentences  were  required  to  acquaint  themselves 
with  the  provisions  of  this  manual. 

Department  of  Service  and  Supply. 

The  department  of  service  and  supply  included  eight  divisions,  identified 
as  follows:  Service  of  supply;  constructing  and  utilities  service;  mess  service; 
motor  transport  service;  telegraph  and  telephone  service;  post  exchange; 
morale;  educational  and  recreation  service. 

The  division  of  service  of  supply  included  six  officers,  namely,  supply, 
ordnance,  finance,  transportation,  salvage,  and  medical  supply.  The  supply 
officer  was  charged  with  the  procurement  and  issue  of  all  supplies  for  the 
post,  and  the  proper  accounting  for  the  supplies  received.  In  the  absence  of 
a commissioned  subordinate,  he  administered  the  ordnance,  the  commissary, 
the  transportation,  salvage  office,  and  the  medical  supply  office.  Tfie  medical 
property  officer  was  in  charge  of  the  supply,  issue,  repair,  care,  and  disposal 
of  all  medical  property.  He  was  the  equipment  officer  of  the  hospital  and 
was  expected  not  to  wait  for  requests  but  to  seek  in  every  way  possible  to 
obtain  and  issue  the  . best  equipment  for  the  hospital.  His  responsibilities 
included  receiving,  accounting  for,  and  transmitting  to  the  United  States 
Treasury  all  money  collected  for  sale  of  medical  supplies  to  civilians.  The 
officer  in  charge  of  the  dispensary  transmitted  to  him  all  funds  received  for  the 
sale  of  supplies  to  civilians,  with  the  name  of  the  purchaser,  the  date  of  sale, 
and  the  prescription  number.  A medical  officer  was  designated  as  in  charge 
of  the  pharmacy  by  the  commanding  officer.  This  officer  supervised  the 
work  of  the  department  and  was  responsible  for  its  proper  functioning.  The 
functions  of  the  pharmacy  Avere  as  follows:  Compounding  prescriptions;  issu- 
ing drugs  upon  prescription  of  the  medical  officer  on  duty;  manufacturing 


296 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


compounds  for  the  wards  of  the  hospital;  and  procuring,  recording,  storing, 
and  issuing  supplies  in  accordance  with  regulations. 

The  constructing  and  utilities  service  was  administered  by  two  officers — 
the  constructing  quartermaster  and  the  utilities  officer.  The  constructing 
quartermaster  was  responsible  for  the  construction  work  in  accordance  with 
the  plans,  specifications,  and  instructions  received  from  the  Chief  of  the  Con- 
struction Division,  War  Department.  The  utilities  officer  was  charged  with 
the  repair  and  maintenance  of  all  military  structures  on  the  post  and  with 
the  maintenance  of  all  utilities  connected  therewith,  except  the  handling  of 
passengers  and  freight.  Specifically,  the  utilities  officer  was  responsible  for 
buildings  and  grounds,  roads,  walks  and  fences,  sewerage  and  drainage  systems, 
plumbing,  heating,  electrical  energy,  refrigeration,  water  supply,  and  fire 
protection. 

The  mess  service  was  administered  by  a mess  officer,  assisted  by  the  dieti- 
tians. The  mess  officer  was  in  charge  of  all  messes  on  the  post  and  was 
responsible  for  the  procurement  of  proper  food  supplies  and  their  satisfactory 
preparation  and  service.  He  exercised  immediate  control  of  both  civilian  and 
enlisted  personnel  assigned  to  mess  duty,  required  necessary  medical  and 
laboratory  examination  of  all  food  handlers;  supervised  the  assignment  and 
performance  of  duty  of  dietitians  and  provided  such  special  diets  or  articles 
as  might  be  prescribed  by  the  medical  officers.  The  head  dietitian  cooperated 
with  the  mess  officer,  the  professional  services,  and  the  chief  nurse  in  the 
preparation  of  proper  diets  for  patients  in  the  hospital.  She  assigned  her 
subordinates  and  was  in  direct  charge  of  their  discipline.  The  dietitian  placed 
in  charge  of  the  mess  was  responsible  for  the  dietary  service  of  that  mess. 
She  was  expected  to  acquaint  herself,  by  consultation  with  the  ward  surgeon 
or  head  nurse,  with  the  special  needs  of  the  individual  patients,  and  strictly 
to  follow  instructions  received  from  special  services  for  special  diets.  A daily 
report  was  furnished  by  the  head  nurse  of  each  ward  to  the  principal  chief 
nurse,  giving  constructive  criticism  upon  meals  served  in  her  ward.  Tins 
report  was  submitted  to  the  mess  officer  through  the  head  dietitian.  The 
mess  department  conducted  messes  as  follows: 

(1)  An  officers’  mess  which  provided  for  officers  and  civilians  in  the  status  of  officers 

who  were  patients  in  the  main  administration  building,  and  also  for  ambulant 

patients  of  these  classes  in  other  wards. 

(2)  Patients’  general  mess,  which  provided  for  all  enlisted  men  and  civilians  upon  such 

status. 

(3)  Detachment  mess,  conducted  by  detachment  commander. 

(4)  Nurses’  mess,  conducted  by  the  stewardess  assigned  to  this  mess  under  the  supervi 

sion  of  the  chief  nurse. 

(5)  Mess  for  officers’  pavilion  No.  1,  which  provided  for  patients  in  said  pavilion  and 

other  neighboring  officer  wards. 

(6)  Mess  for  the  women’s  ward. 

The  motor  transportation  service  provided  four  classes  of  service:  Passen- 
ger, freight,  ambulance,  and  fire-fighting  equipment.  The  motor  transport 
officer  was  charged  with  the  procurement,  maintenance,  operation,  and  dis- 
position of  all  motor  transportation  of  the  post;  he  controlled  military  and 
civilian  personnel  assigned  to  his  department ; and  he  required  obedience  to 
traffic  laws,  promptly  investigating  and  reporting  traffic  accidents  involving  his 
equipment. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


297 


The  signal  officer  maintained  the  telegraph  and  telephone  service  of  the 
post.  He  employed  and  controlled  the  civilian  personnel  assigned  to  the  service, 
and  exercised  immediate  control  of  enlisted  personnel  detailed  for  this  duty. 

The  exchange  officer  conducted  the  post  exchange,  in  compliance  with 
Army  Regulations.  The  exchange,  in  addition  to  the  usual  store  service, 
included  a barber  shop  and  a lunch  counter.  It  also  provided  funds  for  con- 
ducting a cafeteria  service  by  the  service  club.  The  net  profits  of  the  cafeteria 
service,  after  all  operating  expenses  had  been  paid,  were  assigned  by  the  post 
exchange  to  the  educational  and  recreational  officer,  to  be  used  for  recreational 
service  for  the  enlisted  personnel  and  patients  of  the  hospital. 

The  morale,  education,  and  recreation  service  included  chaplains,  a morale 
officer,  an  education  and  recreation  officer,  a service  club  hostess,  and  a librarian- 
The  chaplains  performed  the  usual  duties  of  their  office.  The  morale  officer, 
under  the  direction  of  the  commanding  officer,  established  a morale  organization, 
charged  with  the  general  functions  indicated  in  War  Department  instructions. 
The  education  officer  was  charged  with  the  institution  and  operation  of  schools 
for  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the  post.  The  recreation  officer  had  supervision 
of  the  entertainment  of  patients  and  hospital  personnel  and  of  the  recreational 
work  of  the  welfare  organizations  and  other  volunteer  organizations  permitted 
on  the  post.  He  provided  generous  and  varied  opportunity  for  athletics  and 
recreation  for  convalescent  patients  and  for  personnel  on  duty.  Under  his 
direction  a service  club  was  operated  by  a hostess  and  a post  library  by  an 
authorized  appointee. 

Department  of  Professional  Services. 

THE  SURGICAL  SERVICE. 

The  surgical  service  was  administered  by  a chief  of  service,  an  assistant 
to  the  chief  of  service,  chiefs  of  sections,  ward  surgeons,  and  surgical  emergency 
officers. 

The  chief  of  the  surgical  service  was  charged  with  the  responsibility  for  all 
matters  relating  to  his  service,  including  the  character  of  professional  service 
rendered  and  the  care  and  treatment  given  to  surgical  patients,  the  prepara- 
tion, maintenance,  and  disposition  of  clinical  records  of  surgical  patients  and 
the  instruction  of  medical  officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  personnel  assigned  to 
this  service. 

The  assistant  to  the  chief  of  the  surgical  service  performed  all  the  duties 
of  an  administrative  officer  to  the  service  and  such  additional  duties  as  might 
be  assigned  to  him  by  his  chief. 

The  chiefs  of  section  were  responsible  for  the  efficiency  of  professional 
services  rendered;  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  patients;  for  the  maintenance 
of  good  order,  military  discipline,  police,  and  sanitation;  for  the  instruction  of 
subordinate  medical  officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  attendants;  and  for  the 
preparation,  preservation,  and  the  proper  disposition  of  records  of  patients  in 
each  section.  Each  chief  surveyed  all  patients  in  his  section  at  frequent  and 
regular  intervals,  in  company  with  the  ward  surgeon,  and  initiated  measures 
for  the  disposition  of  patients  at  the  proper  time.  In  consultation  with  the 
ward  surgeon,  he  caused  to  be  prepared  the  disability  reports  for  military 
patients  who  were  recommended  for  disability  discharge  and  insured  that  com- 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  TN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


plete  clinical  records  were  forwarded  with  these  recommendations  to  the  super- 
visor of  clinical  records,  through  the  chief  of  service.  He  required  that  a care- 
ful clinical  history  of  all  patients  be  submitted  to  him  by  the  ward  surgeon  at 
ins  first  consultation  or  within  24  hours  thereafter;  and  that  progress  sheets 
and  diagnoses  be  kept  up  to  date.  He  held  consultation  with  an  officer  rep- 
resenting the  physiotherapy  department  for  every  patient  in  his  section  whose 
condition  indicated  such  special  treatment.  He  was  responsible  that  any 
necessary  dental  examination,  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  examination,  and 
other  indicated  special  examinations  were  accorded  patients  in  his  section. 
Pie  maintained  an  office  and  forwarded  routine  papers  at  least  twice  daily.  All 
requests  for  leaves  or  passes  for  officer  patients,  furloughs  for  enlisted  patients, 
requests  for  transfer,  or  other  disposition  of  patients  were  sent  by  the  ward 
surgeon,  with  his  recommendation,  to  the  chief  of  section,  who  promptly  for- 
warded the  same,  with  recommendation,  to  the  proper  office.  Furlough 
requests  were  forwarded  direct  to  the  commanding  officer,  detachment  of  patients. 
All  other  leave  requests,  transfer  requests,  etc.,  were  sent  to  the  chief  of  the 
surgical  service.  A chief  of  section  was  required  to  report  to  the  office  of  the 
chief  of  service  one-half  hour  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  tour  of  duty  of  the 
senior  surgical  emergency  officer  and  to  inform  the  emergency  officer  concerning 
special  treatment  of  serious  surgical  cases  of  his  section.  The  chief  of  a section 
was  further  required  to  investigate  complaints  of  patients  and  to  make  satis- 
factory disposition  of  such  defects  as  far  as  possible.  He  controlled  the  transfer 
of  patients  within  his  section  and  made  recommendation  to  the  chief  of  service 
for  transfers  to  other  sections  or  services.  He  was  responsible  for  measures  of 
fire  prevention  in  his  section  and  assumed  charge  of  the  removal  of  patients 
and  the  salvage  of  public  property  in  his  section  in  case  of  fire.  He  submitted 
to  the  curator  requests  for  work  by  the  department  of  illustration. 

The  surgical  service  included  the  following  sections:  General  surgery, 
septic  surgery,  empyema,  maxillofacial,  neurosurgical,  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat, 
orthopedic,  amputation,  dermatology  and  syphilis,  urology,  obstetrics,  and 
gynecology. 

The  general  responsibility  of  a ward  surgeon  included  the  care  and  welfare 
of  all  patients  in  his  wards;  the  treatment  and  diet  of  his  patients;  the  disci- 
pline of  the  attendants  and  patients;  the  police  of  his  wards  and  porches;  the 
rendition  of  reports  and  returns;  and  the  enforcement  of  hospital  regulations 
in  so  far  as  they  applied  to  his  ward.  He  made  at  least  one  round  of  his  wards 
in  the  morning  and  at  least  one  in  the  afternoon.  Ward  morning  reports  were 
prepared  by  him  to  cover  all  cases  admitted,  disposed  of,  or  transferred  from 
and  to  the  ward  in  the  previous  24  hours  ending  at  midnight.  Daily  diet 
requests  and  mess  storeroom  requests  were  signed  by  the  ward  surgeon  and 
sent  to  the  mess  officer  before  9.30  each  morning.  Diagnosis  cards,  received 
by  the  ward  from  the  receiving  officer,  were  completed  by  the  ward  surgeon 
and  turned  in  to  the  sick  and  wounded  office  as  soon  as  possible,  preferably 
within  48  hours.  Duty  slips  for  all  cases  disposed  of  either  as  duty,  discharged, 
transferred  to  other  hospitals,  sick  leave  or  furlough,  were  completed  by  the 
ward  surgeon  and  sent  through  the  chief  of  the  section,  with  complete  clinical 
records,  to  the  registrar,  24  hours  previous  to  the  patient's  departure.  A com- 
plete examination  and  clinical  history  were  made  in  every  case  by  the  ward 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


299 


surgeon  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  admission  of  a patient.  Upon  the  dis- 
position of  a case  the  clinical  record  was  completed  and  signed  by  the  ward 
surgeon  and  sent  to  the  registrar.  In  case  of  death  of  a patient,  the  clinical 
records  were  completed  (including  a statement  as  to  the  cause  of  death,  signed 
by  the  ward  surgeon)  and  sent  to  the  registrar  without  delay.  Requests 
for  consultation  were  prepared  by  the  ward  surgeon  and  were  submitted  to 
the  chief  of  section.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  admission  of  a patient 
the  ward  surgeon  called  upon  the  dental  surgery  officer  for  a dental  exami- 
nation, and  the  chief  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  section  for  an 
eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  examination.  When  a patient  was  to  be  trans- 
ferred from  one  ward  to  another,  a transfer  slip,  signed  by  the  ward  surgeon 
and  initialed  by  the  disposing  chief  of  section,  was  sent  to  the  chief  of  section 
receiving  the  case,  who  indicated  the  ward  to  which  the  patient  was  to  be  sent. 
The  transfer  slip  and  clinical  record  were  then  sent  with  the  patient  to  the 
ward  indicated.  The  ward  surgeon  promptly  sent  the  transfer  slip  to  the 
registrar.  Recommendations  for  transfer  to  other  hospitals  were  prepared  by 
the  ward  surgeon  and  sent  to  the  chief  of  section  for  the  consideration  of  the 
chief  of  service.  When  a patient  was  discharged  for  diasbility,  the  ward  sur- 
geon arranged  for  a consultation  with  the  chief  of  section  and  submitted  the 
data  for  the  preparation  of  a certificate  of  disability.  Routine  pass  privileges 
were  granted  or  refused  by  the  ward  surgeon.  Special  requests  for  leave  of 
patients  were  submitted  by  the  ward  surgeon  to  the  commanding  officer, 
detachment  of  patients.  For  all  contagious  diseases,  mumps  excepted,  the 
ward  surgeon  immediately  made  out  a report  card  to  the  Health  Department, 
District  of  Columbia.  This  card  was  sent,  together  with  the  diagnosis  card, 
to  the  registrar;  and  when  the  patient  had  recovered  from  the  disease,  the  ward 
surgeon  sent  a recovery  card  in  the  same  manner.  Every  precaution  was 
taken  in  contagious-disease  wards  to  prevent  spread  of  the  contagion.  The 
ward  surgeon  was  responsible  for  the  preparation  of  notifications  of  death  or 
serious  illness  and  their  transmission  to  the  proper  officer.  Upon  the  death  of 
a patient  he  prepared  the  notification  in  quadruplicate  and  sent  one  copy  to 
the  adjutant,  one  to  the  detachment  commander  of  patients,  one  to  the  super- 
visor of  clinical  records,  and  one  to  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  mortuary.  Upon 
receipt  of  this  notice  the  adjutant,  or  in  his  absence  the  officer  of  the  day,  noti- 
fied the  nearest  relative  with  utmost  speed.  All  valuables  were  removed  from 
the  body  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  ward  surgeon  and  were  turned  in 
to  the  adjutant.  In  case  of  serious  or  critical  illness,  or  contemplated  major 
operations,  serious  illness  cards  were  sent  by  the  ward  surgeon  to  the  adjutant. 
These  slips  included  the  names  of  such  relatives  as  the  patient  wished  to  notify 
and  stated  whether  the  notification  should  be  made  by  telegram  or  letter. 
The  ward  surgeon  was  further  required  to  notify  the  chaplain  of  cases  of  death 
and  serious  illness.  He  also  kept  relatives  of  the  patients  in  his  particular 
ward  informed  of  the  clinical  progress  of  the  patient.  The  ward  surgeon 
signed  requisitions  for  medical  supplies,  sending  them  to  the  medical  property 
officer  direct.  He  was  required  to  exercise  special  care  in  the  matter  of  requi- 
sitioning narcotics,  intoxicating  liquors,  or  habit-forming  drugs,  and  after  their 
receipt  he  was  required  to  keep  them  under  lock  and  key.  Finally,  he  was 
responsible  for  the  protection  of  the  property  of  the  patients,  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  discipline,  and  for  observing  precautions  against  fire  in  the  ward. 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Two  surgical  emergency  officers  were  detailed  by  roster  from  medical 
officers  on  duty  in  the  surgical  service.  The  senior  member  was  an  officer  of 
field  rank  and  his  tour  of  duty  was  from  5 p.  m.  to  9 a.  m.  The  tour  of  the 
junior  member  was  from  9 a.  m.  to  9 p.  m.  The  senior  member  saw  all  acute 
surgical  cases  and  visited  all  patients  who  had  been  operated  on  the  day  of 
his  tour,  taking  any  action  indicated.  He  acted  as  consultant  and  advisor  to 
the  junior  member  and,  upon  request,  to  the  medical  emergency  officer.  The 
junior  officer  functioned  in  the  absence  of  surgical  ward  surgeons.  He  made  a 
complete  inspection  of  the  entire  surgical  service  between  the  hours  of  9 p.  m. 
and  12  midnight.  In  case  of  death  he  saw  that  the  body  was  properly  tagged 
and  removed  to  the  mortmuy. 

Professional  departments  which  were  subsidiary  to  the  surgical  service 
were  the  dental  department,  the  X-ray  department,  the  orthopedic  appliance 
shop,  and  the  department  of  anesthesia. 

The  chief  of  the  dental  department  was  responsible  for  the  dental  service 
rendered  at  the  hospital,  for  the  supervision  and  instruction  of  all  personnel 
assigned  to  his  division,  and  for  all  the  public  property  under  his  control.  All 
military  patients  admitted  to  the  hospital  were  examined  by  the  dental  survey 
officer,  who  furnished  a report  to  the  chief  of  his  department.  The  chief  of 
the  dental  department  furnished  imperative  dental  attention  whenever  indi 
cated  and  elective  dental  attention  as  far  as  possible. 

The  chief  of  the  X-ray  department  was  responsible  for  the  X-ray  service 
rendered  at  the  hospital,  for  the  supervision  and  instruction  of  all  personnel 
assigned  to  his  division,  and  for  all  equipment  and  public  property  under  his 
control.  Before  ordering  an  X-ray  series,  surgeons  were  required  to  ascertain 
whether  a series  had  been  taken  within  four  weeks;  and,  if  such  a series  were 
available  and  satisfactory,  to  refrain  from  ordering  another  series.  In  no 
instance  was  another  series  ordered  within  three  weeks  of  a former  exposure 
of  a patient  unless  specifically  authorized  by  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  X-ray 
department. 

The  chief  of  the  orthopedic  appliance  shop  was  responsible  for  the  conduct 
of  the  shop,  the  supervision  of  the  personnel  assigned  thereto,  and  the  care  of 
the  equipment. 

The  chief  anesthetist  supervised  the  administration  of  anesthetics,  gave 
instruction  in  such  administration,  and  took  general  charge  of  the  operating 
rooms  and  personnel. 

THE  MEDICAL  SERVICE. 

The  organization  of  the  medical  service  closely  followed  that  of  the  surgical 
service  and  included  a chief  of  service,  an  assistant  chief  of  service,  chiefs  of 
sections,  ward  surgeons,  and  a medical  emergency  officer.  With  the  exception 
of  the  last-named  officer  these  officers  were  charged  with  responsibilities  corre- 
sponding to  those  already  outlined  for  the  surgical  service.  The  medical 
emergency  officer  was  appointed  by  the  chief  of  service  from  among  the  avail- 
able officers  of  the  medical  service.  His  tour  extended  from  9 a.  m.  of  the  date 
designated  to  9 a.  m.  of  the  succeeding  day.  During  his  tour  he  did  not  leave 
the  reservation  and  was  required  to  keep  the  switchboard  operator  advised  of 
his  whereabouts  at  all  times.  The  medical  emergency  officer  was  charged  with 
the  care  of  all  persons  and  patients  in  the  detention  wards.  In  the  absence  of 


TYPES  OP  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


301 


ward  surgeons  he  was  in  charge  of  all  medical  patients.  When  patients  of  the 
medical  service  developed  surgical  conditions  he  consulted  with  the  surgical 
emergency  officer,  and  he  likewise  stood  ready  to  give  advice  concerning  surgical 
patients  who  developed  medical  conditions.  When  any  patient  died  in  the 
medical  and  detention  wards  he  examined  the  dead  and  ordered  the  remains 
to  be  removed  to  the  mortuary. 

THE  LABORATORY  SERVICE. 

The  chief  of  the  laboratory  department  was  responsible  for  the  laboratory 
service  rendered  at  the  hospital,  for  the  supervision  and  instruction  of  all 
personnel  assigned  to  the  laboratory,  and  for  the  care  of  all  laboratory  equip- 
ment.  He  maintained  a bacteriology  section,  a chemical  section,  and  a patho- 
logical section  in  his  laboratory.  He  assigned  responsibility  for  the  care  and 
conduct  of  the  mortuary;  and  he  was  responsible  for  the  proper  performance 
of  autopsies,  when  authorized  by  the  commanding  officer,  and  for  the  proper 
disposition  of  the  bodies  of  all  deceased  patients  received  at  the  mortuary. 
Upon  request  of  the  mess  officer  or  detachment  commanders  he  examined  food 
handlers  to  eliminate  typhoid  carriers,  and  upon  request  of  chiefs  of  service 
he  examined  any  patients  or  personnel  to  identify  carriers  of  communicable 
disease.  At  regular  intervals  he  examined  food  supplies.  Upon  requests  of 
chiefs  of  service  or  detachment  commanders  he  administered  vaccine.  He 
maintained  a list,  by  groups,  of  volunteer  donors  for  blood  transfusions,  and 
supplied  a donor  when  requested  by  chiefs  of  service. 

The  Department  of  Reconstruction  and  Education. 

The  department  of  reconstruction  and  education  included  three  divisions, 
namely,  ward  handicrafts,  curative  shop  work,  and  educational  and  vocational 
training.  The  department  was  administered  by  an  educational  director. 

The  Physiotherapy  Department. 

The  physiotherapy  department  was  likewise  administered  by  a director 
who  was  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  his  department,  its  personnel,  and 
equipment.  Physiotherapy  was  prescribed  by  chiefs  of  service  or  section, 
and  frequent  consultations  were  required  between  the  medical  officers  pre- 
scribing the  treatment  and  the  officers  who  gave  it. 

The  Nursing  Department. 

The  nursing  department  of  the  hospital  was  administered  by  the  principal 
chief  nurse  and  the  assistant  principal  chief  nurse,  the  day  supervisor  of  gradu- 
ate nurses,  the  night  supervisor  of  graduate  nurses,  and  the  superintendent  of 
the  Army  School  of  Nursing. 

The  principal  chief  nurse  was  responsible  for  the  efficiency  of  the  nursing 
and  for  the  conduct  of  the  Army  School  of  Nursing.  She  had  charge  of  the 
instruction,  assignment,  discipline,  performance  of  duty,  and  conduct  while 
on  duty  of  members  of  the  Army  Nurse  Corps  and  Army  School  of  Nursing, 
and  the  supervision  of  the  female  help  employed  for  general  kitchen  and  house- 
keeping purposes.  She  was  responsible  for  the  equipment  and  public  property 
for  the  nurses’  quarters  and  for  the  sanitation  of  and  measures  for  fire  pre- 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


vention  in  those  quarters.  She  supervised  the  records  of  the  Army  dietitians 
and  was  responsible  for  the  preparation  and  disposition  of  the  records  of  her 
department. 

The  assistant  principal  chief  nurse  was  charged  with  the  records  and  corre- 
spondence concerning  the  nurse  corps  on  duty  at  the  hospital  and  such  other 
duties  as  might  be  assigned  to  her  by  the  principal  chief  nurse.  In  the  absence 
of  the  latter  the  assistant  assumed  complete  charge. 

The  day  supervisor  of  graduate  nurses  made  a daily  inspection  of  all 
wards  for  the  purpose  of  determining  the  character  of  the  performance  of  duty 
by  the  nurses.  She  devoted  special  attention  to  the  care  and  nursing  afforded 
the  seriously  ill,  the  preparation  and  service  of  diets  in  wards,  and  the  measures 
taken  to  protect  and  issue  intoxicating  liquors  and  habit-forming  drugs. 

The  night  supervisor  of  graduate  nurses  made  a nightly  inspection  of  all 
wards  corresponding  to  the  daily  inspection  made  by  the  day  supervisor. 

The  superintendent  of  the  Army  School  of  Nursing  conducted  the  school 
for  undergraduate  nurses  at  the  hospital.  She  was  guided  by  instructions 
received  from  the  commanding  officer  and  from  the  principal  chief  nurse;  and 
she  supervised  the  work  of  the  nurses  in  charge  of  instruction  in  theoretical 
nursing,  practical  nursing,  and  supervision  of  undergraduate  nurses  in  the 
wards. 

PERSONNEL. 

STRENGTH  OF  COMMAND. 

The  mean  daily  strength  of  personnel  on  duty  at  the  hospital  in  the  year 
1917  was:  Medical  officers,  22.8;  Medical  Department  and  Quartermaster 
Corps,  223.1 ; Army  Nurse  Corps,  44.7.  During  the  year  1918,  the  mean  strength 
of  the  command  was:  Medical  officers,  86.3;  detachment,  Medical  Depart- 
ment, 889.1;  detachment,  Quartermaster  Corps,  136.7;  Army  Nurse  Corps, 
147.8;  reconstruction  aides,  33.6;  civilian  employees,  IS. 9. 

The  post  return  for  December  31,  1919,  shows  451  officers  present  and 
absent;  and  a total  strength  of  command  of  3,188,  the  latter  figure  including  a 
military  total  of  2,661,  present  and  absent,  and  a civilian  total  of  527,  present 
and  absent.  An  analysis  of  the  figures  shows  the  strength  of  the  detachment, 
Medical  Department,  as  648  men.  At  the  beginning  of  1919,  1,090  enlisted 
men  of  the  Medical  Department  were  on  duty  at  the  hospital.  All  but  70  of 
this  number  were  emergency  men  who,  during  the  year,  were  discharged  and 
replaced  by  enlisted  men  of  the  Regular  Army.  In  June,  1919,  166  nurses 
were  on  duty.  During  the  year  replacements  and  transfers  were  effected  and 
at  the  end  there  remained  201  nurses  on  a duty  status. 

ARMY  SCHOOL  OF  NURSING. 

The  first  student  nurses  arrived  at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  August  5. 
1918.  In  September,  there  were  about  45,  9 of  whom  were  of  the  training  class 
of  Yassar  College.  In  November,  25  more  students  arrived.  These  young 
women  had  been  helping,  during  the  influenza  epidemic,  at  Camp  Humphreys, 
Va.  To  this  group,  26  probationers  were  added,  making  a class  of  51.  At 
the  beginning  of  January,  1919,  there  was  a total  enrollment  of  66  student 
nurses  in  training.  During  February  and  March  following,  the  students  were 
accepted  as  regular  members  of  the  Army  School  of  Nursing,  upon  completion 
of  their  four  months  of  probationary  training.  In  March  and  April,  all  student 


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303 


nurses  who  had  entered  the  Army  for  service  during  the  emergency  period 
were  released  from  the  rapidly  closing  camps.  Students  who  desired  to  com- 
plete the  three-year  period  of  training  were,  in  many  instances,  transferred  to 
Walter  Reed  General  Hospital.  This  policy  of  concentration  continued  un- 
interruptedly throughout  the  year  1919,  toward  the  end  of  which  the  total 
enrollment  was  112;  and  in  this  number  were  represented  students  from 
practically  all  the  units  of  the  Army  School  of  Nursing,  formerly  connected 
with  eastern  military  hospitals. 

The  theoretical  and  practical  work  given  the  student  nurses  was  in  strict 
compliance  with  the  standard  curriculum  for  schools  of  nursing  as  authorized 
by  the  National  League  of  Nursing  Education,  1918.  In  Circular  Letter  No. 
301,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  1919,  authorization  for  allowance  of  from  three 
to  nine  months  was  given  for  students  with  college  credits  or  with  credits  from 
approved  technical  schools. 

By  means  of  affiliation  with  civil  hospitals,  students  were  given  adequate 
training  in  pediatrics,  gynecology,  obstetrics,  psychiatry,  and  public  health 
nursing.  The  time  allowed  for  affiliation  work  was  one  year. 

The  daily  routine  was  eight  hours  of  work  in  the  wards,  one  hour  of  class 
work,  and  one  hour  of  study.  In  addition  to  being  placed  in  surgical  and  medi- 
cal wards,  the  students  were  also  placed  on  duty  in  the  general  operating  room, 
the  eye  clinic,  the  ear,  nose,  and  throat  clinic,  the  dental  clinic,  the  various  diet 
kitchens,  and  the  surgical  dressing  room.  Each  student  was  given  a service 
of  eight  weeks  in  each  department. 

A course  of  occupational  therapy  was  given  to  the  student  nurses  in  the 
occupational  therapy  department.  This  course  included  the  teaching  of  all 
forms  of  invalid  occupation. 

COURSE  OF  SURGERY-  FOR  MEDICAL  OFFICERS. 

Due  to  the  fact  that  demobilization  had  separated  a great  many  competent 
surgeons  from  the  service,  and  also  to  the  fact  that  hospitals  contained  many 
cases  requiring  surgical  intervention,  it  became  necessary  to  train  officers  of 
the  Regular  Medical  Corps  in  surgical  technique,  to  enable  them  to  cope  with 
the  situation  confronting  the  Medical  Department  after  the  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities. Because  of  the  unusual  number  and  variety  of  surgical  cases  at  Walter 
Reed  General  Hospital,  a three  months  ’ course  of  surgical  instruction  for 
Regular  Medical  Officers  was  begun  the  latter  part  of  June,  1919.  The  course 
comprised  a series  of  lectures  by  the  different  section  chiefs  of  the  surgical 
service,  the  assignment  of  each  officer  to  each  section  for  one  week’s  practical 
instruction  in  the  wards,  his  assignment  as  an  assistant  in  operations  performed 
on  patients  in  the  section  to  which  he  had  been  detailed,  and  his  designation 
as  principal  operator  in  certain  types  of  ordinary  surgical  operations  (particu- 
larly herniotomies  and  appendectomies) . 

Patients. 

The  work  of  the  hospital  during  1917,  the  first  year  of  the  war  period 
more  than  doubled.  There  were  4,256  patients  admitted  during  the  year, 
an  increase  of  2,906  over  the  preceding  year.  A table  prepared  for  the  Walter 
Reed  General  Hospital  Annual  Report  for  1917,  to  show  the  average  number 


304 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


of  days  in  hospital  for  each  patient,  also  indicates  the  range  of  cases  and  their 
distribution  in  the  various  services  of  the  Army.  This  table  follows : 

Table  15. — Average  number  of  days  lost  in  hospital,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital , 191 7. 

REGULAR  ARMY. 


Class  of  cases. 

Officers. 

Enlisted 

men. 

Medical 

16.253 

16. 295 

22.282 

30.004 

26. 666 

32.303 

31  286 

29.07S 

23.821 

19.983 

NATIONAL  ARMY. 

Venereal 

Mental 

Eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat 

11.233 
20.000 
3.500 
1.750 
5. 133 

15. 193 
20. 180 
25.964 
23.700 
14.250 

NATIONAL  GUARD. 


Medical 

Surgical 

21,273 
11. 166 

13.077 
25. 470 
24.649 

32.400 

Eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat 

13.500 

18.666 

CIVILIANS. 


Class  of  cases. 

Males. 

Females. 

17.344 

18.273 

34.851 

21.53 

26.333 

13.833 

4.000 

34.082 

40.318 

In  the  surgical  clinic,  974  operations  were  performed  during  1917.  A 
condensed  tabular  statement  furnishes  an  admirable  projection  of  the  surgical 
experience  of  the  hospital  during  that  year,  when  the  massing  of  troops  had 
concentrated  the  demands  upon  the  surgeons  but  before  the  overseas  cases, 
with  their  more  complicated  problems,  had  arrived. 


Table  16. — Surgical  operations  performed  at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  1917 . 


Officers,  Regular  j 

Army. 

Enlisted  men,  Reg- 
ulaCArmy. 

Officers,  Organized 
Militia. 

Enlisted  men,  Or- 
ganized Militia. 

Officers,  National 
Army. 

f-\  . 

c - 
o £ 

© C 
+*  O 

'fl 

Army  Nurse  Corps. 

'c3 

p 

© 

CD 

u> 

"© 

© . 
© 

© 

Civilians. 

JO 

t. 

1 

1 

2 

4 

4 

3 

1 

11 

2 

2 

13 

26 

50 

1 

1 

S3 

i 

1 

21 

23 

106 

1 

6 

i 

8 

l 

7 

s 

16 

11 

44 

2 

11 

6 

2 

76 

159 

159 

235 

2 

1 

3 

3 

6 

2 

s 

4 

4 

12 

2 

20 

4 

26 

1 

1 

2 

28 

60 

207 

1 

25 

5 

28 

i 

327 

2 

4 

51 

57 

3S4 

Gynecological: 

1 

i 

1 

24 

24 

24 

9 

3 

74 

i 

1 

5 

7 

SI 

2 

6 

1 

2 

11 

2 

2 

13 

4 

27 

2 

5 

i 

1 

40 

i 

3 

10 

14 

54 

Total 

119 

433 

7 

59 

6 

44 

3 

671 

6 

10 

2S7 

303 

974 

TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  305 

During  1918,  13,752  patients  were  admitted  to  the  hospital,  an  increase 
of  9,496  over  the  preceding  year.  The  average  number  of  days  for  each  case 
was  as  follows: 


Table  17. — Admissions  to  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital , 1918. 


Class  of  cases. 

Officers. 

Emitted 

Civilians. 

men. 

Male. 

Female. 

Medical 

23. 631 

25.  841 

18. 972 

18.  886 

45.  804 

48.  599 

21. 073 

22. 172 

59. 307 

44. 119 

28.  000 

13.  000 
21.  000 

57.  .546 

63.  829 

31.333 

19.880 

26. 398 

13.  782 

14.  482 

The  surgical  operations  performed  during  1918,  are  shown  by  the  following 
table : 

Table  18. — Surgical  operations  performed  at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  1918. 


Officers, 

active. 

Enlisted 

men, 

active. 

Army 

Nurse 

Corps. 

Total. 

Retired 

officers. 

Retired 

enlisted 

men. 

All 

others. 

Total. 

Grand 

total. 

1 

1 

2 

2 

8 

47 

55 

12 

12 

67 

36 

251 

1 

288 

16 

16 

304 

11 

32 

48 

53 

103 

440 

6 

549 

1 

42 

43 

592 

5 

20 

1 

26 

2 

2 

28 

23 

28 

1 

1 

29 

15 

148 

163 

6 

6 

169 

99 

890 

4 

993 

2 

23 

25 

1,018 

Gynecological: 

3 

3 

3 

3 

6 

13 

13 

13 

22 

248 

1 

271 

10 

10 

281 

31 

260 

4 

295 

5 

300 

Minor,  not  included 

13 

325 

2 

340 

6 

6 

346 

Total 

349 

2,685 

27 

3.061 

3 

144 

147 

3,208 

The  following  is  a summary  of  patients  admitted  to  and  disposed  of  from 
January  1,  1919,  to  December  31,  1919,  inclusive. 

Table  19. — Admissions  and  dispositions,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital , 1919. 


Officers 
and  All 

enlisted  others. 


Total. 


men. 


Remaining  Dec.  31, 1918 

Admitted  from  command,  1919. 

Admitted  by  transfer,  1919 

Admitted  otherwise,  1919 


1, 766  47 

1, 060  178 

3, 077  69 

3, 949  778 


1,813 
1,238 
3,  146 
4,727 


Total 

Dispositions,  1919: 

Returned  to  duty 

Died 

Discharged  for  disability 

Deserted 

Transferred  to  insane  asylums. 
Transferred  to  other  hospitals. 
Otherwise  disposed  of 

Total 

Remaining  Dec.  31, 1919 


9,  852 


4, 335 
88 
2, 127 
65 
27 
953 
650 


8,  245 


1,607 


1,072 


203 

24 


30 

717 


974 


10,  924 


4,  538 
112 
2,127 
65 
27 
9S3 
1,367 


9,  219 


1,705 


45269°— 23 20 


306 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


During  the  year  1919  over  1,200  cases  of  mental  conditions  were  treated 
by  the  neuropsychiatric  division.  This  statement  does  not  accurately  estimate 
the  work  of  the  section  because  there  were  many  cases  where  the  nervous  con- 
dition was  secondary,  or  the  mental  state,  while  abnormal,  could  not  be  classed 
as  a definite  psychosis  and  hence  would  not  appear  in  these  tables  as  such. 

PROFESSIONAL  ACTIVITIES  OF  THE  HOSPITAL  DEPARTMENTS. 

SURGICAL  SERVICE. 

The  chief  of  the  surgical  service  held  a daily  conference  with  all  chiefs  of 
sections,  and  a Saturday  meeting  at  which  all  officers  on  duty  in  the  surgical 
service  attended.  At  the  Saturday  meeting,  hospital  orders,  memoranda,  and 
other  pertinent  matters,  or  irregularities  of  the  service,  were  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  officers  attending.  A surgical  conference  of  one  hour’s  dura- 
tion was  held  weekly  for  all  officers  of  the  surgical  service,  the  various  section 
chiefs,  in  turn,  presenting  interesting  clinical  cases  from  their  respective  services. 

The  chief  of  the  surgical  service  and  his  assistant  dailj"  inspected  a group 
of  surgical  wards.  During  this  inspection  the  chief  of  the  service  was  consulted 
as  to  diagnosis  and  suitable  treatment  of  unusual  developments  and  compli- 
cations arising  in  cases  of  the  service.  At  least  twice  weekly  he  surveyed  every 
case  of  the  surgical  section. 

Requests  for  consultation  between  the  sections  for  cases  of  the  surgical 
service  as  well  as  those  from  other  services  for  surgical  conditions,  were  all 
referred  through  the  chief  of  the  surgical  service  to  the  special  section  con- 
cerned. 

Amputation  section. — A large  number  of  amputation  cases  during  the 
early  part  of  1919  were  received  from  overseas.  At  least  90  per  cent  of  these 
cases  required  operative  treatment  of  some  character  before  they  could  be 
fitted  with  artificial  limbs.  Postoperative  infection,  low  grade,  was  frequently 
encountered,  but  the  percentage  of  cases  requiting  re-operation  was  very  small. 
The  shop  for  fitting  artificial  appliances  fitted  as  many  as  156  cases  in  one 
month.  The  work  of  this  shop  improved  in  grade  and  amount  after  the  soldier 
labor  was  replaced  by  skilled  leg  fitters.  Noninfected  stumps  were  fitted 
routinely  six  weeks  after  operation;  others  three  weeks  after  healing.  Numer- 
ous makes  and  types  of  buckets  for  thigh  and  leg  fitting  were  purchased  and 
tried.  Some  could  never  be  used  owing  to  improper  molding.  The  physio- 
therapy department  assisted  in  the  massage  of  stumps  and  the  application  of 
elastic  bandages  to  improve  circulation  and  age  shrinkage,  and  to  make  stiff 
joints  mobile,  and  gave  instruction  in  the  use  of  appliances.  Patients,  after  being 
fitted,  were  assigned  to  working  classes  for  one  hour's  instruction  daily.  They 
usually  became  proficient  in  the  use  of  the  appliance  in  from  three  to  four  weeks 
and  were  then  ready  for  discharge.  All  were  instructed  in  the  care  of  the  stump, 
adjustments  being  made  in  the  appliance  as  shrinkage  occurred ; and  all  were 
examined  by  the  chief  of  section  prior  to  discharge,  for  final  instruction  to 
determine  the  correctness  of  the  fitting  and  the  condition  of  the  stump.  All 
amputations,  after  fitting,  were  assigned  to  the  occupational  shop  for  instruc- 
tion in  the  use  of  the  appliance.  Fittings  for  hip  disarticulation  and  certain 
other  stumps,  which  could  not  be  properly  fitted  from  stock,  were  ordered  from 
outside  artificial  limb  makers. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  307 

Dental  section. — The  dental  service  was  divided  into  five  subsections: 
Dental  hygiene;  X-ray;  operative;  prosthetic  and  oral  surgery;  and  one 
dental  officer  for  the  survey  of  patients.  The  completion  of  the  new  dental 
building  in  August,  1918,  and  its  immediate  occupancy  facilitated  the  success- 
ful detachment  of  the  dental  department.  The  new  building  consisted  of  a 
large  operating  room,  adequate  for  nine  operators,  an  oral  surgery  department, 
including  an  operating  room,  and  an  extracting  and  record  room,  and  quarters 
for  the  officer  of  the  day  and  sergeant  in  charge,  together  with  necessary  storage 
space.  A dental  X-ray  laboratory  and  developing  room  were  provided  and 
an  officer  was  detailed  to  care  for  this  work.  From  three  dental  surgeons  in  1918, 
the  personnel  of  the  department  increased  to  nine  dental  officers,  one  of  whom 
was  on  duty  to  render  emergency  treatment  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night. 
In  January,  1919,  the  prosthetic  department  was  organized  for  the  construction 
of  splints  for  maxillofacial  cases  and  prosthetic  restoration  of  all  kinds. 
Five  female  technicians  were  on  duty  in  the  hygienic  department  of  the  clinic. 
This  permitted  the  dental  officers  to  spend  their  entire  time  operating. 

Eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat,  section. — In  April,  1917,  the  eye,  ear,  nose, 
and  throat  section  had  a personnel  of  two  officers.  This  was  gradually  increased 
to  seven  officers  by  the  end  of  1918.  A division  of  the  department  into  the  eye 
section  and  the  ear,  nose,  and  throat  section  was  made  in  July,  1918,  to  promote 
a more  efficient  service.  At  that  time  the  number  of  patients  had  increased 
from  15  to  170,  and  it  could  be  seen  that  better  results  could  be  obtained  from 
a more  complete  specialization.  Originally  the  section  operated  in  the  main 
building  of  the  hospital,  but  soon  outgrew  the  space  allotted  and  was  assigned 
to  two  temporary  wards.  In  August,  191S,  a special  building  had  been  con- 
structed for  the  section,  known  as  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  building. 

Empyema  section. — In  March,  1919,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  was 
designated  as  one  of  the  concentration  points  for  chronic  empyema.  Most  cases 
were  primarily  chronic,  relatively  few  being  acute,  and  those  few  practically  all 
from  the  influenza  epidemic  of  1918-19.  It  is  noted  that  no  case  on  which  a 
primary  operation  was  done  during  the  calendar  year  1919  became  a chronic 
case. 

Maxillofacial  section. — The  first  maxillofacial  patients  arrived  at  the 
hospital  on  January  15,  1919,  at  which  time  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  was 
one  of  the  three  hospitals  designated  by  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  to  receive 
this  class  of  patients.  They  were  scattered  throughout  the  surgical  wards  at 
first,  until  a chief  of  section  was  detailed  to  care  for  them,  in  February,  when 
they  were  all  assembled  in  three  wards.  Prior  to  March  very  little  surgical 
operative  work  was  done.  On  February  21,  in  compliance  with  instructions 
received  from  the  Surgeon  General,  a thorough  system  of  recording  these  cases 
was  begun.  At  the  end  of  the  year  over  800  photographs,  a large  number  of 
wax  models,  drawings,  and  descriptions  were  made,  illustrating  all  cases  of 
interest  from  a scientific  point  of  view.  In  addition,  the  dental  splints  made 
overseas  or  in  the  United  States  were  mounted,  with  a view  to  their  scientific 
interest,  as  there  is  no  type  of  jaw  fracture  which  is  not  represented  in  the 
series.  Diagrammatic  sketches  of  operations  performed  were  made  in  many 
instances  to  supplement  photographs  and  models.  Cases  were  photographed 
in  four  classes,  bone  graft,  scar  excision,  superficial  plastics,  and  deep  plastics. 


308 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Coordination  with  the  dental  surgeon,  necessary  in  the  treatment  of  most  of 
the  cases,  was  early  established. 

Neurosurgical  section. — The  majority  of  the  cases  of  this  service  were  the 
result  of  gunshot  wounds  incurred  in  action,  while  less  than  5 per  cent  were  the 
result  of  accident  or  disease.  Peripheral  nerve  injuries  constituted  a large 
number  of  cases;  30  per  cent  were  operated  upon,  20  per  cent  of  which  showed 
the  nerve  to  he  divided.  In  suitable  cases  indicating  the  use  of  nerve  grafts, 
two-stage  or  three-stage  operations  were  done,  the  neuromata  being  approxi- 
mated by  tension  sutures  until  resection  of  the  nerve  ends  and  neurorrhaphy 
coidd  be  accomplished. 

Orthopedic  section. — Prior  to  June  25,  1918,  there  had  been  no  true  sub- 
division of  this  section  from  the  general  surgical  service,  although  in  November. 

1917,  an  officer  was  placed  in  charge  of  two  wards  in  which  there  were  some 
cases  of  an  orthopedic  nature,  mainly  foot,  back,  and  joint  injuries,  from  the 
surrounding  camps.  From  June  to  December  31,  1918,  the  section  materially 
increased  in  size,  and  on  the  latter  date  occupied  21  active  wards.  Toward  the 
latter  part  of  July,  1918,  the  first  contingent  of  wounded  from  overseas  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  orthopedic  section,  and  by  the  end  of  the  year  the  admissions 
averaged  300  monthly.  The  majority  of  these  cases  were  deformities  re- 
sulting from  gunshot  wounds  received  in  action  overseas,  plus  a large  number 
of  orthopedic  conditions  unsuccessfully  treated  at  other  general  hospitals. 

Roentgenological  section. — A notable  development  of  the  hospital  service 
during  1918  was  in  the  X-ray  department.  In  March,  1918,  the  new  X-ray 
laboratory  situated  in  the  east  wing  of  the  third  floor  of  the  administration 
building  was  completed  and  ample  facilities  were  then  available  for  conducting 
every  conceivable  method  of  X-ray  examination.  The  installation  included 
the  equipment  for  administering  deep  therapy. 

The  commissioned  personnel  of  this  department  was  increased  to  five,  and 
the  enlisted  personnel  was  increased  proportionately. 

During  December,  1918,  three  of  the  largest  type  of  X-ray  transformers 
were  in  daily  use,  and,  in  addition,  six  United  States  Army  standard  bedside 
X-ray  units  were  in  constant  demand  to  execute  numerous  requests  for  exam- 
ination of  patients  too  ill  to  be  moved. 

An  auxiliary  X-ray  laboratory  was  opened  in  Ward  No.  61  to  expedite  the 
handling  of  overseas  patients  in  the  orthopedic  department.  A second 
auxiliary  laboratory  was  opened  in  the  dental  infirmary. 

The  influenza  epidemic  which  became  alarming  the  early  part  of  October, 

1918,  was  made  a subject  of  extensive  study  by  means  of  X-ray  investigation. 
More  than  3,000  X-ray  films  of  the  pulmonary  complications  were  made  with 
the  bedside  machine,  and  in  no  instance  was  the  patient  removed  from  the  bed. 

The  investigation  of  focal  infection,  which  was  begun  in  1917,  was  contin- 
ued throughout  the  year  1918.  In  certain  types  of  patients  the  examinations 
were  done  as  a routine  on  the  teeth,  accessory  sinuses,  genitourinary  tract,  gall- 
bladder, and  the  gastrointestinal  tract. 

All  amputations  and  bone-injury  cases  from  overseas  were  examined  on 
admission. 

During  1919,  the  character  of  work  done  varied  from  month  to  month. 
The  number  of  cases  with  purely  battle  casualties  decreased  and  the  number 
of  more  or  less  civil  injuries  and  disease  increased  gradually.  During  the  year 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  309 

there  was  a considerable  increase  in  the  relative  number  of  gastrointestinal 
examinations  over  1918.  No  X-ray  burns  or  other  untoward  effects  were 
noted.  A separate  room  for  roentgenotherapy  was  maintained  and  proved  of 
considerable  value  in  certain  selected  cases. 

Septic  surgery  section. — The  work  of  this  service  was  concerned  mostly  with 
old  war  injuries  from  overseas  and  those  unsuccessfully  treated  at  other  general 
hospitals,  involving  bones,  and  complicated  by  chronic  suppurative  osteomye- 
litis. In  addition  there  were  domestic  and  local  septic  cases,  both  bone  and 
soft  parts.  The  standardized  Carrel-Dakin  technique  was  closely  followed 
in  the  treatment  of  these  cases,  and  the  results  obtained  fulfilled  all  expecta- 
tions. 

GENERAL  MEDICAL  SERVICE. 

The  general  medical  service  was  divided  into  the  medical  service,  the 
neuropsychiatric  service,  and  the  receiving  ward.  The  medical  service  com- 
prised the  officers’  section,  including  examinations,  ward,  contagious  or  in- 
fectious disease  section,  and  the  noninfectious  disease  section.  There  was  a 
chief  of  medical  service,  one  assistant  chief,  two  chiefs  of  sections,  and  nine  ward 
surgeons  or  assistant  ward  surgeons.  The  neuropsvchiatric  section  comprised 
one  chief  of  section  and  five  assistants.  The  medical  service  conducted  the 
physical  examination  and  furnished  medical  attendance  for  the  Medical  De- 
partment and  civilian  personnel  at  the  hospital,  a population  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  2,000.  It  also  furnished  a consultation  service  covering  medical  con- 
ditions in  other  services  at  the  hospital.  An  officer  of  the  medical  service,  at 
the  receiving  ward,  admitted  all  patients  to  the  hospital. 

The  scheme  for  operating  the  neuropsychiatric  service  comprised  the  pro- 
fessional staff  and  four  specialized  corps:  The  female  nurses;  the  enlisted 
men,  Medical  Department;  social  welfare  workers;  and  reconstruction  aides. 
The  nurses  looked  after  the  medications  and  those  physically  ill;  the  corps 
men  cared  for  the  physical  comfort  and  material  welfare  of  the  patients;  the 
social  workers  acted  as  liaison  officers,  securing  touch  with  the  patient’s  rela- 
tives, the  study  of  former  environments,  and  followed  these  features  up  so  that 
the  service  would  know  how  former  patients  progressed,  and  assisted  in  arrange- 
ments for  the  food;  the  reconstruction  aides  had  charge  of  the  vocational 
therapeutics,  the  principal  aim  being  to  keep  the  patients’  minds  along  normal 
channels,  assisting  them  in  utilizing  their  resources  and  outlining  the  business 
side  of  life.  The  work  of  these  corps  naturally  overlapped  or  dovetailed  in  the 
great  effort  to  restore  the  patient  to  mental  health  by  all  possible  means.  The 
professional  staff  was  in  charge  of  the  patients  and  directed  all  matters  profes- 
sional and  otherwise  having  to  do  with  their  diagnoses,  care,  treatment,  and 
environment.  The  service  was  also  called  upon  to  make  careful  examinations 
and  render  conclusions  in  cases  of  legal  and  moral  responsibility.  This  brought 
the  neuropsychiatric  service  in  close  touch  with  the  Judge  Advocate  General’s 
Department. 

LABORATORY  SERVICE. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  the  general  laboratory  of  the  hospital  occupied 
two  small  rooms  on  the  first  floor  of  the  main  or  administration  building.  As 
the  hospital,  at  that  time,  was  located  entirely  in  this  building  and  had  not 


310 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


more  than  200  beds,  the  laboratory  facilities  were  adequate.  No  commissioned 
officers  were  in  charge  of  the  laboratory,  the  personnel  consisting  of  one  ser- 
geant and  two  privates,  one  of  the  latter  being  a chemist  of  considerable  ability. 

In  August,  1917,  one  captain  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  laboratory,  and  in 
September  following,  two  lieutenants  were  added  to  the  commissioned  personnel. 
At  this  time  the  laboratory  was  not  equipped  for  cultural  bacteriology,  tissue 
work,  or  complement  fixation  tests.  Work  of  that  character  was  sent  to  the 
well-equipped  laboratory  of  the  Army  Medical  School  in  Washington.  Follow- 
ing the  detail  of  commissioned  officers  to  the  laboratory,  bacteriological  appa- 
ratus was  installed  and  the  space  allotted  became  overcrowded;  and  provisions 
for  the  care  of  a few  animals  had  to  be  made  beneath  the  tables  in  the  laboratory. 
Plans  were  accordingly  drawn  up  for  what  appeared  then  to  be  a spacious  and 
commodious  laboratory  building.  During  the  period  1917-18,  the  enlisted 
personnel  was  increased  to  six  men.  These  men,  together  with  three  officers 
in  the  laboratory,  made  a very  crowded  place,  but  in  spite  of  insufficient  room 
and  apparatus  a great  deal  of  routine  and  other  work  was  accomplished,  par- 
ticularly along  the  line  of  investigations  in  pneumonia,  empyema,  and  menin- 
gitis. 

In  March,  1918,  the  new  laboratory,  located  just  to  the  rear  of  the  main 
building,  although  not  entirely  complete,  was  so  far  finished  as  to  be  in  a usable 
condition,  and  the  apparatus  was  removed  from  the  main  building  to  the 
special  laboratory  building.  The  personnel  at  this  time  was  increased  by  the 
addition  of  two  sergeants;  and  in  April  the  enlisted  personnel  was  much  in- 
creased, the  number  varying  from  IS  to  30. 

On  moving  into  the  new  building,  apparatus  for  the  microscopic  examina- 
tion of  tissues  was  installed,  and  subsequent  to  that  time  the  laboratory  did  its 
own  diagnostic  tissue  work  instead  of  sending  it  to  the  Army  Medical  School. 
In  the  latter  part  of  June,  1918,  the  Wassermann  reaction  was  undertaken,  and 
in  addition  there  was  subsequently  established  a complement  fixation  for 
tuberculosis.  One  room  was  devoted  to  clinical  work,  and  a considerable 
amount  of  modern  apparatus  for  the  examination  of  blood  and  other  body 
fluids  was  installed. 

After  the  hospital  had  increased  in  size  to  nearly  2,000  beds,  several  expan- 
sions occurred  in  the  laboratory  service,  and  three  ward  laboratories  were 
created.  One  of  these,  in  ward  15,  the  admitting  ward  for  the  medical  service, 
proved  especially  valuable;  another  in  the  genitourinary  ward  relieved  the 
main  laboratory  of  much  routine  work;  and  a third  was  established  in  the 
psychiatric  ward.  Female  technicians  were  employed,  one  in  April.  1918,  one  in 
the  middle  of  August,  and  two  in  September  following.  They  efficiently  per- 
formed the  work  which  otherwise  would  have  required  extra  men.  One  was 
assigned  to  chemistry,  one  to  serology,  one  to  tissue  work,  and  one  to  routine 
sputum  and  feces  examinations. 

The  work  of  the  laboratory  increased  with  such  rapidity  during  1918  that 
it  outgrew  its  new  quarters  in  a few  months,  and  in  October  it  became  neces- 
sary to  turn  over  to  the  laboratory  service  a second  frame  structure  near  by, 
which  had  previously  been  used  as  a hospital  storehouse.  This  was  connected 
by  a corridor  with  the  main  laboratory  building. 

Special  attention  was  paid  by  the  laboratory  service  to  post-mortem 
examinations,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  examine  each  case  of  death  and  to 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


311 


make  a survey  of  the  clinical  record  as  compared  with  post-mortem  findings. 
Many  of  the  specimens  were  sent  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum.  The 
autopsy  reports  were  so  made  as  to  give  a brief  clinical  record  of  the  cases; 
and  sufficient  copies  were  made  to  file  one  in  the  record  office,  keep  a serial  file 
in  the  laboratory,  and  transmit  a copy  to  the  Army  Medical  Museum  with 
material  sent  there.  Because  of  the  policy  established  by  the  Surgeon  General’s 
Office  of  sending  all  known  typhoid  carriers  to  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital, 
considerable  work  was  done  on  this  type  of  patient.  Much  work  was  done  on  the 
hemolytic  streptococcus  problem;  and  during  the  year  1919,  100  cultures  of 
empyema,  tonsils,  throats,  etc.,  were  tested  for  sugar  reaction.  During  the 
epidemic  of  influenza,  50  autopsies  were  performed  and  cultures  made  from 
various  organs.  A great  deal  of  available  pathological  and  bacteriological  data 
was  secured.  With  the  establishment  of  a training  school  for  nurses  at  the 
hospital,  members  of  the  laboratory  staff  gave  instruction  to  student  nurses  in 
bacteriology,  chemistry,  etc.  This  work  took  the  form  of  a course  of  lectures 
to  the  class  as  a whole,  supplemented  by  laboratory  exercises  to  the  class  in 
sections. 

RECONSTRUCTION. 

The  first  systematic  trial  of  occupational  therapy  at  Walter  Reed  General 
Hospital  was  initiated  in  February,  1918.  Experiments  were  started  in  a 
workshop  to  determine  the  value  of  handicrafts  in  the  cure  of  patients  who 
needed  definite  functional  treatment.  To  begin  this  experiment  a single  room 
was  secured  in  what  was  originally  the  Lay  homestead,  dating  from  Civil  War 
days,  and  tenanted  by  the  post  carpenter  and  his  family.  The  work  was 
necessarily  limited  to  the  simplest  kind  of  carpentry,  since  the  only  tools  avail- 
able were  portions  of  a set  which  the  post  carpenter  had  discarded. 

After  a preliminary  trial  it  was  found  that  such  treatment  of  functional 
defects  as  had  been  planned  was  impossible  without  adequate  equipment.  The 
work  which  had  been  started  proved  of  very  definite  value  in  keeping  cheerful 
and  contented  and  physically  well  the  patients  who  were  engaged  in  it.  With 
this  value  in  mind,  the  shop  was  continued  for  patients  who  cared  to  work  in  it. 

About  the  1st  of  March,  1918,  the  Division  of  Physical  Reconstruction  of 
the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  instituted  a survey  of  the  various  types  of  cases 
at  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  to  lay  the  foundation  for  the  establishment  of 
a well-equipped  shop  and  school.  In  April,  1918,  an  expenditure  of  $3,000 
was  authorized  to  equip  the  shops  with  the  necessary  tools,  and  expert  educa- 
tional directors  were  assigned  to  the  work. 

The  fundamental  aim  of  the  work  in  the  department  of  occupational  therapy 
was  curative.  Specifically,  its  purpose  was  to  help  each  patient  to  find  him- 
self and  function  again  as  a whole  man — physically,  socially,  educationally,  and 
economically.  It  sought  to  restore  him  physically  by  helping  to  restore  his 
body,  so  far  as  possible,  to  its  normal  condition;  socially,  by  enabling  him  to 
feel  that  despite  his  physical  handicap  he  might  still  be  a self-reliant  and  self- 
respecting  member  of  the  community;  educationally,  by  furnishing  him  with 
such  training  as  would  increase  his  personal  efficiency;  and  economically,  by 
providing  him  with  a means  of  earning  a comfortable  livelihood  so  that  with 
his  return  to  civil  life  he  might  be  an  economic  asset  instead  of  a liability.  The 
problem  thus  broadly  outlined  was  a new  one.  Upon  each  instructor  in  the 
department  there  fell  a share  of  the  responsibility  for  working  out  a solution. 


312 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  this  meant  that  he  must  get  in  closest  personal  touch  with  his  patients. 
The  activities  of  the  organization  of  the  department  were  therefore  the  out- 
growth of  many  conferences  at  which  were  discussed  the  observations  of  the 
various  instructors,  and  their  significance. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1918  the  scope  of  the  work  included: 

Academic. 


English,  French,  Spanish. 

Arithmetic,  geometry,  algebra,  trigonometry. 
Penmanship,  left-hand  writing. 

Civil  Service  preparation. 

Physics,  chemistry. 

History. 

Commercial. 

Commercial  arithmetic  and  English. 
Shorthand,  stenotype. 

Filing  and  recording. 

Bookkeeping. 

Commercial  law. 

Agricultural. 

Truck  farming  out  of  doors. 

Vegetable  forcing  under  glass. 

Growing  of  flowers. 

Textbook  studies. 

Printing. 

Hand  composition. 

Linotype  operation. 

Presswork. 

Mechanical  and  electrical. 

Automobile  repairing. 

Oxyacetylene  welding. 

Wiring  for  bells,  lights,  and  motors. 
Telegraphy,  radio  operation. 

Motion-picture  machine  operation. 
Machine-shop  practice. 

Electrical  studies. 

Mechanical  studies. 


Drafting. 

Shop  drawings,  details  and  assembly. 
Tracing  and  blue  prints. 
Architectural  drawings. 
Topographical  drawings. 

Freehand  sketching. 

Woodworking. 

General  carpentry. 

Framing,  cabinet  work. 

Pattern  making. 

Display  painting. 

Lettering. 

Sign  painting. 

Poster  making. 

Arts  and  crafts. 

Wood  carving. 

Jewelry  making  and  repairing. 

Silver  smithing. 

Watch  and  clock  repairing. 
Engraving. 

Leather  work. 

Shoe  repairing. 

Physical  education. 

Athletic  sport. 

Calisthenics. 

Gymnastics. 

Rug  weaving. 

Fundamentals  of  rug  weaving. 

Rug  repair. 

Loom  work. 

Dyeing. 


The  department  of  occupational  therapy  was  divided  into  five  sections: 
Administrative,  psychological  and  statistical,  general  or  academic,  technical, 
and  recreational. 

The  administrative  section  was  charged  with  the  ordinary  duties  of  a 
record  and  property  office.  A large  staff  of  clerks  was  required  because  of 
the  rapidity  of  the  growth  of  the  department,  the  large  “ turnover"  of  pa- 
tients, and  the  compilation  of  reports  and  data  for  the  Surgeon  General's  Office. 

The  psychological  and  statistical  section  was  primarily  responsible  for 
the  psychological  and  educational  surveys  of  individual  patients.  In  this 
section  an  extensive  study  was  made  of  the  learning  problems  encountered 
under  the  curative  workshop  schedule,  the  adaptation  of  curative  methods  to 
particular  patients  and  specific  disabilities,  the  application  of  trade  tests  and 
vocational  guidance,  and  the  measuring  of  intelligence  by  approved  methods. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


313 


The  section  was  especially  successful  in  measuring  the  increase  and  strength 
of  the  movement  of  ankylosed  joints  and  stump  limbs,  such  measurements 
serving  the  double  purpose  of  furnishing  an  incentive  and  encouragement  to 
the  patient,  and  of  informing  the  surgeon  and  physiotherapist  as  to  the  rate  and 
locus  of  improvement. 

The  academic  section  offered  a curriculum  which  covered  a fairly  wide 
range  of  subjects,  from  the  most  elementary  to  those  of  high-school  grade.  This 
section  succeeded  in  reaching  large  numbers  of  patients  who  had  been  denied 
the  advantage  of  courses  which  required  some  academic  background. 

The  technical  section  worked  out  a broad  program  which  offered  valuable 
instruction  to  the  men  who  were  mechanically  inclined.  The  automobile 
department  early  seized  upon  the  idea  of  doing  practical  work  repairing  cars. 
This  gave  the  men  the  opportunity  to  put  into  practice  what  they  had  learned 
in  class  discussions.  The  work  in  the  machine  shop  was  at  first  hampered  by 
lack  of  facilities  and  rooms  for  the  proper  conduct  of  work,  but  with  the  con- 
struction of  new  shops,  the  purchase  of  machinery,  and,  with  the  settlement  of  the 
type  of  power,  this  work  became  a valuable  part  of  the  curative  program.  The 
drafting  division  aroused  the  interest  of  the  men,  and  gratifying  results  were 
obtained  along  that  line.  The  farm  and  the  greenhouse  proved  profitable. 
The  woodworking  division  in  addition  to  making  a good  record  as  a curative 
agency  did  a good  deal  of  post  repair  work  and  made  possible  many  conven- 
iences in  the  new  shops.  The  rug-weaving  division  always  made  an  appeal 
to  the  patients,  and  it  developed  a number  of  new  types  of  curative  exercises. 
The  men  were  interested  also  in  the  jewelry  division  and  produced  some  par- 
ticularly fine  work  of  this  character.  The  modeling  developed  the  artistic 
temperaments  of  some  men  and  provided  them  with  a pleasing  occupation  while 
in  the  hospital. 

The  recreational  section  handled  the  formal  exercises  and  play  hours  of 
the  patients,  and  under  skilled  instructors  offered  the  following  work : 

(1)  Daily  lectures  on  personal  and  community  hygiene. 

(2)  ('lasses  in  general  calisthenics,  using  largely  natural  movements 

(3)  Special  instruction  for  amputation  cases  and  special  classes  for  disabled  groups. 

(4)  Classes  in  athletic  and  folk  dancing. 

(5)  Instruction  in  boxing,  fencing,  wrestling,  bag  punching,  swimming,  jiu-jitsu,  and 

target  shooting. 

(6)  Games — volley  ball,  handball,  tennis,  indoor  baseball,  basket  shooting,  and  com- 

petitive group  games. 

(7)  Course  in  military  drill  and  Army  regulations  for  men  returning  to  duty. 

On  February  15,  1918,  the  first  aides  were  employed  by  the  hospital.  They 
began  by  teaching  some  of  the  bed  patients  in  the  orthopedic  wards  to  knit 
colored  wool  squares  for  blankets,  and  the  men  welcomed  the  opportunity  to 
do  something.  Gradually  the  work  spread  through  the  different  wards;  and 
with  the  increase  of  facilities  and  enlargement  of  personnel,  a variety  of  activi- 
ties broadened  the  occupational  interests  of  the  wards  and  results  were  both 
remedial  and  palliative. 

To  train  the  aides  adequately  for  their  work,  a school  for  reconstruction 
aides  was  started  late  in  the  fall  of  1918,  and  continued  until  after  the  signing 
of  the  armistice.  The  course  of  training  consisted  of  practical  work  with  the 
patients  under  the  supervision  of  experienced  aides,  and  of  lectures  of  both  a 
general  and  a professional  nature. 


314 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1918,  the  department  of  occupational 
therapy  instituted  weekly  meetings  of  the  staff  and  patients,  which  were  held 
in  the  Red  Cross  house  or  the  post  auditorium.  The  purpose  of  these  meetings 
was  to  present  to  the  patients  the  advantages  of  taking  work  with  the  depart- 
ment of  occupational  therapy,  and  attractive  as  well  as  instructive  programs 
were  offered.  This  particular  department  was  a training  and  demonstration 
school  for  other  hospitals  and  an  experimental  laboratory  for  trying  out  methods 
of  teaching,  outlines  of  subject  matter,  types  of  equipment,  and  the  selection 
and  training  of  personnel.  To  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  belongs  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  American  hospital  to  have  a professional  psychologist 
on  its  staff. 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  personnel  and  work  of  the  department  of 
occupational  therapy  expanded  is  evidenced  by  the  erection,  during  1918,  of 
five  curative  occupational  buildings. 

The  apparatus  in  use  in  the  hydrotherapy,  electrotherapy,  gymnasium, 
and  baking  departments  of  the  hospital  during  1917-18  occupied  four  rooms. 

The  activities  of  the  department  of  occupational  therapy  continued 
throughout  the  year  1919,  and  in  September  the  first  classes  of  nonpatients 
(detachment,  Medical  Department,  and  detachment,  Quartermaster  Corps,  and 
nurses)  were  organized.  Approximately  6 educational  and  13  vocational 
subjects  were  offered  in  these  classes.  The  total  attendance  ranged  from  160  to 
170. 

In  the  department  of  physiotherapy  about  265,000  treatments  were  given 
to  approximately  3,000  patients  during  the  year  1919. 

RECREATION. 

Recreation  at  the  hospital  was  in  general  under  the  charge  of  the  educational 
and  recreation  officer,  who  had  under  his  immediate  supervision  the  recreational 
work  for  patients  provided  by  the  Red  Cross,  and  activities  for  the  hospital  staff 
and  personnel  provided  from  various  sources.  This  included  the  recreational 
activities  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  the  Knights  of  Columbus, 
the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  and  the  War  Camp  Community  Service,  while  they 
functioned  on  the  post. 

Practically  all  indoor  recreation  for  patients  was  provided  in  the  Red  Cross 
Convalescent  House  and  in  Service  Club  No.  1;  entertainments  for  officers, 
nurses,  aides,  and  enlisted  men  were  provided  in  the  Service  Club,  gymna- 
sium , post  auditorium,  in  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  and  Knights 
of  Columbus  buildings  on  Dogwood  Street. 

From  3 p.  m.  to  10.30  p.  m.  on  Monday,  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday 
of  each  week,  and  from  1 p.  m.  to  10.30  p.  m.  on  Wednesday  and  Saturday,  a 
program  of  recreation  was  arranged  wherein  all  groups  in  the  hospital — patients, 
officers,  enlisted  men,  nurses,  and  aides — were  offered  the  opportunity  of  some 
form  of  entertainment.  Every  night  in  the  week  moving  pictures  made  up  a 
portion  of  the  program;  other  activities  included  dances,  musicales,  classes  in 
dancing,  community  sings,  lectures,  addresses  by  men  and  women  prominent 
in  their  special  fields,  sightseeing  trips;  and,  in  season,  excursions  to  important 
places  of  interest  like  Mount  Vernon  and  Great  Falls;  corn  roasts,  picnics, 
theater  parties,  with  supper  at  the  Red  Cross  canteen,  athletic  games  by  post 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


315 


teams,  free  trips  to  the  ball  park  of  the  American  League,  dramatics,  masquer- 
ades, and  the  like. 

The  nurses  had  a weekly  program  of  activities  in  their  recreation  house; 
the  aides  provided  for  themselves  a clubhouse  near  the  post;  and  the  service 
club  and  the  recreation  room  of  the  enlisted  men’s  barracks  offered  additional 
places  for  unscheduled  recreation. 

ATHLETICS. 

Opportunities  were  offered  in  the  appropriate  seasons  for  baseball,  basket 
ball,  tennis,  handball,  quoits,  track  sports,  volley  balk  indoor  baseball,  and 
other  gymnasium  games,  boxing,  wrestling,  bowling,  and  swimming.  Two 
organized  baseball  teams  from  the  Medical  Department  played  regular  sched- 
ules during  the  baseball  season,  both  at  the  post  and  at  neighboring  posts,  and 


Fig.  97. — Hospital  swimming  pool,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 

several  teams  of  patients  were  organized  for  special  games.  A basket-ball  team 
was  organized  and  played  an  unusual  number  of  successful  games.  Tennis 
tournaments  for  patients,  nurses,  aides,  officers,  and  detachment  men  were 
conducted.  Three  special  days  for  meets  were  held,  with  events  and  prizes 
for  detachment  men  and  patients. 

A baseball  and  athletic  field  was  made  on  a plot  of  ground  opposite  the 
reconstruction  buildings.  Bleachers  were  conveniently  placed  in  the  shade  of 
tall  trees.  Two  tennis  courts  were  constructed  for  the  nurses  near  their  quar- 
ters, and  two  for  general  use  were  constructed,  one  outside  of  building  76,  the 
other  at  Fourteenth  and  Dahlia  Streets;  and  three  other  courts  were  built  by  the 
welfare  organizations.  These  were  freely  available  for  the  use  of  the  patients 
and  enlisted  personnel. 


316 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Through  the  generosity  of  a former  field  director  of  the  Red  Cross  at  the 
hospital,  a modern  outdoor  cement  swimming  pool,  33  by  85  feet,  with  dressing 
rooms,  showers,  etc.,  was  built  and  presented  to  the  hospital. 

Two  bowling  alleys  were  constructed  in  the  recreation  room  of  the  enlisted 
men’s  barracks. 

WELFARE  ORGANIZATIONS. 

THE  RED  CROSS. 

The  welfare  organizations  functioned  under  the  direction  of  the  commanding 
officer  and  under  the  supervision  of  the  Red  Cross,  as  prescribed  in  regulations. 
The  American  Red  Cross  utilized  its  building  for  all  of  the  activities  authorized 
for  this  society  by  the  Secretary  of  War;  and  carried  out  its  program  with  a 
personnel  staff  of  93,  consisting  of  the  field  director,  assistant  field  director, 
three  home  service  men,  three  entertainment  men,  one  accountant,  four  ste- 
nographers, and  80  ward  workers  and  house  entertainers. 

Great  effort  was  made  to  see  that  all  the  patients  admitted  to  the  hospital 
were  given  every  possible  attention  and  service  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this 
organization.  The  home  service  department  rendered  a most  valuable  service. 
Their  record  shows  that  more  than  7,556  file  cases  were  taken  care  of,  besides 
the  hundreds  of  dollars  worth  of  Liberty  bonds  and  State  bonuses  secured  and 
the  thousands  of  miscellaneous  matters  taken  up  and  straightened  out  for  the 
men. 

The  entertainment  department  entertained  over  30,000  patients.  Theater 
parties  were  conducted  on  three  days  a week  for  all  able  patients,  and  vaudeville 
acts  were  secured  and  brought  out  to  the  Red  Cross  house  on  Wednesday  after- 
noons for  the  entertainment  of  those  who  were  in  wheel  chairs,  or  who  were  too 
invalided  to  go  out  of  the  hospital.  World-famous  entertainers  were  brought  to 
the  Red  Cross  House  from  time  to  time.  This  building  was  open  every  day  from 
10.30  a.  m.  to  10  p.  m.  Two  dances  were  given  each  week,  and  a regular  moving- 
picture  program  operated  weekly.  Entertainments  of  every  conceivable  kind 
which  would  have  a good  effect  on  the  morale  of  the  men  were  secured  and 
given  in  the  wards  and  in  the  convalescent  house.  Yictrolas  were  placed  in  the 
wards  where  it  was  permissible,  and  were  adequately  supplied  with  records. 
Games  of  various  kinds  were  provided  for  use  in  the  wards  and  in  the  convales- 
cent house. 

Letter  writing  was  stimulated  to  such  an  extent  that  S00.000  sheets  of 
paper  and  500,000  envelopes  were  given  out  to  the  men.  Quantities  of  ap- 
proved supplies  were  distributed  to  the  patients  for  their  comfort  and  pleasure. 
A diet  kitchen  was  established  by  the  Red  Cross  in  which  were  served  extra 
supplies. 

YOUNG  men’s  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION. 

In  191S,  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  began  its  activities  at  W alter 
Reed  General  Hospital  in  a room  in  the  basement  of  the  main  building.  When 
the  Red  Cross  building  was  completed  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
was  given  the  end  of  the  main  room  of  that  building  where  they  remained  until 
the  completion  of  the  “Y”  hut  on  Dogwood  Street,  just  across  from  the  hospital 
reservation. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT).  317 

On  Christmas  Eve,  1918,  the  “Y”  hut  on  Dogwood  Street  was  formally 
dedicated  and  the  greatly  enlarged  activities  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Asso- 
ciation were  begun  and  continued  until  the  end  of  the  war  period. 

The  social  work  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  was  an  important 
factor  in  the  life  of  the  post.  Every  Thursday  a vaudeville  performance  was 
given  in  the  post  auditorium  with  the  aid  and  cooperation  of  the  War  Camp 
Community  Service.  Many  prominent  actors  and  actresses,  as  well  as  local 
talent,  appeared.  From  tune  to  time  special  concerts  were  put  on  in  the 
auditorium  and  in  the  “Y”  hut.  Every  Saturday  night  moving  pictures  were 
shown  in  the  post  auditorium,  or,  when  the  weather  permitted,  on  the  lawn 
near  the  main  hospital  building. 

The  hut,  however,  was  the  real  social  center  of  the  “ Y”  activities.  It  was 
open  from  8 o’clock  in  the  morning  until  10.30  at  night,  during  which  time  an 
average  of  over  600  men  made  use  of  its  advantages  daily.  One  or  more  dances 
were  given  each  week.  One  of  these  each  month  was  for  officers,  nurses,  and 
aides,  the  others  being  for  enlisted  men.  Two  women  members  of  the  Young 
Women’s  Christian  Association  who  were  assigned  to  the  hut  served  light  refresh- 
ments several  nights  each  week  in  the  social  room. 

During  1919,  one  secretary  divided  his  time  between  work  in  the  wards, 
visiting  the  men  and  distributing  such  articles  as  paper,  cigarettes,  matches, 
and  candy. 

In  religious  work  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  and  the  chaplain 
cooperated  in  conducting  services  Sunday  mornings  and  evenings,  with  special 
music  and  nationally  prominent  speakers. 

The  gymnasium  in  the  “Y”  hut  was  the  largest  on  the  post,  being  50  by 
110  feet  and  16  feet  high.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  played  a 
large  part  in  the  athletic  program  at  the  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital.  At 
all  times  there  was  at  least  one  physical  director,  and  during  the  summer  months 
two,  one  working  at  the  hut  and  in  the  outdoor  activities  and  the  other  in  the 
physiotherapy  section  of  the  hospital.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 
used  and  gave  away  more  than  $3,000  worth  of  athletic  equipment.  The  result 
of  this  ample  equipment  was  that  the  gymnasium  was  kept  busy  all  the  while 
during  the  winter  months,  and  the  diamonds,  courts,  and  vacant  spaces  near 
the  post  showed  great  activity  in  good  weather. 

In  its  educational  work  15  different  subjects  were  taught  in  the  night 
classes. 

KNIGHTS  OF  COLUMBUS. 

The  Knights  of  Columbus  hut  opened  November  24,  1918,  and  soon  became 
a scene  of  a great  number  of  recreational  activities,  amusements,  and  pleasures 
for  the  many  service  men  and  women  stationed  at  the  hospital.  Arrangements 
were  made  whereby  three  moving-picture  shows,  an  enlisted  men’s  dance,  and 
officers’  and  nurses’  dance  were  given  for  entertainment  nearly  every  week.  At 
frequent  intervals  boxing  and  wrestling  matches  were  staged  by  some  of  the 
best  talent  obtainable.  Vaudeville  shows  were  also  a feature  of  the  activities 
at  the  hut. 


318 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


JEWISH  WELFARE  BOARD. 

The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  maintained  headquarters  in  a house  on  Butter- 
nut Street,  one-half  block  from  the  main  entrance  to  the  hospital.  This  was 
fitted  for  a clubhouse  especially  for  the  Jewish  men.  The  secretary  in  charge 
maintained  an  excellent  program  of  activities,  including  both  social  events  and 
religious  services.  The  secretary  of  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board  visited  all  wards 
at  regular  intervals  and  contributed  to  the  comfort  of  patients  whenever  possible. 

SERVICE  CLUB  NO.  1. 

Service  Club  No.  1 was  opened  December  15,  1919,  in  a building  provided 
by  the  National  Catholic  War  Council.  The  construction  work  on  the  building 

^ O 


Fig.  98. — Service  Club,  No.  1,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital. 


began  about  the  1st  of  September.  It  included  a cafeteria  service  on  the  lower 
floor,  with  a dining  room  seating  125  persons.  The  main  floor  was  used  for 
general  purposes  as  a visitors’  house.  The  upper  floor  had  11  rooms,  rented  to 
transient  visitors,  particularly  to  friends  and  relatives  of  patients  in  the  hos- 
pital. A regular  program  of  entertainments  and  socials  was  held  hi  the  club. 

HOSPITAL  NEWSPAPER. 

The  hospital  newspaper,  The  Come-Back,  published  its  first  number  on 
December  4,  1918.  It  was  frankly  aimed  to  be  the  spokesman  of  the  patients 
in  the  hospital,  to  be  a medium  of  news  for  these  men,  and  to  present  to  America 
the  picture  of  the  soldier  who,  having  performed  his  service,  asks  nothing  of 
the  world  but  the  chance  to  get  back,  and  who,  in  spite  of  wounds  and  the 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT). 


319 


heartbreak  of  absence  from  home,  resolves  to  put  on  a brave  and  contented 
front.  The  words  of  the  first  editorial,  “ This  is  going  to  be  a cheerful  sheet — or 
bust!”  sum  up  the  policy  that  was  maintained  throughout.  It  was  through 
the  constant  good  cheer  of  this  paper  that  the  patient-soldiers  took  their  cue 
of  self-discipline  and  good  humor. 

Journalistic  features  were  listed  in  the  achievements  of  the  little  paper: 
It  originated  the  ‘“Port  of  Missing  Men,”  by  which  lost  men  were  advertised 
widely  among  their  old  comrades;  it  led  the  fight  for  the  abolition  of  the  street 
salesman  in  uniform;  in  its  column  “The  Army  in  Congress,”  it  presented  an 
authentic  digest  of  activities  relating  to  the  Army;  and  it  inaugurated  a series 
of  illuminating  articles  on  insurance  and  compensation. 

Two  thousand  copies  of  the  The  Come-Back  were  distributed  free  to  the 
patients  and  personnel  of  the  hospital  through  the  generosity  of  the  American 
Red  Cross.  Eventually  The  Come-Back  ran  an  outside  circulation  of  30,000 
copies. 

All  of  the  work  on  the  paper  was  volunteered : no  salaries  or  commissions 
were  paid  to  the  enlisted  men,  patients,  or  officers  who  cooperated  in  putting 
the  paper  together. 

The  profits  from  the  paper  were  presented  to  the  donation  fund  in  the 
Surgeon  General’s  Office.  One  of  the  contributions  to  the  Walter  Reed  General 
Hospital  from  these  profits  was  a cylinder  press  and  a printing  outfit  valued  at 
$13,000. 

THE  LIBRARY  SERVICE. 

The  American  Library  Association  founded,  equipped,  and  maintained  a 
library  at  the  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  for  the  purpose  of  providing  with 
reading  matter  all  persons  connected  with  the  institution.  This  service  had 
a twofold  work:  That  done  in  the  main  library  and  that  done  in  the  wards. 
The  main  library,  situated  in  the  Red  Cross  convalescent  house,  contained 
about  6,500  books,  a large  percentage  of  these  being  foreign  works  and  up-to- 
date  business  and  technical  books.  On  the  reading  tables  were  most  of  the 
popular  magazines,  besides  a large  number  of  scientific  and  technical  periodicals. 
In  addition  to  books  and  magazines,  were  home  newspapers  from  all  over 
the  country.  This  main  library  was  for  the  use  of  all  and  was  used  by  patients, 
officers,  enlisted  men,  nurses,  aides,  and  the  instructors  in  the  vocational  school. 
It  was  open  every  day,  Sundays  and  holidays  included,  from  9 a.  m.  to  9 p.  m., 
with  a trained  librarian  in  charge.  From  this  main  library  collections  were 
sent  to  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  Knights  of  Columbus,  Jewish 
Welfare  Board,  and  to  the  nurses’  Red  Cross  home,  and  the  reconstruction 
aides’  club.  Separate  wards  asking  for  small  collections  for  their  sun  parlors 
were  also  supplied.  The  American  Library  Association  also  subscribed  for 
magazines  for  the  three  welfare  organizations,  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association,  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  for  use  in 
their  houses,  and  the  reconstruction  aides’  club. 

The  ward  work  was  the  part  of  the  service  most  carefully  planned.  Every 
ward  was  visited  at  least  twice  a week  by  one  of  the  librarians  with  a truck 
of  books  and  magazines  from  which  a man  who  could  not  leave  his  ward  or  could 
not  carry  a book  home  from  the  main  library  could  choose  the  reading  he 


320 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


wished.  During  these  visits  the  men  had  a chance  to  ask  for  any  particular 
books  they  desired,  or  the  librarian  suggested  one  as  helpful  to  a man  in  his 
chosen  profession.  The  isolation  wards  were  also  visited,  but  the  books  and 
magazines  left  there  were  later  destroyed,  so  some  care  was  taken  in  the  choice 
of  books  carried  to  these  wards. 

There  was  a close  cooperation  of  the  aides  and  instructors  of  the  schools 
of  the  reconstruction  department.  Many  textbooks  were  furnished,  especially 
where  the  classes  were  small  and  only  a few  copies  were  needed,  or  when  a 
man  showed  a sudden  interest  in  a particular  course  and  the  school  text  had  not 
arrived.  Many  men  became  interested  in  some  subject  through  a book  read 
and  were  thus  led  to  study  further  in  the  schools  or  came  to  the  library  for 
supplementary  reading  after  taking  a course  in  the  schools. 

On  November  1,  1919,  the  Army  assumed  charge  of  the  work  of  the 
American  Library  Association  in  the  Army  hospitals,  and  the  library  was 
placed  under  the  educational  and  recreational  branch  of  the  War  Department. 


DEMOBILIZATION. 


At  the  beginning  of  1919,  1,090  enlisted  men  were  on  duty  in  the  hospital, 
practically  all  of  whom  were  emergency  men.  The  discharge  of  these  men 
proceeded  slowly,  depending  upon  replacement.  Frequently  during  the  year 
emergency  men  from  other  hospitals  that  had  been  closed  were  sent  to 
Walter  Reed  General  Hospital  for  duty.  Hence,  the  number  of  men  actually 
discharged,  as  shown  in  the  table  below,  is  greater  than  the  number  of  men 
on  duty  on  January  1. 

Number  of  men  discharged  each  month. 


January 32 

February 46 

March 60 

April 61 

May 59 

June 188 

July 193 


August 200 

September 110 

October 152 

November 194 

December 83 


Total 1.378 


For  the  purpose  of  determining  the  urgency  of  the  various  claims  for 
discharge  on  the  part  of  the  enlisted  men  and  the  needs  of  the  hospital,  a 
board  of  officers  appointed  to  consider  claims  for  discharge  met  from  time  to 
time,  and,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  weekly.  This  board  ascertained  the 
needs  of  each  case  as  presented  by  the  application  and  supporting  affidavits, 
and  placed  the  names  of  the  approved  applications  on  a priority  list  in  the  order 
of  the  emergency  of  the  case  presented.  All  men  were  discharged  in  the  order 
indicated  on  that  list.  This  order  was  deviated  from  only  in  very  exceptional 
cases  where  retention  in  the  service  would  have  caused  manifest  hardship  to 
the  applicant  and  immediate  discharge  was  essential.  At  the  end  of  the  year 
there  were  90  emergency  men  remaining.  Of  these  about  20  elected  to  remain 
in  the  service. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (PERMANENT) 


321 


Statistical  data,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Talcoma  Park,  D.  C.,  April,  1917,  to  December,  1919, 

inclusive.11 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted 
for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
Number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
soufees. 

Returned  to 
duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for 
disability. 

| Deserted. 

Discharged,  ex- 
piration of  term. 

Transferred  to 
insane  asylums. 

Transferred  to 
other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 
posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Other- 

wise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hos- 

pital. 

Quar- 

ters. 

1917. 

117 

23 

70 

64 

274 

63 

1 

17 

65 

127 

1 

3,912 

128 

12 

99 

76 

315 

123 

4 

1 

48 

137 

2 

4,056 

June 

139 

15 

201 

88 

443 

170 

3 

14 

1 

2 

41 

209 

3 

1,004 

98 

July 

212 

25 

210 

31 

478 

186 

1 

24 

1 

20 

242 

4 

6.  .586 

88 

246 

25 

260 

73 

604 

299 

3 

25 

10 

33 

233 

1 

7, 394 

61 

September 

234 

28 

266 

71 

599 

224 

1 

2.5 

1 

7 

2 

48 

288 

3 

7,918 

32 

October 

291 

34 

428 

79 

832 

288 

6 

25 

5 

10 

52 

438 

8 

10, 518 

220 

446 

47 

580 

95 

1. 168 

52.5 

12 

1 

9 

99 

518 

4 

14, 289 

180 

522 

58 

490 

78 

1,148 

361 

12 

39 

.... 

3 

50 

683 

11 ’ 733 

114 

1918. 

683 

75 

777 

100 

1 , 635 

737 

27 

40 

3 

1 

20 

799 

8 

21,808 

248 

807 

72 

876 

73 

1,828 

817 

17 

26 

1 

65 

893 

9 

27',  683 

279 

902 

89 

946 

86 

2,023 

865 

29 

31 

1 

4 

33 

1,053 

7 

30,  585 

196 

1,060 

85 

1,161 

69 

2, 37.5 

1,046 

20 

36 

1 

9 

17 

1,241 

5 

34, 197 

221 

May 

1,246 

60 

'520 

313 

2,  139 

863 

14 

24 

3 

i 

18 

28 

1, 182 

6 

36,  704 

167 

June 

1,188 

40 

516 

414 

2, 158 

636 

7 

55 

2 

i 

8 

27 

1,419 

3 

.53,  216 

242 

July 

1,422 

47 

480 

521 

2,  470 

736 

5 

50 

7 

i 

19 

31 

1,609 

12 

46, 192 

383 

August 

1,621 

22 

347 

698 

2,  688 

873 

7 

65 

7 

3 

55 

19 

1,649 

10 

51,436 

319 

September 

1,659 

118 

237 

911 

2,  925 

728 

14 

62 

1 

1 

10 

18 

2,  063 

28 

50,  972 

337 

October 

2,1191 

252 

232 

1, 285 

3,  860 

1,718 

124 

54 

3 

6 

125 

38 

1,766 

26 

64,  802 

1,030 

N ovember 

1,792 

77 

243 

732 

2,844 

709 

10 

110 

9 

5 

44 

32 

1,912 

13 

55, 319 

464 

December 

1.925 

150 

173 

959 

3,207 

803 

25 

134 

4 

2 

372 

54 

1,793 

20 

60,  888 

422 

1919. 

1,813 

211 

394 

784 

3,202 

613 

24 

89 

6 

405 

87 

1 , 963 

15 

61,426 

448 

February 

1.978 

200 

204 

590 

2,  972 

492 

14 

222 

1 

4 

214 

55 

1,941 

29 

52;  490 

517 

March 

1 , 970 

145 

436 

481 

3.032 

675 

16 

202 

1 

14 

119 

79 

1,899 

27 

60,616 

902 

1 , 926 

85 

405 

312 

2,728 

416 

3 

151 

1 

86 

1 , 989 

28 

56, 109 

765 

Mav 

2,017 

70 

386 

396 

2,'  869 

332 

7 

140 

26 

46 

126 

2, 163 

29 

63,  019 

983 

June 

2,  192 

58 

452 

288 

2,  990 

415 

9 

1.59 

7 

1 

35 

115 

2,  222 

27 

65,313 

798 

July 

2,  249 

78 

200 

416 

2.943 

325 

12 

126 

5 

15 

144 

2,  276 

40 

71,534 

1,009 

August 

2, 316 

26 

106 

359 

2,  807 

302 

6 

139 

6 

31 

149 

2, 133 

41 

66, 123 

l'  271 

September 

2, 174 

40 

63 

399 

2,676 

262 

4 

237 

4 

17 

134 

1,989 

29 

60,688 

l' 087 

October 

2,  018 

86 

363 

276 

2,743 

248 

6 

251 

7 

1 

16 

160 

2,014 

40 

54,  276 

168 

November 

2,054 

84 

89 

215 

2.442 

222 

2 

206 

1 

20 

52 

1 , 892 

47 

59, 182 

219 

December 

1,939 

88 

49 

230 

2,306 

247 

7 

187 

7 

1 

42 

140 

1,641 

34 

9,269 

998 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen . 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

April 

5 

15 

14 

34 

May 

5 

13 

11 

29 

June 

5 

13 

11 

29 

July 

5 

13 

11 

29 

August 

5 

13 

11 

29 

September 

4 

17 

9 

30 

October 

4 

17 

9 

30 

November 

4 

17 

9 

30 

December 

4 

17 

9 

30 

1918. 

January 

4 

17 

10 

31 

February 

4 

17 

9 

30 

March 

4 

18 

10 

32 

April 

4 

18 

10 

32 

May 

4 

18 

11 

33 

June 

4 

IS 

11 

33 

July 

4 

18 

11 

33 

August 

1 

10 

6 

17 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

September 

3 

7 

7 

17 

October 

3 

7 

7 

17 

November 

3 

7 

7 

17 

December 

3 

8 

7 

IS 

1919. 

January 

3 

8 

7 

18 

February 

3 

8 

7 

18 

March 

1 

8 

7 

16 

April 

1 

8 

7 

16 

May 

1 

8 

7 

16 

June 

1 

2 

7 

10 

July 

1 

8 

8 

17 

August 

1 

8 

8 

17 

September 

1 

8 

8 

17 

October 

282 

342 

8 

632 

November 

282 

342 

8 

632 

December 

2S2 

342 

8 

632 

° Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


45269°— 23 21 


322 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Takoma  Park,  D . C.,  April,  1917 , to  December,  1919, 

inc  lusive — Continued . 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

employ- 

ees.' 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

April 

17 

17 

145 

13 

158 

31 

May 

16 

16 

144 

159 

38 

19 

19 

23 

178 

47 

July 

22 

22 

197 

23 

220 

44 

26 

26 

208 

29 

237 

52 

35 

1 

36 

200 

34 

234 

64 

October 

37 

1 

1 

39 

211 

50 

261 

54 

3 

November 

32 

1 

1 

34 

307 

53 

360 

3 

December 

13 

2 

1 

46 

324 

67 

391 

80 

i 

1918. 

January 

13 

2 

1 

46 

366 

68 

434 

85 

1 

February 

53 

2 

1 

56 

439 

106 

545 

108 

1 

March 

58 

3 

2 

(53 

467 

105 

572 

92 

62 

4 

3 

69 

529 

113 

642 

149 

May 

68 

4 

3 

75 

597 

121 

718 

140 

June 

78 

5 

2 

85 

730 

125 

146 

July 

87 

8 

3 

98 

699 

133 

832 

147 

August 

98 

8 

5 

111 

786 

164 

950 

148 

i 

109 

9 

5 

123 

882 

161 

1.043 

146 

107 

9 

6 

122 

919 

170 

1 . 089 

130 

110 

13 

8 

131 

992 

210 

1,202 

157 

114 

12 

g 

135 

1,090 

262 

1.352 

142 

1919. 

113 

13 

8 

134 

1,102 

257 

1,359 

142 

130 

16 

9 

155 

1,048 

229 

1,277 

125 

18 

8 

151 

1.007 

203 

1,210 

163 

124 

17 

14 

155 

984 

176 

1,160 

148 

May 

156 

11 

17 

184 

919 

117 

1,036 

144 

161 

21 

16 

198 

911 

92 

1.003 

170 

July 

172 

15 

194 

900 

39 

939 

177 

129 

23 

10 

162 

739 

SI 

820 

1S4 

109 

21 

145 

642 

77 

719 

October 

96 

19 

122 

732 

78 

810 

1S5 

i 

November 

93 

20 

9 

122 

685 

92 

777 

161 

i 

December 

97 

17 

s 

122 

686 

94 

780 

165 

1 

CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE  GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  2,  FORT  McHENRY,  BALTIMORE,  MD.« 

Fort  McHenry,  perhaps  the  best  of  the  few  examples  of  the  “Star  Fort’’ 
type,  or  bastioned  polygon,  in  this  country,  is  chiefly  famous  for  its  protection 
of  Baltimore  at  the  time  of  the  bombardment  by  the  British  fleet  in  1814.  It 
is  also  notable  as  commemorating  the  occasion  upon  which  Francis  Scott  Key 
was  inspired  to  write  the  poem  which  afterwards  became  our  national  anthem — 
The  Star  Spangled  Banner.  The  construction  of  the  fort  was  begun  in  1776 
as  a shore  battery,  but  it  was  not  until  1794  that  the  star  fort  was  built. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  General  Washington’s  Secretary  of  War,  James 
McHenry,  of  Baltimore,  and  was  constructed  during  Washington’s  administra- 
tion. In  1795  the  Government  acquired  that  part  of  the  reservation  on  which 
the  star  fort  stood,  and  in  1838  the  entire  reservation  was  ceded.  In  1914  the 
area  was  transferred  to  the  city  of  Baltimore  for  use  as  a public  park,  with  the 
understanding  that  the  fort  would  be  occupied  by  the  Government  in  time  of 
war. 

PROCUREMEMT  OF  STRUCTURES. 

On  June  20,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  Fort  McHenry 
be  turned  over  to  the  Medical  Department  for  general  hospital  purposes. 
Approval  for  this  was  given  by  the  Secretary  of  War  on  August  2,  following. 

On  the  morning  of  August  22,  1917,  a sergeant  and  15  enlisted  men  of  the 
Medical  Department  arrived  at  Fort  McHenry  and  unfurled  the  American  flag 
on  the  remains  of  the  historic  old  star  fort.  On  the  29th  of  the  same  month 
a medical  officer  arrived  and  assumed  duty  as  commanding  officer  of  t he  hospital. 
From  then  on  various  officers  reported  and  were  assigned  to  duties  in  the 
different  departments  of  the  forming  organization. 

At  the  time  when  Fort  McHenry  was  taken  over  for  use  as  a hospital  the 
buildings  and  grounds  were  the  remains  of  a former  coast  artillery  post  which 
had  been  unoccupied  for  several  years,  and  in  consequence  the  place  was 
considerably  out  of  repair.  The  Government  was  just  building  three  brick 
buildings  to  be  used  as  an  immigration  station. 

The  preliminary  efforts  of  those  in  charge  were  to  prepare  temporary  quarters 
for  the  administrative  forces  and  barracks  for  the  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical 
Department  detachment.  The  brick  building  to  the  right,  as  one  entered  the  gate 
to  the  fort,  was  the  first  one  to  be  renovated,  and  for  several  months  was  used 
as  headquarters  as  well  as  a barracks  and  mess  hall  for  the  personnel  then  on 
duty.  In  addition  to  cleaning  and  repairing  the  buildings  which  had  been  on 


o The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md.,” 
by  Maj.  A.  P.  Herring,  M.  C.,  XT.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by 
him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is 
on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


323 


324 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED).  325 

the  post  since  the  Civil  War,  it  was  necessary  to  clean  up  the  grounds,  as  the 
roadways  and  walks  were  overgrown  with  grass  and  weeds.  At  this  time  no 
new  construction  had  been  definitely  planned,  and  the  future  of  the  hospital 
was  still  being  determined  by  the  Surgeon  General. 

On  October  5,  1917,  a group  of  60  Medical  Department  men  arrived  from 
Fort  Ethan  Allen,  Vt.,  and  were  housed  for  a while  in  the  chapel  and  guardhouse, 
but  later  were  moved  to  one  of  the  brick  barrack  buildings  which  had  formerly 
been  used  by  the  Coast  Artillery.  In  this  same  building  a mess  and  permanent 
headquarters  for  the  detachment  were  established. 

The  first  patients  to  be  on  sick  report  were  two  members  of  the  Medical 
Department  detachment  who  were  admitted  as  patients  on  October  IS,  1917. 


Fig.  100. — Old  Post  Hospital,  Fort  McHenry.  Used  as  first  administration  building  and  officer-patients’  quarters. 

The  operating  room,  equipped  for  emergency  operations,  was  opened  on  the 
29th,  in  the  old  post  hospital  building,  afterwards  barracks  No.  2. 

Arrangements  had  already  been  made  with  the  Mercy,  Johns  Hopkins, 
and  the  Baltimore  Eye,  Ear,  Nose,  and  Throat  Hospitals  to  send  a group  of 
10  detachment  men  at  a time  to  each  of  these  institutions  to  take  a four-weeks’ 
course  of  special  training,  particularly  in  surgery. 

Plans  were  forwarded  from  Washington  on  September  2,  1917,  for  new 
buildings  which,  with  the  three  brick  immigration  buildings,  were  to  be  com- 
pleted and  turned  over  to  the  Army  and  which  would  accommodate  1 ,000  patients. 
The  work  on  the  new  cantonment  buildings  was  begun  on  December  24.  How- 
ever,  the  1st  of  June,  1918,  found  the  hospital  occupying  temporary  quarters 
in  the  old  brick  barracks  and  any  other  of  the  original  buildings  at  the  post  that 
could  be  made  habitable.  From  September  to  December,  1917,  the  following 


326 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  I ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


changes  had  been  made,  as  appear  in  the  report  of  the  commanding  officer  to 
the  Surgeon  General : 

By  December  31,  1917,  all  of  the  old  buildings  had  been  completely  reno- 
vated; new  sewers  had  been  constructed  and  the  old  ones  cleaned;  necessary 
plumbing  had  been  installed  in  the  buildings ; and  the  following  activities  had 
been  placed  in  operation:  Wards  with  a total  bed  capacity  of  200;  the  barracks 
and  mess;  officers’  quarters  and  mess;  the  quartermaster  clothing  room  and 
the  commissary;  the  bakery;  the  quartermaster  shop;  shops  for  the  plumber, 
the  carpenter,  the  electrician,  and  the  painter;  a garage  and  stable;  a post 
exchange;  a reading  room;  a writing  room;  a pool  room;  a tailor  shop;  and 
a barber  shop. 

The  first  new  building  to  be  completed  was  the  nurses’  home  No.  1.  In 
the  meantime  construction  was  going  on  at  a rapid  pace  on  18  one-story  frame 


Fig.  101. — Cantonment  wards.  The  first  to  he  erected  at  General  Hopital  No.  2. 


buildings,  including  a central  kitchen  and  mess,  a receiving  ward,  and  an  isola- 
tion ward.  At  the  same  time  that  the  new  buildings  were  being  constructed 
work  on  the  immigration  buildings  was  being  rapidly  pushed,  and  by  February, 
1918,  the  new  administration  building — one  of  the  immigration  buildings — was 
occupied. 

Word  was  received  that  the  first  group  of  overseas  patients  would  soon 
arrive;  and  as  the  immigration  buildings  were  not  completed  and  the  regular 
hospital  buildings  were  still  in  process  of  construction,  it  was  necessary  to  pro- 
vide temporary  quarters  in  one  of  the  old  brick  buildings  which  had  been  in 
existence  since  the  Civil  War. 

In  February,  1918,  the  immigration  buildings  were  completed,  the  receiving 
building  having  a capacity  of  800  beds.  The  surgical  building  was  completed 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


327 


and  equipped  with  X-ray,  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  apparatus  and  a modern 
surgery.  On  February  22  the  second  group  of  107  overseas  patients  arrived 
and  on  the  28th  248  more  patients  came.  During  this  period  the  hospital  was 
used  largely  as  a clearing  house,  patients  arriving  from  the  port  of  debarkation, 
Hoboken,  on  special  trains,  being  reclassified  and  then  transferred  to  definite 
points  such  as  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.,  and  Cape  May,  N.  J., 
according  to  the  nature  of  their  disabilities. 

In  the  spring  of  1918,  due  to  the  necessity  for  augmenting  every  hospital 
to  its  fullest  extent,  buildings  with  a capacity  of  1,200  beds  were  added  to  this 
hospital.  Owing  to  the  limited  area  and  the  resultant  congestion,  these  build- 
ings were  constructed  of  tile;  whereas,  those  in  the  first  project  were  of  frame; 
all,  however,  were  equipped  with  steam  heat  and  other  modern  improvements. 

Additional  buildings  were  subsequently  erected  to  meet  new  needs,  causing 
further  congestion;  in  consequence  of  which,  considerable  fireproofing  of  the 


Fig.  102. — Two-story  wards  constructed  of  tile.  General  Hospital  No.  2. 

frame  buildings  was  necessary;  and  an  automatic  alarm  system,  such  as  was 
put  in  all  large  hospitals,  was  installed. 

Construction  continued,  and  by  March,  1919,  2,500  beds  were  available. 
In  the  summer  following,  construction  for  200  beds  was  added,  making  a total 
constructed  capacity  of  2,700  beds. 

Over  130  separate  construction  authorizations  from  the  Surgeon  General’s 
Office  were  necessary  to  complete  this  hospital.  This  number  of  authorizations 
was  greater  than  was  usually  required  and  was  due  to  the  facts  that  the  hospital 
was  developed  early  and  that  there  was  an  enforced  absorption  of  old  buildings 
in  a confined  area. 


328 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Nurses’  quarters,  as  well  as  quarters  for  all  other  personnel,  were  provided 
on  the  grounds.  In  fact,  every  activity  of  the  hospital  was  so  provided,  thus 
greatly  simplifying  administration. 

The  first  permanent  buildings  of  the  Bureau  of  Immigration  were  used 
with  practically  no  alterations. 

The  special  buildings  for  physiotherapy,  school,  and  shopwork  for  the 
physical  reconstruction  service,  were  not  installed  until  rather  late  in  the  con- 
struction period  of  this  hospital. 

Special  provision  for  the  blind  was  made  until  accommodations  elsewhere 
could  be  effected.  A most  complete  orthopedic  workshop,  a feature  not 
common  to  all  general  hospitals,  was  added.  Special  provisions  for  the  treat- 
ment of  maxillofacial,  brain,  and  peripheral  injuries  were  also  made. 

In  all,  75  new  buildings  were  added  to  those  originally  at  the  fort,  which, 
with  the  four  buildings  of  the  Bureau  of  Immigration,  made  a total  of  111. 
The  total  cost  of  this  2,700-bed  hospital  was  $2, 160,000. 

CHRONOLOGICAL  SEQUENCE  OF  EVENTS. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  six  months,  that  is,  March  1,  1918,  there  were  187 
enlisted  men,  Medical  Department,  33  officers,  and  400  patients.  Two  of  the 
frame  buildings  were  occupied  and  many  others  were  under  construction,  but 
there  was  still  a margin  of  400  vacant  beds.  The  three  immigration  buildings 
had  been  occupied  for  several  weeks  and  were  fulfilling  every  need.  On  March 
6,  Base  Hospital  Unit  No.  48,  comprising  148  men,  the  first  of  several  such  units 
to  receive  their  training  at  this  hospital,  arrived. 

The  month  of  March,  1918,  was  a memorable  one  in  the  history  of  this 
hospital  because  it  was  during  this  month  that  the  educational  department  was 
established.  At  this  time  the  Government  had  not  adopted  any  definite  policy 
regarding  the  reeducation  of  disabled  soldiers,  nor  had  any  appropriation  for 
this  purpose  been  made.  The  establishment  of  this  school  was  made  possible 
through  the  liberality  of  one  of  Baltimore’s  prominent  citizens  who  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  commanding  officer  a sum  of  money  to  conduct  what  started 
to  be  a department  of  reeducation  of  the  soldiers  at  this  hospital.  From  this 
small  beginning  schools  and  shops  developed  into  one  of  the  most  complete 
educational  departments. 

On  April  4,  191S,  a branch  post  office  and  a telegraph  station  were  opened, 
and  on  the  27th  of  the  month  the  first  number  of  the  Trouble  Buster  was  printed 
from  the  press  in  the  educational  department. 

On  May  31 , authorization  was  received  to  enlarge  the  capacity  of  the  hospital 
to  3,000  patients,  the  construction  to  be  two-story  tile  buildings. 

At  about  this  time  a post  exchange  was  established  and  recreation  of  various 
sorts  was  being  given  daily  for  patients.  Many  relief  organizations  which  had 
developed  in  the  city  were  lending  their  assistance  to  the  hospital  in  various 
ways,  furnishing  many  comforts  and  delicacies  which  the  Government  did  not 
provide. 

A printing  press,  with  full  equipment,  was  donated  by  the  Broadway  A ar 
Relief  Association  and  the  American  Type  Founders  Co.,  establishing  the  Fort 
McHenry  press,  which  printed  the  Trouble  Buster  and  The  Medical  Bulletin. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


329 


During  the  month  of  June,  1918,  the  hospital  was  very  active.  Base 
Hospital  Unit  No.  48,  having  been  equipped,  left  on  the  20th  for  duty  overseas. 
Base  Hospital  Unit  No.  78  arrived  for  mobilization  and  training.  A convales- 
cent camp  on  the  Severn  River  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  patients.  The 
cantonment  buildings  were  occupied,  grounds  about  the  hospital  were  being 
beautified  by  the  planting  of  flowers  and  shrubbery,  and  in  spite  of  the  great 
amount  of  new  construction  the  hospital  presented  an  attractive  appearance. 

On  July  20,  a class  of  instruction  for  noncommissioned  officers  was  started 
and  lectures  were  given  daily  by  the  various  officers.  On  the  25th,  Base 
Hospital  Unit  No.  102  arrived  for  mobilization  and  training.  During  this  month 
30  enlisted  men  left  for  overseas.  On  the  19th,  the  new  psychiatric  wards  were 
formally  opened. 

August  4,  Base  Hospital  Unit  No.  102,  known  as  the  Italian  unit,  most 
of  its  personnel  comprising  Italian-Americans,  embarked  from  the  port  of  Balti- 
more for  the  Italian  front.  In  this  unit  there  were  35  officers  and  198  enlisted 
men.  On  the  27th,  Base  Hospital  Unit  No.  78  left  for  overseas,  taking  with  it 
22  officers  and  191  enlisted  men.  During  this  month  several  hundred  limited 
service  men  arrived  for  minor  operations;  and  while  the  active  affairs  of  the 
hospital  were  somewhat  crippled,  the  work  went  on  without  interruption. 
The  construction  of  new  buildings  was  constantly  going  on  and  hundreds  of 
workmen  went  in  and  out  daily.  Twenty-three  two-story  tile  and  concrete 
buildings  were  in  process  of  construction  and  a large  amount  of  debris  covered 
the  grounds,  necessitating  the  policing  of  the  entire  grounds  daily  by  both 
personnel  and  available  patients. 

During  the  month  of  September  the  first  annual  meet  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  Athletic  Association  was  held  on  Homewood  Field  at  Johns  Hopkins 
University.  Athletes  from  the  near-by  camps  participated.  A parade  of 
several  thousand  soldiers  and  sailors,  with  several  bands,  marched  to  the  field, 
where  10,000  spectators  witnessed  the  contests.  The  gate  receipts,  amounting 
to  nearly  $10,000,  were  used  to  establish  and  equip  the  convalescent  camp  on 
the  Severn  River.  It  was  during  this  month  that  the  first  of  the  two-story  tile 
buildings  was  completed  and  opened.  This  building  was  finished  within  two 
weeks  after  the  work  had  started.  A central  kitchen  and  mess  hall  was  also 
completed  and  opened,  with  a capacity  of  over  1,600  men. 

At  this  time  the  influenza  epidemic  began,  and  a number  of  serious  cases 
were  admitted  to  the  hospital  from  Camp  Holabird,  Md.  Every  day  showed 
an  increase  in  the  number  of  influenza  patients;  but,  fortunately,  few  cases 
occurred  among  the  hospital  command.  At  the  end  of  the  month  there  were 
300  influenza  and  pneumonia  patients,  overtaxing  the  wards  and  requiring 
officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  men  to  work  overtime.  Five  surgical  wards  were 
given  over  to  the  medical  service,  and  all  operating  ceased  for  this  period. 
During  the  month  there  were  admitted  1,052  patients;  discharges  numbered 
730,  and  deaths  14. 

During  October  the  epidemic  of  influenza  was  still  raging,  over  1,000  cases 
having  been  treated  in  30  days.  There  were  121  deaths  among  the  patients, 
mostly  from  pneumonia.  Many  of  these  cases  came  to  the  hospital  in  the 
later  stages  of  the  disease.  Many  autopsies  were  performed  and  the  involved 
tissues  closely  studied.  A very  large  percentage  of  the  autopsies  exhibited 


330 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


an  infection  with  streptococcus  hemolyticus.  Many  cases  showed  a very  earlv 
pleural  exudate,  rapidly  changing  to  pus,  though  some  died  before  the  pus 
became  microscopic.  Many  showed  multiple  abscesses  in  the  lungs,  and  a 
purulent  pericarditis. 

During  the  month  of  November  an  officer  arrived  to  take  charge  of  ath- 
letics; and  new  life  was  instilled  into  these  activities,  the  officers  taking  daily 
exercise  in  the  gymnasium  and  the  patients  appropriate  exercises  to  assist 
them  in  overcoming  their  physical  handicaps.  A bowling  alley  and  shooting 
gallery  were  opened;  boxing  bouts  became  weekly  affairs;  and  a spirit  of  com- 
petition arose  which  tended  to  improve  the  morale  of  the  post.  Weekly 
dances,  moving  pictures,  and  other  entertainments  were  given  both  for  the 
patients  and  enlisted  men.  ft  was  during  this  month,  also,  that  the  local 
director  of  the  American  Red  Cross  arrived  and  began  his  work  in  the  office  of 
the  chaplain,  pending  the  completion  of  the  Red  Cross  building. 

During  December  the  new  laboratory  was  opened,  providing  adequate 
facilities  for  routine  as  well  as  experimental  work. 

The  end  of  the  year  1918  found  the  hospital  in  a splendid  condition,  with 
nearly  all  of  the  buildings  occupied. 

At  the  first  of  the  year  1919,  the  personnel  of  the  hospital  consisted  of 
78  officers,  123  nurses,  a detachment  of  863  men,  and  947  patients.  During 
the  month  of  January,  the  maxillofacial  service  was  instituted.  The  neuro- 
surgical department  had  already  been  in  operation  a few  weeks,  and  the  oper- 
ating rooms  were  kept  busy  all  day  long.  The  orthopedic  service  had  been 
moved  into  the  large  immigration  building,  containing  over  300  beds,  which, 
with  those  in  three  other  hospital  wards,  made  one  of  the  largest  services  in 
the  hospital.  Of  the  2,000  patients  in  the  hospital  nearly  one-half  required 
some  form  of  prosthetic  appliance,  so  that  the  orthopedic  shop  was  a center  of 
great  activity,  since  practically  all  of  the  shoes  and  appliances  were  made  and 
fitted  there.  The  department  of  physiotherapy  was  operating  in  full  swing 
with  about  50  aides  on  duty  and  hundreds  of  patients  receiving  daily  treatment. 

During  February  the  new  Red  Cross  building  was  opened  with  appropriate 
exercises,  and  proved  to  be  a constant  source  of  comfort  and  pleasure  to  the 
personnel  of  the  hospital.  The  officers’  club  was  opened,  and  made  an  important 
adjunct  to  the  social  life  of  the  post.  The  Red  Cross  fitted  the  rooms  of  the 
club  with  reading  tables,  writing  desks,  easy  chairs,  library,  and  a small  res- 
taurant. 

On  March  13  the  new  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  was 
opened.  This  contained  a large,  well-equipped  gymnasium,  pool  tables,  and 
lounging  and  reading  rooms  for  the  use  of  both  patients  and  enlisted  men. 

On  April  4 Arbor  Day  was  celebrated.  The  entire  staff  of  officers,  en- 
listed men,  and  ambulant  patients  turned  out  and  planted  trees  and  shrubs 
over  the  post.  Over  2,500  trees  and  shrubs  were  planted.  The  greenhouse 
was  complete  and  provided  an  abundance  of  flowers  for  the  wards.  The  school 
of  wireless  telegraphy  was  opened  and  several  pupils  enrolled.  On  the  13th, 
the  convalescent  camp  on  the  Severn  River  was  formally  opened  and  presented 
to  the  hospital,  to  be  used  as  a camp  for  convalescent  patients. 

In  May  230  orthopedic  patients  arrived  from  General  Hospital  No.  9, 
Lakewood,  N.  J.,  and  General  Hospital  No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  N.  1.  On  May 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


331 


31a  Memorial  Day  parade  was  held  in  Baltimore  in  which  7,500  patients  from 
the  hospital  participated.  A large  exhibit  of  the  work  which  was  being  done 
at  the  hospital  was  sent  to  the  meeting  of  the  American  Medical  Association 
held  at  Atlantic  City.  The  Jewish  Welfare  Board  hut  was  opened  with  appro- 
priate ceremonies. 

During  July  the  commanding  officer  organized  a central  welfare  board, 
which  coordinated  all  the  welfare  activities  of  the  post,  and  there  was  started 
a series  of  weekly  lectures  on  American  citizenship. 

In  Osier  Hall,  at  the  Medical  Library,  1211  Cathedral  Street,  Baltimore, 
an  extensive  exhibit  portraying  the  work  of  the  various  departments  of  the 
hospital  was  held  for  a week.  The  educational  department,  the  maxillofacial, 
and  others,  demonstrated  by  models,  photographs,  and  charts  the  compre- 
hensive character  of  the  work  being  done  by  the  hospital. 

During  July  and  August  patients  were  being  taken  to  the  convalescent 
camp  daily.  The  Red  Cross  and  other  welfare  organizations  were  very  active, 
planning  entertainments  of  various  kinds  for  the  patients  and  providing  them 
with  many  comforts. 

The  month  of  November  marked  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  the  hospital’s 
existence,  when  the  various  welfare  associations  discontinued  their  activities 
at  the  hospital.  A detachment  men’s  service  club  was  organized  and  took  over 
the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  as  a gymnasium  and  club 
house. 

On  the  last  of  the  year  the  personnel  of  the  hospital  comprised  81  officers, 
173  nurses,  701  enlisted  men.  There  were  1,193  patients. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Registrar’s  Office. 

In  this  office  were  kept  the  records  of  each  patient  in  the  hospital  from 
the  time  he  was  admitted  thereto  until  he  was  ready  for  final  discharge, 
when  his  record  was  completed  and  sent  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army.  From  the  time  the  patient  was  admitted  his  record  (register  card) 
moved  step  by  step  through  each  subsection  of  the  department. 

The  following  figures  for  the  year  1919  will  give  some  idea  of  the  work  done 
in  the  registrar’s  office:  The  number  of  register  cards  for  patients  admitted  to 
hospital,  14,277 ; the  number  of  complete  records  sent  to  the  Office  of  the 
Surgeon  General,  13,048;  the  average  daily  number  of  patients  admitted,  re- 
corded, diagnosed,  completed,  checked,  etc.,  was  40. 

Personnel  Adjutant’s  Office. 

This  office  handled  the  records  of  a shifting  personnel  of  enlisted  patients, 
as  to  pay,  insurance,  class  A,  B,  C,  D,  and  E allotments,  and  Liberty  loans,  for 
approximately  21,800  men,  or  a monthly  average  of  about  2,000.  In  many 
instances  the  records  of  these  men  were  received  in  poor  condition,  50  per  cent  of 
the  men  who  arrived  from  overseas  and  were  transferred  to  this  hospital  having 
temporary  service  records  and  pay  cards  only,  making  it  essential  to  execute  affi- 
davits and  to  interview  individual  enlisted  men  to  determine  the  merits  of  each 
case.  The  back  pay  due  some  of  these  soldiers  ranged  from  two  months  to  two 


332 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


years.  This  department  handled  the  pay,  insurance  premiums,  class  A,  B,  C,  D, 
and  E allotments,  and  Liberty  loan  bond  deductions  for  the  members  of  the  Medi- 
cal Department,  Quartermaster  Corps,  Utilities,  and  Motor  Transport  Corps  on 
duty  at  this  station.  This  number  averaged  850  per  month.  There  were  also 
executed  all  papers  required  by  demobilization  circulars  and  orders  in  the 
discharge  of  about  250  patient  officers  and  the  transfer  of  75  to  other  stations 
for  duty  or  discharge.  In  this  office  were  made  monthly  rosters  and  musters  of 
officers  and  enlisted  men,  the  post  returns  of  the  command,  returns  of  medical 
officers,  weekly  reports,  reports  of  duty  status  of  officers,  and  a daily  report 
of  changes  to  The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army  for  every  change  of  status  of 
officers  and  enlisted  men,  averaging  150  officers  and  1,770  men  per  month. 

Detachment  of  Patients. 

The  office  of  the  detachment  of  patients  was  charged  with  the  pay  of 
enlisted  and  officer  patients;  banking  the  patients’  money  and  depositing  their 
valuables  in  the  vault;  keeping  the  service  records  of  patients  admitted  to 
hospital,  or  sending  the  records  to  proper  organizations  with  necessary  indorse- 
ments when  sick  were  transferred  or  returned  to  duty;  completing  the  service 
records  for  discharge;  preparing  temporary  records  and  pay  cards;  affidavits 
when  original  papers  had  been  lost  or  destroyed;  supervising  War  Risk  allot- 
ments; preparing  surgeon’s  certificates  of  disability;  issuing  furloughs  to  pa- 
tients; and  issuing  clothing  to  patients. 

The  greatest  part  of  the  work  of  this  office  was  in  connection  with  keeping 
the  enlisted  patients’  records  up  to  date  so  that  the  men  could  be  discharged 
when  such  was  ordered  by  reason  of  a disability,  or  when  the  patient  was 
returned  to  duty.  The  following  figures  show  some  of  the  work  accomplished 
by  this  office  during  the  year  1919:  Patients  admitted  to  hospital  with  service 
records,  14,277;  patients  departed  from  hospital  for  discharge,  transferred  for 
further  treatment,  or  to  a duty  status,  13,048;  approximate  monthly  pay  of 
patients  in  hospital,  $35,000;  number  of  furloughs  issued  to  patients  in 
hospital,  1,855. 

Receiving  Ward. 

One  of  the  busiest  places  in  the  hospital  was  the  receiving  ward.  Here  the 
patients  were  admitted  or  discharged,  and  it  was  here  the  medical  and  surgical 
officers  of  the  day  made  their  headquarters,  where,  in  the  event  of  an  emergency, 
they  would  be  most  readily  available. 

Evacuation  Department. 

The  evacuation  department  consisted  at  first  of  three  separate  and  distinct 
offices,  namely,  evacuation,  demobilization,  and  transportation.  On  Sep- 
tember 22,  1919,  they  were  consolidated  into  what  was  later  known  as  the 
evacuation  department.  This  department  was  charged  with  the  duties  of 
demobilization,  evacuation,  and  transportation  of  personnel  at  the  hospital. 

When  a member  of  the  organization  was  demobilized  his  records  were  com- 
pletely audited  by  the  commanding  officer,  detachment  of  patients,  and  the 
personnel  adjutant,  before  his  papers  reached  the  demobilization  office.  So 
soon  as  the  demobilization  office  received  a soldier’s  service  record  he  was 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


333 


notified  to  appear,  his  papers  were  completed,  and  he  was  then  ready  for  dis- 
charge. During  1919,  approximately  13,000  patients  were  discharged  or  other- 
wise disposed  of  at  this  hospital. 

Sanitation. 

Fort  McHenry  was  taken  over  as  a general  hospital  August  22,  1917.  At 
that  time  the  sanitary  conditions  of  the  post  were  very  poor  as  the  result  of  an 
inefficient  sewerage  system  and  the  methods  of  disposal  of  garbage  and  refuse. 
Steps  were  immediately  taken  to  install  an  adequate  sewerage  system,  and  to 
correct  the  existing  insanitary  conditions.  A field  incinerator  was  built  for 
temporary  use  for  the  disposal  of  wastes,  and  the  garbage  was  deposited  on  a 
scow  and  removed  by  the  city  of  Baltimore.  Water  was  supplied  by  the  city 
system. 

During  the  months  of  September,  October,  November,  and  December, 

1917,  and  January,  February,  March,  and  April,  1918,  the  above  mentioned 
methods  of  sanitation  were  in  operation.  In  June,  1918,  a modern  steam 
incinerator  was  built  and  efficiently  operated  for  the  needs  of  the  hospital. 
Following  this,  water  pressure  tanks  were  installed  and  connected  with  the  city 
water  supply.  Shortly  thereafter,  a modern  incinerator  was  built,  and  it  ade- 
quately cared  for  the  disposal  of  the  waste  of  the  post. 

In  the  early  part  of  1918,  as  a result  of  the  rapidly  increasing  size  and 
capacity  of  the  hospital,  an  officer,  selected  from  the  staff,  was  definitely  as- 
signed as  hospital  and  sanitary  inspector.  In  addition,  several  enlisted  men, 
Medical  Department,  were  assigned  to  duty  as  a part  of  the  sanitary  personnel 
of  the  hospital  and  under  the  direction  of  the  hospital  inspector. 

The  duties  of  the  hospital  inspector  and  sanitary  squad  were:  Frequent 
inspection  of  the  buildings  and  grounds;  the  drainage,  sewerage,  condition  of 
sanitary  appliances  (incinerators,  sterilizers,  and  filters) ; the  amount  and  pota- 
bility of  the  water;  the  character  and  cooking  of  food;  and  the  character  and 
causes  of  prevailing  diseases  and  measures  taken  to  prevent  them. 

All  the  wards  and  corridors  were  screened  as  a precaution  against  mos- 
quitoes, and  the  drainage  was  carefully  looked  after  to  prevent  the  formation 
of  stagnant  pools  of  water.  Places  which  were  habitually  damp  were  covered 
with  a fine  film  of  oil. 

Nursing  Service. 

The  first  nurse  reported  for  duty  at  General  Hospital  No.  2,  January  5, 

1918.  She  was  detailed  as  chief  nurse.  On  January  26,  1918,  the  first  duty 
nurse  arrived;  the  following  day  two  more  nurses  reported;  and  by  the  end 
of  February  there  were  12.  Not  many  wounded  were  being  brought  back 
to  this  country  at  that  time  so  that  the  number  of  nurses  was  increased  very 
gradually. 

The  accommodations  in  ward  1,  provided  for  the  nurses,  were  soon  out- 
grown and  it  was  necessary  to  build  nurses’  quarters  No.  1.  These  were  com- 
pleted about  March  1,  1918.  By  June,  1918,  about  50  nurses  were  quar- 
tered in  this  building,  and  it  then  became  necessary  to  have  additional 
quarters,  and  a dormitory  consisting  of  eight  beds.  Quarters  Nos.  26  and  27 
were  opened  for  nurses  early  in  November,  1918,  when  the  roster  had  increased 


334 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  about  75.  All  these  buildings  provided  private  rooms,  parlors,  and  reception 
rooms  for  the  nurses;  and  all  of  the  rooms  were  tastefully  decorated  and 
furnished  by  the  Red  Cross  and  other  patriotic  organizations  of  Baltimore. 

The  nurses’  rest  house  on  the  water  front  filled  a longfelt  want.  This 
building  included  a large  living  room,  with  laundry,  two  small  guest  rooms, 
and  on  three  sides  a screened  porch  that  proved  a delight  on  hot  summer  days. 
The  rooms  were  furnished  and  decorated  attractively  by  the  Red  Cross.  Apart 
from  being  a rest  house,  it  was  used  as  a recreation  hall  for  nurses,  officers, 
and  others  of  the  post,  and  for  the  entertainment  of  nurses’  guests. 

About  October  15,  1918,  the  influenza  epidemic  was  at  its  height.  Twelve 
wards,  with  40  patients  to  each  ward,  were  in  operation.  Nurses  were  arriving 
daily  in  large  numbers,  so  that  shortly  after  the  roster  reached  200.  About 
one  half  of  the  nurses  were  taken  sick  with  the  influenza,  doubling  the  work 
of  those  remaining  on  duty. 

HOSPITAL  DEPARTMENTS. 

Surgical  Service. 

On  October  10,  1917,  the  first  chief  of  the  surgical  service  was  assigned. 
On  October  29,  1917,  an  operating  room  was  planned  and  equipped  for  emergency 
operations  in  the  old  post  hospital  building.  The  first  operation  performed  at 
this  hospital  was  on  November  23,  1917. 

The  activities  of  the  department  of  general  surgery,  which  during  the  early 
months  included  the  subdivisions  of  surgery,  orthopedics,  maxdlofacial,  and 
neurosurgery,  were  confined  to  operations  of  an  elective  character  which  included 
a large  number  of  hernias.  The  usual  acute  surgery  from  the  surrounding 
camps  was  also  taken  care  of.  Beginning  in  November,  a few  operations  on 
the  late  effects  of  gunshot  wounds  of  bones  were  performed — removal  of 
sequestra. 

The  majority  of  the  cases  of  compound  fracture  arriving  from  overseas, 
up  to  this  time,  had  required  only  the  usual  surgical  dressing,  splinting,  etc., 
and  the  surgical  department  had  been  largely  concerned  in  the  study  of  radi- 
ography and  clinical  signs,  having  in  mind  the  proper  selection  of  cases  requiring 
surgical  intervention.  The  study  of  the  cases  requiring  surgical  intervention 
necessitated  a grouping  of  surgical  conditions  in  suitable  wards  in  order  that 
these  conditions  might  be  more  readily  and  frequently  reviewed.  It  was  found 
that,  due  to  the  splendid  surgical  care  given  the  patients  abroad,  there  were 
very  few  malunited  fractures,  and  cases  of  nonunion  were  comparatively  rare. 
These  cases  of  nonunion  were  subjected  to  bone-grafting  operations  with  very 
good  results.  The  empyema  cases  operated  upon  represented  old  empyemas 
of  more  than  six  months’  duration. 

During  the  month  of  December,  1918,  the  department  of  neurosurgery 
was  formed. 

During  the  year  1919,  3,579  operations  were  performed,  with  but  IS  deaths. 
These  figures  include  a number  of  operations  on  general  surgical  cases  which 
represented  long-standing  complications  that  had  been  transferred  on  the 
closing  of  other  general  hospitals. 

One  of  the  innovations  during  the  year  was  the  system  of  charting,  by 
graphic  charts,  the  results  obtained  by  the  orthopedic  and  physiotherapy  depart- 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


335 


merits.  Graphic  charting  of  a patient’s  improvement  not  only  encouraged  and 
convinced  the  patient  of  his  progress,  but  it  was  a stimulus  to  the  aides  and 
others  working  on  the  case. 

Every  effort  was  made  to  keep  a smooth  liaison  between  all  the  depart- 
ments of  the  surgical  service  and  between  each  ward  and  the  office  of  the  chief 
of  the  surgical  service. 

Eye  Department. 

This  department  was  not  well  organized  until  September,  1918.  From 
that  time  on  a system  of  case  records  was  established  and  a separate  ward 
opened.  The  clinic  became  a large  and  active  one,  operating  practically  all  day. 

The  surgical  work  of  the  service  was  of  a very  high  order,  consisting  of 
plastic  repair  of  old  gunshot  wounds,  the  restoration  of  cul-de-sacs,  fat  and 
fascia  orbital  implantations,  enucleations,  and  the  fitting  of  artificial  eyes. 
The  most  marked  and  interesting  cases  of  repair  work  were  sketched  in  crayon 
and  colors;  plaster  casts  made  before  and  after  the  various  operative  pro- 
cedures, and  the  complete  collection  later  became  a part  of  the  exhibit  of  the 
Museum  and  library  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office. 

Otolaryngological  Department. 

This  section  of  the  hospital  was  not  well  organized  until  the  spring  of  1919. 
During  1918,  the  clinic  was  inaugurated  and  a large  number  of  patients  treated 
and  many  consultations  were  held  in  the  wards.  As  the  demand  for  space 
for  patients  of  this  department  became  more  urgent  a separate  wand  for  the 
service,  having  a capacity  of  80  patients,  was  established.  The  section  soon 
became  an  integral  part  of  the  surgical  department  of  the  hospital  and  the 
clinic  ran  daily,  including  Sundays  and  holidays,  from  8.30  a.  m.  until  noon. 
The  service  was  a very  active  one,  cooperating  with  the  other  departments  of 
the  hospital  and  caring  for  military  cases  from  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Aberdeen 
Proving  Grounds,  Camp  Holabird,  and  Camp  Meade,  Md.  Many  patients 
from  the  latter-named  points  were  naturally  in  the  out-patient  clinic,  and 
hospitalized  when  necessary. 

The  operative  work,  of  which  there  was  considerable,  was  done  in  the 
afternoons. 

The  most  frequent  lesions  met  with  were  those  of  the  accessory  nasal 
sinuses,  usually  postinfluenzal,  some  following  gassing,  and  others  resulting 
from  high  explosives  and  other  war  injuries.  There  was  a large  number  of  ear 
affections,  principally  of  the  chronic  suppurative  type,  with  a very  low  per- 
centage of  mastoid  involvement.  Acute  mastoid  cases  were  found  to  be  few 
and  far  between  for  such  a large  clinic.  Acute  tonsillitis  was  found  to  be  fre- 
quent, with  a number  of  cases  of  peritonsillar  abscess,  and  there  were  a few 
cases  of  Vincent’s  angina. 

Maxillofacial  Service. 

The  maxillofacial  department,  at  General  Hospital  No.  2,  was  in  charge  of 
an  officer,  with  four  surgical  assistants,  and  two  artists.  In  all  there  were 
about  450  maxillofacial  cases;  of  this  number  about  one-fourth  were  discharged 
in  practically  as  good  condition  as  they  were  before  entering  the  Army.  These 
cases  consisted  of  a great  variety  of  facial  injuries,  including  many  with  a 
partial  loss  of  the  nose  and  a few  with  entire  loss  of  the  chin,  and  a great  many 


336 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


with  deep  deforming  scars  and  loss  of  bone  in  many  parts  of  the  face.  In 
the  repair  of  these  cases  it  was  necessary  to  have  a great  many  of  the  appli- 
ances made  hy  the  dental  department. 

In  order  that  a permanent  record  of  the  work  might  be  made,  two  artists 
were  employed.  One  was  in  charge  of  the  plaster  and  wax  work  and  clay 
modeling.  A cast  was  made  before  and  after  operations  in  each  distinctive 
case.  In  many  cases,  noses  and  chins  were  modeled  in  clay,  as  a pattern  for 
the  surgeon  to  go  by.  In  a number  of  cases  water  colors  were  made  where 
sketches  and  casts  did  not  show  sufficiently  the  nature  of  the  injury.  Another 
artist  was  in  charge  of  the  sketching,  and  made  excellent  free-hand  sketches  of 
all  cases,  before  and  after  operation.  In  addition,  the  department  had  photo- 
graphs of  all  cases,  also  tracings  of  X-ray  plates  and  many  X-ray  films.  The 
dental  records  consisted  of  splints  mounted  on  plaster  casts,  copies  of  the  various 


Pig.  103. — Plaster  models  of  maxillofacial  patients,  General  Hospital  No.  2 


appliances  used,  and  pictures  of  others  not  deemed  worthy  of  publication.  In 
this  way  it  was  possible  to  place  in  the  Army  Medical  Museum  at  Washington 
a complete  record  of  the  work  of  the  department,  with  a card  index  of  all  cases 
shown,  giving  a brief  history  of  each. 

Neurosurgical  Service. 

It  was  learned  from  the  experience  of  the  Allies,  long  before  we  entered  the 
war,  that  injuries  to  nerve  structures  calling  for  surgical  intervention  would 
reach  a high  percentage.  The  Surgeon  General’s  Office  then  created  a division 
to  be  known  as  neurosurgery.  There  were  very  few  men,  at  home  or  abroad, 
trained  in  this  branch  of  surgery,  and  one  of  the  first  steps  of  the  new  service  was 
to  open  schools,  known  as  neurosurgical  institutes,  at  several  medical  centers, 
to  which  were  sent  selected  officers  for  this  training.  There  were  also  designated, 
at  a later  date,  certain  hospitals  in  this  country  to  be  equipped  as  neurosurgical 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED ) . 337 

centers.  General  Hospital  No.  2 was  one  of  this  group,  and  in  November,  1918, 
patients  with  nerve  structure  injury  were  being  admitted  for  treatment. 

It  was  with  the  withered  hands  and  feet  and  arms  and  legs  that  this  de- 
partment had  to  deal.  Patients,  with  very  few  exceptions,  were  those  in  whom 
partial  or  complete  paralysis  had  followed  gunshot  wound  of  the  brain,  spinal 
cord,  or  the  larger  nerve  trunks.  The  injuries  varied  greatly  in  severity:  in 
some  cases  a large  portion  of  the  brain  matter  was  destroyed  or  irreparably 
injured;  in  others  there  was  nothing  more  than  a bruise.  So  also  was  it  in 
cases  of  spinal-cord  injury.  With  the  peripheral  nerves  the  injuries  varied 
from  bruises  to  complete  division. 

The  total  number  of  cases  treated  was  055,  of  which  550  were  peripheral 
nerve  injuries,  103  head  injuries,  and  12  injuries  of  the  spinal  cord.  Two  hundred 
and  forty-one  peripheral  nerve  cases  and  65  head  cases  were  operated  on.  In 
addition  to  the  nerve  injuries,  about  25  per  cent  of  the  men  had  serious  injury 
to  bones,  tendons,  or  joints,  requiring  treatment  in  some  other  department. 

The  early  recognition  of  the  necessity  for  cooperation  between  the  ortho- 
pedic ward  surgeons  and  the  departments  of  physiotherapy  and  of  education 
was  evidenced  by  the  assignment  of  a liaison  officer  for  this  purpose  in  Novem- 
ber, 1918.  In  this  manner,  by  consultation,  it  was  determined  what  curative 
or  educational  therapy  should  be  undertaken  in  each  case.  Both  of  these  de- 
partments proved  of  inestimable  value  to  the  orthopedic  department. 

In  connection  with  the  physiotherapy  department,  and  largely  due  to  the 
efforts  of  the  liaison  officer,  there  were  developed  apparatus  and  forms  for  the 
measuring  and  recording  range  of  voluntary  motion  and  the  strength  of  motion 
in  disabilities  of  the  joints  and  muscles.  These  instruments  were  designed 
from  the  various  forms  of  apparatus  in  use  in  other  Army  hospitals,  supple- 
mented by  improvements  worked  out  by  the  officer  in  charge.  These  measure- 
ments and  records  proved  of  great  value  not  only  in  stimulating  and  encouraging 
the  patients,  but  also  in  furnishing  a definite  record  of  improvement  for  the 
information  and  guidance  of  ward  surgeons  and  members  of  the  physiotherapy 
and  educational  departments. 

Orthopedic  Department. 

The  orthopedic  service  was  organized  soon  after  the  first  contingent  of 
overseas  patients  was  received,  in  June,  1918.  These  patients  were  placed  in  a 
small  building  afterwards  used  and  outgrown  as  the  appliance  shop,  becoming 
the  repositorium.  As  the  hospital  rapidly  filled  with  patients,  other  wards 
were  assigned  to  the  service,  and  to  one  of  these,  ward  17,  a sun  porch  was  added 
for  the  segregation  and  open-air  treatment  of  orthopedic  tuberculous  patients. 

In  August,  1918,  it  was  found  necessary  to  establish  and  equip  an  ortho- 
pedic appliance  shop.  The  small  building  used  as  the  first  ward  was  remodeled 
for  the  purpose;  and  two  men,  trained  at  the  Army  Medical  School  orthopedic 
laboratory,  were  secured  to  augment  the  nucleus  of  mechanics  developed 
locally.  The  first  shop  equipment,  soon  afterwards  replaced  by  a complete 
Medical  Department  issue,  was  secured  through  the  generosity  of  patriotic 
organizations  and  citizens  of  Baltimore. 

45269°— 23 22 


338 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  April,  1919,  a wing  of  the  physiotherapy  building,  the  gymnasium,  was 
secured  and  converted  into  an  appliance  shop,  office,  and  consultation  room. 

Throughout  the  remaining  months  of  the  year  the  shop  mechanics,  all 
emergency  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department,  turned  out  the  required 


Tig.  104.— Orthopedic  shop,  General  Hospital  No.  2. 

appliances  for  the  entire  hospital,  with  the  exception  of  the  cork-sole  shoe  raises, 
which  required  the  services  of  an  expert  orthopedic  bootmaker,  and  an  occasional 
back,  or  leg  brace. 

Urological  Department. 

No  separate  urological  department  was  maintained  at  General  Hospital 
No.  2 during  its  early  days,  all  venereal  patients  being  taken  care  of  in  a small  ward 
by  the  general  surgical  service.  It  was  not  until  large  numbers  of  venereal 
patients  began  to  be  received  from  overseas  that  it  became  necessar}T  to  organize 
a distinct  department,  though  several  hundred  cases  had  been  taken  care  of  up 
to  September,  1919,  when  the  big  influx  began.  During  November,  1919, 
some  400  venereals  were  received  from  overseas,  representing  all  kinds  and  stages 
of  disease. 

Department  of  Roentgenology. 

One  of  the  most  important  departments  of  the  hospital  was  that  of  roent- 
genology, located  on  the  first  floor  of  the  surgical  building.  Originally  but  four 
rooms  were  occupied.  The  largest  one  was  arranged  for  operating  and  fluoros- 
copy, and  in  it  were  a Campbell  table,  Kelly-Koett  tube  stand,  vertical  plate 
changing  device,  vertical  fluoroscopy,  and  a complete  chest  for  localizing 
apparatus.  Protection  from  X rays  was  afforded  by  lining  the  walls  with  heavy 
sheet  lead.  In  a room  opening  from  the  main  operating  room  a Wappler 
transformer,  Belleview  model,  was  installed.  Adjoining  was  the  diagnostic 
room,  which  contained  a built-in  view  box,  plate-filing  cabinet,  Wheatstone 
stereoscope,  typewriter  and  table,  and  a card-filing  cabinet  wherein  a complete 
record  of  each  patient  was  kept,  a system  having  been  inaugurated  by  which 
plates  and  dates  referring  to  each  case  might  be  located  promptly.  The  dark 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GEXEBAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVEETED ) . 


339 


room  was  conveniently  arranged  and  equipped  with  large  developing  tanks,  the 
contents  of  which  might  be  brought  to  the  necessary  temperature  by  means  of 
running  hot  and  cold  water. 

As  the  hospital  grew  in  size  so  did  the  department  until  it  occupied  10 
rooms.  An  additional  operating  room  was  installed,  the  walls  of  which  were 
lined  with  heavy  lead,  and  the  equipment  consisted  of  a United  States  Army 
table,  Kelly-Koett  tube  stand,  and  vertical  plate-changing  device.  In  the 
adjoining  room  was  a Kelly-Koett  transformer.  In  addition  to  the  above- 
mentioned  equipment  there  were  two  portable  bedside  units. 

With  the  increase  in  work  the  plate-filing  space  in  the  diagnostic  room 
became  inadequate  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  take  over  another  room  for  this 
purpose.  In  this  were  a Wheatstone  stereoscope,  two  large  built-in  plate-filing 
cabinets,  and  a view  box  in  which  a number  of  plates  could  be  shown  at  one 
time.  This  room  was  commodious  and  afforded  an  opportunity  for  studying 
plates  by  members  of  the  staff. 

The  work  was  varied  and  interesting,  a vast  majority  of  the  patients  hav- 
ing been  injured  overseas,  and  bone  injuries  were  observed  in  practically  every 
bone  of  the  body.  Many  other  cases,  likewise  unusual,  presented  themselves. 

The  number  of  jiatients  examined  was  8,002,  for  which  16,329  plates  were 
filed;  4,855  new  cases  were  examined  and  3,147  were  old  cases  reporting  for 
further  examination.  Of  the  number  of  patients  examined,  4,616  were  found 
to  be  pathological.  Of  this  number,  2,636,  or  57  per  cent  of  the  pathological 
causes,  were  fractures.  The  humerus  was  found  most  frequently  fractured, 
there  being  351  cases. 

A fully  equipped  photographic  laboratory  was  connected  with  this  depart- 
ment and  was  under  the  supervision  of  the  X-ray  service.  Seven  hundred  and 
forty-six  patients  were  photographed,  of  which  there  were  2,388  jffates. 

Dental  Service. 

The  dental  clinic  was  established  February  15,  1918.  At  that  time  it  was 
located  in  what  was  known  as  the  surgical  building,  and  there  was  provided 
but  a single  room  and  one  base  outfit.  It  was  soon  found  that  supphes  and 
equipment  were  far  too  inadequate  to  cope  with  the  constantly  increasing 
quantity  of  work  to  be  done,  especially  when  the  hospital  was  designated  as  a 
maxillofacial  center. 

On  February  1,  1919,  the  entire  upper  floor  of  ward  28  was  decided  upon 
as  the  future  place  for  the  dental  clinic.  Additional  dental  equipment  and  sup- 
plies were  immediately  requisitioned;  gas,  water,  and  air  lines  were  installed; 
and  hasty  preparations  were  made  to  care  for  the  great  number  of  patients  who 
already  filled  many  of  the  wards,  as  well  as  those  constantly  arriving  with  each 
convoy. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  clinic  will  be  seen  in  the  comparative  numbers 
which  follow:  On  January  1,  1919,  there  were  but  3 dental  officers  and  3 dental 
assistants  on  duty,  while  in  April,  there  were  19  dental  officers  and  about 
25  enlisted  men  in  the  clinic.  Subsequent  to  the  1st  of  January,  1919,  4,365 
patients  were  cared  for,  13,000  sittings  were  given,  there  were  276  restorations, 
and  about  255  splints  for  maxillofacial  cases  were  made. 

A dental  officer  of  the  day  was  designated  daily  to  care  for  any  emergency 
which  might  occur  within  the  24  hours,  while  each  of  the  other  officers  had  a 


340 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


definite  class  of  work  to  do.  Certain  ones  were  assigned  to  prosthetic  restora- 
tions, others  to  operative  dentistry,  one  to  the  surgical  room,  where  all  extrac- 
tions and  other  work  of  a surgical  nature  were  done.  One  officer  was  desig- 
nated as  property  officer  and  was  responsible  for  all  equipment  and  supplies, 
this  being  in  addition  to  his  other  duties. 

Medical  Service. 

The  medical  service  at  the  hospital  was  created  October  7,  1917.  Up  to 
this  time  the  hospital  had  been  in  a process  of  organization,  and  it  was  not  until 
October  15  that  patients  began  to  appear  on  sick  report.  For  months  the  sick 
rejiort  showed  a few  entries  only,  representing  men  from  the  detachment  on 
duty  at  the  hospital  and  from  the  water-front  guard  near  by.  It  was  not  until 
January,  1918,  that  the  first  group  of  patients  arrived  from  elsewhere.  At  this 
time  the  great  debarkation  and  distribution  hospitals  at  the  ports  were  not 
entirely  ready  for  use,  and  from  January  to  April,  1918,  group  after  group  of 
patients  was  sent  to  General  Hospital  No.  2,  immediately  on  debarkation  from 
France,  for  diagnosis  and  separation  into  disease  classification,  on  completion  of 
which  many  of  them  were  transferred  to  other  hospitals  for  definitive  treatment. 
So  it  happened  that  a large  percentage  of  the  patients  admitted  in  these  early 
days  of  the  hospital’s  existence  was  assigned  to  the  medical  service,  and  as  a 
result  a demand  was  created  for  medical  officers  to  rapidl}T  build  up  the  personnel 
of  the  medical  service. 

The  most  striking  characteristic,  speaking  in  a medical  way,  of  these  early 
groups  was  the  preponderance  of  the  transfer  diagnosis  of  tuberculosis.  It  soon 
became  evident,  however,  that  many  of  the  cases  had  been  hastily  and  errone- 
ously diagnosed  overseas;  these  were  kept  under  observation  for  a time  and 
usually  returned  to  limited  duty. 

In  April,  1918,  this  hospital  ceased  to  be  a distributing  center  and  thence- 
forward the  cases  sent  remained  for  treatment.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that 
never  thereafter  was  a tuberculosis  ward  (the  standard  ward  of  32  beds)  com- 
pletely filled  with  undoubted  cases  of  the  white  plague.  Now  began  the  proper 
and  steady  work  of  the  medical  service.  Few  changes  of  officers  occurred  and 
there  was  in  consequence  an  efficient  and  harmonious  staff. 

The  ward  facilities,  however,  were  still  inadequate.  Only  four  of  the  can- 
tonment wards  were  available  for  patients,  and  these  had  to  shelter  the  growing 
number  of  surgical,  especially  orthopedic,  cases,  as  well  as  the  medical  patients. 
Recourse  was  had  to  the  use  of  the  big  immigration  building,  a structure  poorly 
adapted  in  every  way  for  ward  purposes.  Two  of  the  wards  were  huge,  and  con- 
sequently hard  to  administer,  and  the  noise  of  riveting  on  steel  ships  night  and 
day,  less  than  half  a block  distant,  prevented  sleep  for  the  patient,  accurate 
ausculation  for  the  doctor,  and  at  times  ordinary  con  vernation  for  everyone. 
In  spite  of  such  drawbacks  things  went  on  smoothly,  with  a service  growing  to 
220  in  September,  when  the  medical  service  was  then  comfortably  housed  in  the 
cantonment  wards  which  subsequently  constituted  the  medical  row. 

During  the  early  summer  of  1918,  Base  Hospital  No.  78  mobolized  at  this 
post  and  trained  to  a large  extent.  On  September  3,  1918,  they  were  ordered 
to  the  port  of  embarkation  and  took  with  them  the  chief  and  four  other  mem- 
bers of  the  medical  service. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED ) . 


341 


The  hospital  at  Fort  McHenry  had  a double  function:  In  addition  to  being 
a general  hospital  it  served  as  a post  hospital  for  the  surrounding  camps  and 
posts.  The  water-front  guard,  General  Hospital  No.  7,  the  ordnance  depot  at 
Curtis  Bay,  and  the  huge  motor  transport  depot  at  Camp  Holabird,  all  looked 
to  this  post  for  hospital  facilities  and  furnished  a fair  proportion  of  patients. 
Their  dependence  on  the  hospital  became  the  absorbing  factor  in  the  activities 
in  mid  September,  1918,  when  the  great  influenza  epidemic  began.  On  the 
18th  of  that  month  the  first  cases  were  received,  and  the  medical  service  mounted 
rapidly  to  its  maximum  of  754  on  October  5.  All  operating  was  stopped  except 
in  the  most  urgent  cases,  and  officers  were  transferred  in  numbers  to  the  medical 
service  from  the  surgical  service.  The  whole  row  of  wards  from  10  to  18  was 
thrown  open  to  influenza  and  pneumonia  alone.  Inadequate  as  were  condi- 
tions in  Army  posts,  as  they  were  throughout  the  country,  to  meet  the  emer- 
gency, this  hospital  fared  as  well  as  any  in  the  proportion  of  nurses  and  attend- 
ants, and  its  morale  was  unbroken.  The  only  deaths  among  the  hospital  per- 
sonnel were  two  enlisted  men.  None  of  the  officers  was  seriously  ill,  and  of  the 
40  or  more  nurses  who  were  off  duty  at  one  time  or  another  during  the  epidemic 
not  more  than  two  or  three  caused  any  real  concern. 

The  measures  that  accomplished  this  creditable  result  were  those  pre- 
scribed by  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  Masking  was  ordered  and  was  fairly 
well  carried  out.  The  formation  of  cubicles  by  the  use  of  pendant  sheets  was 
required  and  done.  The  morale  of  the  nurses  was  maintained  partly  by  frequent 
automobile  trips  away  from  the  post.  In  fact  throughout  the  terrible  devasta- 
tion and  depression  of  the  epidemic  period  the  medical  service  functioned 
smoothly  and  well. 

After  the  epidemic  the  most  pressing  medical  question  was  the  proper  treat- 
ment of  the  sequelae.  The  unresolved  pneumonia  consolidation,  the  vestigial 
rales  at  apices,  which  resembled  so  much  the  typical  rales  of  active  tuberculosis, 
and  especially  the  many  myocardial  changes,  furnished  many  patients  for 
months. 

From  time  to  time  accessions  of  groups  of  patients  from  overseas  arrived. 
The  bulk  of  these  were  surgical;  in  fact  the  medical  service,  except  in  time  of 
epidemics,  was  numerically  small  compared  to  the  surgical  service.  The 
diseases  represented  at  any  one  time  in  the  medical  service  were  much  the  same 
as  those  in  any  civilian  hospital  among  young  men.  The  particular  war-time 
maladies  were  scarce.  Pediculosis,  trench  foot,  trench  fever,  trench  nephritis, 
the  neuroses,  were  rarely  seen,  practically  not  at  all.  A certain  portion  of  the 
medical  cases  were  the  ordinary  acute  infections,  colds,  tonsillitis,  and  the 
like,  of  local  origin;  arthritis  was  represented  by  a fairly  large  group  of 
patients;  nephritis,  goiter,  cardiac  conditions  causing  disorders,  were  present 
in  their  usual  proportion.  The  exanthemata  were  continuously  represented 
in  the  wards  by  2 to  10  cases,  and  small  epidemics  of  scarlet  fever,  measles, 
and  mumps  were  cared  for  from  time  to  time.  In  each  epidemic  the  patients 
were  brought  from  other  posts  and  no  epidemic  spread  beyond  the  wards 
where  it  was  isolated. 

It  was  the  policy  in  this  hospital  for  the  chief  of  the  medical  service  to  make 
complete  rounds  every  day  and  to  know  personally  the  history,  condition,  and 
progress  of  every  patient.  The  system  of  medical  supervisors  of  groups  of 


342 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IX  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


wards  reporting  to  the  chief,  who  was  to  be  called  in  only  on  special  cases,  was 
never  adopted.  The  one-man  close  supervision,  moreover,  was  carried  out 
in  such  a way  that  the  ward  surgeons  always  felt  that  they  were  being  supported 
and  advised  by  the  chief  rather  than  being  checked  up  and  limited  by  him.  To 
this  was  due  the  feeling  and  hearty  cooperation  that  characterized  the  service 
throughout. 

Neuropsychiatric  Service. 

The  neuropsychiatric  service  was  opened  in  March,  1918;  but  adequate 
facilities  were  lacking  at  that  time;  and  it  was  not  until  the  month  of  May  when 
the  patients  were  moved  into  the  new  standard  psychiatric  building  that  the 
real  effective  Avork  of  the  service  Avas  be<jun. 

The  care  of  the  patients  Avas  accomplished  Avithout  any  of  the  old-time 
methods  and  they  Avere  given  every  benefit  of  the  modern  school  of  neuropsy- 
chiatry. The  interior  of  the  building  Avas  decorated  and  painted  in  soft  restful 
colors,  while  potted  plants  and  fioAvers  distributed  throughout  and  lace  cur- 
tains at  the  windows,  all  combined  to  make  the  place  as  attractive,  homelike, 
and  pleasant  as  possible.  In  the  rear  a spacious  porch  was  commrted  into  a sun 
parlor  and  made  an  ideal  place  for  the  activities  of  occupational  therapy. 

The  building  had  its  oavii  hydrotherapy  room  equipped  with  shoAvers,  con- 
tinuous tub,  etc.;  and  the  soothing  effect  of  the  sedative  bath,  especially  in 
maniacal  cases,  Avas  successfully  demonstrated.  In  addition  to  its  use  in  this 
Avay  the  hydrotherapy  bath  was  employed  with  gratifying  results  in  a number 
of  chronic  ulcer  cases  from  the  surgical  service.  Full  advantage  Avas  taken  of 
the  hospital’s  physiotherapy  department  and  nearly  all  of  the  neuropsychiatric 
patients  Avere  sent  out  daily  for  some  kind  of  treatment  in  the  more  elaborately 
equipped  building.  No  effort  Avas  spared  to  provide  every  therapeutic  benefit 
to  be  derived  from  diversional  occupation  and  recreation  for  the  patients.  A 
reconstruction  aide  spent  her  time  entirely  with  these  patients,  doing  all  that 
Avas  possible  to  keep  their  minds  and  hands  busy,  and  splendid  results  were 
achieved.  In  addition  to  this  occupational  therapy  a teacher  of  calisthenics 
spent  some  time  each  day  giving  the  patients  brisk  exercise  and  conducting 
games  Avhich  were  greatly  enjoyed.  A large  pool  table,  a A'ictrola,  and  a Avell- 
stocked  library,  all  donations  of  interested  friends,  Avere  available  for  use  at  all 
times. 

The  fundamental  principles  underlying  the  treatment  of  the  patients 
admitted  to  this  service  were  psychotherapy,  hydrotherapy,  and  occupational 
therapy.  The  patients  were  treated  individually  and  not  collectively.  No 
routine  or  “system”  methods  Avere  used  in  administering  to  those  Avho  were 
admitted  complaining  of  the  many  and  varied  symptoms  incident  to  a nervous 
or  mental  disorder.  The  happy  results  attending  the  use  of  these  three 
important  agencies,  especially  in  the  large  group  of  the  functional  neuroses  and 
the  incipient  mental  disorders,  amply  justified  the  principles  of  nonrestraint 
which  were  insisted  upon  Avhen  the  department  was  inaugurated  early  in  191S. 

The  neuropsychiatric  wards  were  built  on  the  same  plans  as  those  in  all 
of  the  Army  general  hospitals,  with  the  important  exception  that  there  Avere 
never  locked  doors,  or  barred  or  screened  windoAvs.  The  wards  Avere  dehospi- 
talized  and  made  as  homelike  and  as  attractive  as  possible. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


343 


This  department  received,  daily,  patients  referred  for  consultation,  and  kept 
in  close  touch  with  patients  or  members  of  the  enlisted  personnel  who  had, 
for  any  reason,  been  confined  to  the  guardhouse.  The  attitudes  of  the  com- 
manding officer  and  the  disciplinary  officer,  regarding  men  who  required 
discipline,  were  to  first  establish  their  mental  responsibility.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  a large  majority  of  the  men  who  did  not  respect  the  honor  system 
were  those  who  were  later  classed  as  psychopaths  or  defectives. 

The  first  occupational  aide  at  this  hospital  was  assigned  to  the  neuro- 
psychiatric.  ward. 

A special  feature  was  made  of  recreation.  Several  times  a week,  afternoon 
parties  were  given  for  the  patients,  at  which  there  were  music  and  refresh- 
ments, and  when  the  occasion  arose  the  holidays  were  celebrated  with  proper 
ward  decorations  and  games. 

In  connection  with  the  treatment  of  patients  in  this  department  mention 
should  be  made  of  the  splendid  results  which  were  accomplished  by  sending 
patients  to  the  convalescent  camp  on  the  Severn  River.  The  recovery  of  a 
number  of  patients  dates  from  the  time  they  spent  at  this  delightful  summer 
camp,  where  boating,  swimming,  fishing,  and  many  popular  sports  were  avail- 
able. The  camp  was  especially  beneficial  in  giving  the  patients  the  opportu- 
nity to  get  away  from  the  routine  of  hospital  life,  and  the  feeling  of  freedom 
and  stimulating  effects  of  the  outdoors. 

Patients  admitted  to  the  department  of  neuropsychiatry  were  always 
treated  as  sick.  The  idea  of  anyone  being  sent  as  a punishment,  the  presence 
of  curious  visitors,  or  the  use  of  any  slang  terms  in  referring  to  the  patients 
in  the  service,  were  constantly  discouraged. 

Although  at  no  time  subsequent  to  the  opening  of  the  service  were  more 
than  two  ward  buildings  occupied,  an  effort  was  always  made  to  handle  as 
many  patients  as  possible,  the  plan  being  to  have  the  patients  admitted  to  the 
neuropsychiatric  division,  their  examination  made,  and  their  histories  written, 
and  then  their  transfer  to  a convalescent  ward  or  to  the  convalescent  camp  on 
the  Severn  River  effected  to  make  more  room  for  new  cases. 

On  March  22,  1919,  the  scope  of  the  service  was  considerably  broadened 
by  making  arrangements  to  care  for  a number  of  the  neuropsychiatric  officer 
patients,  and  a ward  was  set  aside  for  their  use.  In  addition  to  this  the  Sur- 
geon General’s  Office  gave  this  service  general  supervision  over  a number  of 
neuropsychiatric  cases  among  Army  nurses,  aides,  etc.,  who  were  sent  to  the 
Shepherd  and  Enoch  Pratt  Hospital  at  Towson,  Md.,  and  to  the  Henry  Phipps 
Psychiatric  Clinic,  at  Johns  Hopkins  Hospital,  Baltimore. 

Laboratory  Service. 

The  real  beginning  of  the  laboratory  service  may  be  stated  to  date  from 
February  1,  1918,  when  a chief  of  the  laboratory  service  was  assigned  to  duty. 
In  the  following  month  four  women  technicians  came  to  the  hospital  for  duty 
in  the  laboratory  to  relieve  enlisted  men.  In  December,  19 IS,  nine  enlisted 
men  who  had  been  trained  in  the  Army  Laboratory  School  at  Yale  University 
were  assigned  to  duty  in  the  laboratory. 

From  February  1,  1918,  to  December  of  the  same  year  the  laboratory  was 
housed  in  the  small  room  in  the  surgical  building,  where  conditions  were  very 


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MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


unfavorable:  the  room  was  too  small  for  the  personnel  on  duty,  and  it  was 
impracticable  to  put  into  service  all  the  necessary  equipment  because  of  the 
lack  of  available  space  for  its  proper  use  and  care.  In  December,  1918,  the 
laboratory  was  moved  to  a building  comprising  four  large  rooms,  which  had 
been  especially  designed  and  equipped  for  the  service.  The  laboratory  ani- 
mals were  kept  in  one  room  of  this  building  until  June,  1919,  at  which  time  a 
small  house  was  fitted  up  for  use  as  an  animal  house,  and  the  room  formerlv 
used  as  an  animal  room  became  a general  storeroom.  The  animal  house  was 
steam  heated  and  contained  cages  for  the  animals,  arranged  in  tiers  in  the 
center  and  about  the  sides  of  the  room. 

Subsequent  to  its  removal  to  its  permanent  location  the  development  of 
the  laboratory  service  proceeded  at  a more  or  less  uniform  pace  until  its  equip- 
ment was  fairly  adequate  to  the  work  demanded  of  it. 


Fig.  105— Portion  oflaboratory,  General  Hospital  No  2. 


From  time  to  time  surveys  of  various  kinds  were  conducted  in  the  labo- 
ratory. These  surveys  included  examinations  of  the  water  supply,  examina- 
tions of  various  articles  of  food,  surveys  of  enlisted  men  on  duty  in  the  mess 
to  discover  possible  typhoid  and  para-typhoid  carriers,  surveys  of  groups  of 
the  population  of  the  post  to  segregate  diphtheria  carriers  and  carriers  of  the 
microorganisms  or  other  transmissible  diseases,  and  of  still  other  groups  to 
determine  their  individual  susceptibility  to  diphtheria  by  means  of  the  Schick 
test. 

During  the  summer  months  of  1919  an  interesting  study  was  made  of  the 
metabolism  and  renal  efficiency  of  a group  of  nephritics.  Graphic  charts  show- 
ing the  results  of  all  these  analyses  were  prepared.  This  study  was  intended 
particularly  to  partake  of  the  nature  of  research,  but  was  undertaken  to  deter- 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED ) . 


345 


mine  the  actual  condition  of  the  patients  involved  and  to  establish  a scientific 
basis  for  their  treatment. 

The  mortuary  consisted  of  a small  building  of  two  small  rooms.  In  one 
room  there  was  a closet  in  winch  articles  of  medical  property  were  kept  under 
lock  and  key.  In  the  same  room  were  four  metal-lined  receptacles,  each  con- 
taining a wooden  slab,  for  the  accommodation  of  cadavers  awaiting  autopsy. 
In  another  room  there  was  a concrete  floor  with  the  opening  of  a drain  pipe 
in  the  center.  The  autopsy  table  was  an  old  operating  table,  about  the  edge 
of  which  a metal  rim,  one-half  inch  in  height,  was  placed.  At  the  head  of  the 
table  was  a metal-lined  box,  into  the  bottom  of  which  water  was  admitted 
from  an  overhead  pipe.  Water  was  drawn  from  the  box  near  the  top  through 
a pipe  the  terminal  arm  of  which  extended  across  the  top  of  the  autopsy  table 
and  was  pierced  by  several  holes.  This  allowed  a continual  flow  of  water  on 
the  surface  of  the  table  from  one  end  to  the  other  under  the  body  for  the 
purpose  of  flushing  away  fluids  which  escaped  during  the  process  of  necropsy. 
Special  attention  was  paid  to  the  performance  of  autopsies  and  to  the  careful 
and  detailed  study  of  all  abnormal  conditions  encountered  in  tissues  and  cul- 
tures derived  therefrom.  Autopsies  on  patients  dying  during  the  night  were 
usually  performed  at  9 a.  m.  the  following  day. 

Experimental  investigations  conducted  in  the  laboratory  fell  under  two 
headings.  One  of  these  sought  to  determine  the  relation  of  the  streptococcus 
hemolyticus  to  influenza  and  pneumonia.  The  results  of  tins  work  were  pub- 
lished in  the  American  Journal  of  Medical  Sciences  for  August,  1919.  The 
other  experimental  investigation  was  a study  of  the  suitability  of  a substitute 
for  Loeffler’s  blood  serum.  This  medium  consisted  of  a mixture  of  egg  and 
veal  infusion  bouillon,  and  it  was  found  that  it  was  in  no  way  inferior  to 
Loeffler’s  blood  serum. 

Physiotherapy. 

At  General  Hospital  No.  2 one  of  the  first  physiotherapy  departments  was 
established.  On  August  1,  1 9 IS,  the  department  comprised  1 officer,  4 recon- 
struction aides,  and  3 enlisted  men.  The  personnel  greatly  increased  in  number 
having  in  December,  1919,  a maximum  of  61  aides  and  4 enlisted  men. 

The  work  of  the  department  was  divided  into  three  main  sections,  as 
follows:  Massage,  electrotherapy,  and  hydrotherapy.  The  large  majority  of 
patients  had  gunshot  wounds  involving  bone,  muscle,  and  nerve  injuries.  The 
average  patient  received  a local  whirlpool  bath,  or  treatment  with  radiant 
light  and  heat  to  stimulate  and  make  flexible  the  part  affected.  The  muscles 
were  then  fully  massaged,  scar  tissues  softened,  and  stiff  joints  given  careful 
exercise,  passive,  active,  or  resistive.  Electrical  treatments  of  a wide  variety 
were  given,  as  this  department  was  particularly  well  equipped.  Tonic  treat- 
ments for  general  weak  conditions,  stimulation  in  cases  of  local  paralysis,  and 
the  healing  of  stubborn  open  wounds  were  included  in  this  work.  The  hydro- 
therapy rooms  contained  all  modern  apparatus  for  the  treatment  of  injury  or 
disease  by  water,  hot  and  cold.  Cabinet  baths  were  used  for  both  eliminating 
and  tonic  treatments  in  mental  cases.  The  sedative  pool  was  invaluable  in  the 
treatment  of  shell  shock  and  other  psychiatric  cases.  The  cleansing,  healing, 
stimulating,  and  sedative  properties  of  water  were  used  to  the  greatest  possible 


346 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


advantage  by  means  of  whirlpool  baths  for  arms  and  legs,  Sitz  baths,  shower 
baths,  needle  spray,  and  the  Scotch  douche. 

Over  480,000  treatments  were  given  to  about  5,000  patients,  of  whom  more 
than  3,000  were  returned  to  duty  or  discharged  cured  or  with  maximum  im- 
provement. 

Department  for  Measurement  of  Voluntary  Movements  and  Strength  in  Stiff  Joints. 

There  was  established  at  General  Hospital  No.  2 a department  for  the  pur- 
pose of  measuring  in  degrees  the  range  of  voluntary  movements  in  stiff  joints 
and  measuring  in  pounds  the  strength  of  voluntary  movements  in  stiff  joints. 
The  instruments  were  designed  in  the  various  forms  of  apparatus  that  were 
provided  the  hospital,  and  in  addition  further  modifications  and  improvements 
were  devised.  These  instruments  were  all  made  in  the  orthopedic  shop.  Instru- 
ments were  available  for  the  measurements  of  the  following  functions:  Flexion 
and  extension  of  the  finger  joints,  flexion  and  extension  of  the  wrist,  abduction 
and  adduction  of  the  wrist,  flexion  and  extension  of  the  elbow,  supination  and 
pronation  of  the  forearm,  abduction  of  the  shoulder  joint,  flexion  of  the  shoulder 
joint,  flexion  and  extension  of  the  knee,  and  flexion  and  extension  of  the  ankle. 
The  strength  tests  were  made  by  the  use  of  the  dynamometer  and  of  an  ordinary 
weighing  scale  with  a small  runner  attached  to  the  dial.  The  purpose  of  these 
measurements  was  to  obtain  necessary  information  for  the  proper  assignment 
of  patients  to  curative  work;  and  to  obtain,  in  numerical  and  graphic  form, 
reports  which  might  be  used  to  encourage  and  stimulate  the  patients  to  persist 
in  the  prescribed  curative  work  by  showing  them  definitely  the  progress  of 
improvement,  as  well  as  to  furnish  the  surgeon  with  definite  information  as  to 
the  patient’s  progress;  and  to  keep  the  physiotherapist  and  instructors  in  the 
curative  workshop  informed  as  to  the  patient's  progress  that  they  might 
adapt  the  treatment  and  curative  work  to  the  changing  needs.  These  meas- 
urements were  made  semiweekly.  Records  were  kept  and  a chart,  indicating 
the  gradual  and  maximum  improvement,  was  maintained  for  reference,  should 
such  information  be  desired  by  the  ward  surgeon  or  the  chief  of  the  service. 

Education  And  Reconstruction  Work. 

The  history  of  the  development  and  evolution  of  the  educational  service 
at  this  hospital  reflects  the  changes  in  policy  and  practice  made  necessary  by 
the  varying  conditions  of  the  Army  and  the  work  in  general.  Beginning  as  it 
did  at  the  time  when  the  first  patients  began  arriving  from  overseas  and  before 
the  enactment  of  legislation  providing  for  reeducation  of  disabled  soldiers  under 
the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Education,  and  continuing  through  the  sign- 
ing of  the  armistice  and  the  return  of  practically  all  disabled  men  to  civilian 
life,  the  educational  work  at  the  hospital  necessarily  changed  in  character  as 
well  as  in  personnel  several  times.  Early  in  the  war  the  Surgeon  General  issued 
plans  in  bulletin  form  for  the  physical  reconstruction  of  disabled  soldiers  in 
general  hospitals.  This  hospital  was  listed  as  one  of  those  designated  for  the 
work  of  physical  reconstruction.  This  bulletin  stated: 

From  the  military  standpoint,  disabled  soldiers  may  be  placed  in  three  general  classes:  (A  s 
Those  who  can  be  restored  to  full  duty;  (B)  those  who  can  be  fitted  for  limited  sendee;  (Cl  those 
disabled  to  the  extent  of  unfitting  them  for  farther  military  sendee. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS- — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


347 


Patients  of  the  first  class  (A)  should  have,  when  circumstances  warrant  it,  the  benefit  of  thera- 
peutic treatment  through  play,  work,  and  study,  as  may  be  prescribed  by  medical  officers,  in 
order  that  their  morale  may  be  stiffened,  their  special  skills  improved,  their  future  usefulness 
increased,  and  their  recovery  hastened. 

Patients  of  the  second  class  (B)  should  have,  whenever  conditions  permit  and  the  medical 
officers  approve,  such  specific  training — physical  and  vocational — as  will  in  the  judgment  of  the 
educational  officers  best  fit  such  patients  for  limited  service  of  a particular  kind. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  educational  service  considerable  emphasis  was 
placed  upon  training  men  for  various  occupational  use  in  the  Army  which  would 
make  it  possible  for  them  to  return  to  limited  service  and  thus  relieve  a more 
able-bodied  soldier  for  service  in  France. 

After  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  retaining  men  for  limited  service  was,  of 
course,  unnecessary.  This  change  in  conditions  modified  the  character  of  the 
educational  work  in  hospitals,  and  more  emphasis  was  placed  upon  giving 
disabled  men  the  initial  stages  of  what  was  later  to  be  vocational  reeducation. 

Originally  the  department  was  designated  the  “occupational  therapy 
service”:  later,  it  was  termed  the  “department  of  education  and  occupational 
therapy,”  and  then  became  known  as  the  educational  service. 

The  first  educational  officer  arrived  at  the  hospital  for  duty  on  February 
IS,  1918.  At  that  time  no  special  allotment  of  funds  had  been  made  for  this 
work  and  its  status  was  somewhat  uncertain.  Congressional  action  upon  the 
care  of  the  disabled  soldier  was  pending,  and  there  was  considerable  uncer- 
tainty as  to  the  final  developments  of  the  work. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  educational  officer  a hasty  survey  was  made  of  the 
patients  and  their  previous  education  and  occupations.  Several  patients  were 
found  who  were  qualified  to  act  as  instructors  in  commercial  and  technical 
subjects.  Through  the  generosity  of  a resident  of  Baltimore,  $1,000  was 
placed  in  the  bank  subject  to  the  draft  of  the  educational  officers.  Several 
typewriters,  sets  of  drafting  instruments,  drafting  boards,  and  other  educa- 
tional paraphernalia  were  thus  provided.  Within  a few  days  patients  were 
studying  shorthand  and  typewriting,  drafting,  and  English.  Several  patriotic 
organizations  of  Baltimore  provided  yarn  and  knitting  machines,  and  on 
February  21,  1918,  the  first  occupational  work  in  wards  was  initiated.  Knit- 
ting was  provided  for  men  with  disabled  hands  and  patients  who  could  not  do 
any  more  active  work.  Typewriting  and  shorthand  was  given  to  those  who 
wished  it  and  whose  injuries  were  such  that  they  could  be  efficiently  assigned 
to  limited  service  use.  Patients  requiring  light  outdoor  work  were  given 
light  work,  such  as  raking  the  lawns  and  the  preparation  of  gardens. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  at  that  time  there  were  only  the  permanent 
buildings.  Medical  patients  were  quartered  in  the  large  immigration  building, 
surgical  patients  were  in  the  wards  of  the  surgical  building,  and  the  tuberculosis 
patients  were  in  what  became  known  as  barracks  No.  3.  Considerable  con- 
struction work  was  progressing  on  the  newer  buildings  and  a great  deal  of 
policing  was  necessary. 

As  more  patients  arrived,  enlargement  of  the  scope  of  educational  work 
was  necessary.  For  the  psychiatric  patients  willow-basket  making  was  intro- 
duced through  the  generosity  and  cooperation  of  the  officials  of  the  State 
asylum  at  Crownsville,  who  furnished  the  hospital  an  instructor  and  the  material 
for  willow-basket  making.  In  a small  room  on  the  lower  floor  of  the  immigra- 


348 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN’  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tion  building  a willow-basket  shop  was  soon  in  operation  and  several  patients 
were  trained  who  later  acted  as  instructors.  The  necessity  for  a diet  kitchen, 
to  be  placed  in  the  immigration  building,  caused  the  basket  shop  to  be  moved 
to  the  basement  of  what  was  later  known  as  ward  No.  1,  and  for  several  months 
this  work  was  carried  on  there. 

Among  the  patients  to  arrive  early  at  the  hospital  was  a master  senior 
electrician,  who  was  an  expert  telegrapher.  In  a very  short  time  he  had  organ- 
ized a class  in  Morse  telegraphy;  and,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  arranged,  a class- 
room was  opened  for  this  subject  in  one  of  the  old  noncommissioned  officers’ 
quarters,  and  for  several  months  a thriving  class  in  Morse  telegraphy  was  con- 
ducted in  that  building,  many  patients  in  the  wards  doing  similar  work. 


Pig.  106. — Work  in  basketry.  General  Hospital  No.  2- 

Tlie  arrival  of  Base  Hospital  No.  48  brought  a number  of  trained  men 
who  could  be  spared  from  the  hospital  work  to  act  as  teachers;  and  soon  classes 
were  established  in  various  grades  of  English,  mathematics,  and  drafting, 
both  in  wards  and  classrooms. 

The  first  shop  work  was  given  in  a shop  that  was  later  the  physiotherapy 
building,  and  in  the  space  later  occupied  by  the  bowling  alleys.  The  first 
shop  was  a woodworking  shop,  and  was  followed  immediately  by  the  cement 
shop  and  a shoe  shop. 

In  May,  1918,  the  first  allotment  of  funds  was  made  for  the  work  and  this 
gave  a great  impetus  to  it.  Additional  shops  were  opened  in  the  first  wing  of 
the  physiotherapy  building  and  gardens  were  planted  around  the  star  fort. 

Early  in  April,  1918,  the  Broadway  War  Relief  Club  of  Baltimore  offered 
a small  printing  press  to  the  educational  department.  This  was  installed  in 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED ) . 


349 


one  of  the  upper  rooms  of  the  post  exchange,  and  on  April  24  the  first  issue  of 
Trouble  Buster  was  published.  Two  enlisted  men  were  found  in  the  detachment 
who  were  printers,  and  from  that  time  the  instruction  in  printing  developed 
rapidly. 

The  influenza  epidemic  in  1918  temporarily  disrupted  the  entire  organiza- 
tion of  the  department,  as  it  was  necessary  for  all  enlisted  men  to  be  utilized 
as  ward  orderlies  as  well  as  for  caring  for  the  sick.  The  work  was  not  reorgan- 
ized after  the  epidemic  until  the  new  shop  buildings  were  completed  in  October, 
1918,  when  all  the  shops  were  brought  together  in  these  buildings,  and  a some- 
what permanent  organization  of  shop  work  was  effected.  On  the  completion 
of  the  new  two-story  building  in  November,  1918,  all  the  classes  were  brought 
together  in  the  educational  buildings  where  they  subsequently  remained. 


Fig.  107. — Patients  at  work  in  printing  shop,  General  Hospital  No.  2. 

Previous  to  the  signing  of  the  armistice  practically  all  of  the  instruction 
given  in  the  department  was  done  by  men  inducted  into  the  Army  especially 
for  the  reconstruction  service,  and  by  qualified  convalescent  patients.  About 
the  time  of  the  signing  of  the  armistice  the  first  reconstruction  aides  were 
assigned  to  the  hospital  by  the  War  Department,  and  from  that  time  on  enlisted 
men  were  rapidly  replaced  by  civilian  aides. 

When  adequate  teaching  personnel  had  been  provided  the  work  was  organ- 
ized in  three  divisions:  The  occupational  and  educational  work  in  wards  was 
arranged  under  a definite  head  aide,  the  class  rooms  were  organized  under  a 
supervisor  of  academic  subjects,  and  the  shops  under  a supervisor  of  shop 
instruction. 


350 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Tlie  abandonment  of  reconstruction  work  at  Camp  Meade  made  a large 
addition  to  the  equipment  of  the  service  at  General  Hospital  No.  2,  as  the  entire 
school  of  photography,  vulcanizing  equipment,  and  radio  equipment  were 
transferred. 

The  policy  of  the  department  was  to  provide  diversion,  occupation,  rec- 
reation, and  instruction  which  would  contribute  most  to  the  physical  recon- 
struction and  the  future  occupational  efficiency  of  the  patients.  Where  diver- 
sion was  necessary,  such  was  provided.  Where  more  stimulating  active  work 
seemed  advisable,  this  was  provided.  Where  outdoor  work  or  calisthenics 
in  the  gymnasium  was  needed,  these  were  given.  As  patients  arrived  in  their 
convalescence  at  that  point  where  serious  educational  or  technical  vocational 
work  was  possible,  this  was  prescribed  and  furnished.  In  all  shops  and  class- 
rooms it  was  the  policy  to  make  the  work  exceedingly  practical  and  conforming 
to  the  best  educational,  industrial,  or  vocational  practices.  For  example, 
the  shoe  repair  shop  repaired  the  shoes  of  the  entire  Medical  Depart- 
ment detachment.  For  many  months  during  the  emergency  this  shop  did  all 
the  shoe  repairing  of  the  hospital.  The  print  shop  did  a vast  amount  of  print- 
ing, which  was  necessary  in  the  operation  of  the  hospital.  In  the  early  days  of 
the  hospital  the  woodworking  shop  made  practically  all  the  tables  and  hat  racks 
placed  in  the  wards.  The  furniture  repair  shop  repaired  the  large  amount  of 
chairs  and  other  furniture  which  arrived  in  bad  order.  The  automobile  shop 
for  many  months  did  all  of  the  automobile  repair  work  on  ambulances  and  other 
motor  vehicles.  The  commercial  art  department  painted  a very  large  number 
of  signs.  In  its  early  days  the  class  in  telegraphy  operated  the  local  telegraph 
office  of  the  post.  The  electrical  shop  installed  the  electric  bells  in  the  adminis- 
tration building.  The  cement  shop  did  ornamental  concrete  work,  and  laid  sev- 
eral concrete  sidewalks  about  the  post.  Classes  in  typewriting  did  a great  deal 
of  mimeographing.  The  vulcanizing  shops  repaired  hundreds  of  tires  for  the 
Motor  Transport  Corps  at  Camp  Holabird,  Md.  The  radiator  repair  shop 
secured  its  materials  and  radiators  on  which  the  work  was  demonstrated  from 
Camp  Holabird,  and  returned  these  damaged  radiators  in  first-class  condition. 
The  photographic  shop  made  hundreds  of  photographs  for  the  Army  Medical 
Museum  and  for  other  departments. 

At  one  time  there  was  a number  of  blind  men  in  the  hospital  for  treatment, 
during  whose  stay  a complete  organization  for  the  instruction  of  the  blind 
was  effected.  Typewriting,  craft  work,  and  Braille  were  taught  to  all  blind 
men.  The  American  Bed  Cross  presented  each  blind  man  who  successfully 
completed  a prescribed  examination  with  a Corona  typewriter. 

The  deaf  and  men  with  speech  defects  received  special  attention.  Lip 
reading  was  taught,  and  for  some  months  instructors  were  busy  teaching 
aphasia  patients  to  talk.  A class  in  expression,  taught  by  an  instructor 
furnished  by  the  Bed  Cross,  proved  very  effective. 

The  scope  and  division  of  work  provided  by  the  department  is  illustrated 
by  the  fact  that  classes  were  conducted  in  the  following  subjects:  Bookkeeping, 
mechanical  drawing,  higher  mathematics,  radio,  agriculture,  French.  Spanish, 
sign  painting,  scenario  writing,  psychology,  Morse  telegraphy,  and  pronuncia- 
tion. The  shops  provided  instruction  in  automobile  repair  work,  electricity, 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


351 


vulcanizing,  jewelry,  photography,  carpentry,  shoe  repairing,  printing,  mono- 
type and  linotype  operation,  oxy-acetylene  welding,  gas  engine  theory,  and 
radiator  repairing. 

In  October,  191S,  the  scope  of  the  department  was  enlarged  somewhat  by 
the  addition  of  a recreational  officer.  This  officer  took  charge  of  the  athletics 
and  recreation  of  both  patients  and  detachment  men.  Various  athletic  teams 
were  organized  and  the  plan  arranged  whereby  the  recreational  officer  took 
care  of  the  parties  of  patients  leaving  the  hospital  for  short  trips  and  entertain- 
ments of  various  kinds.  Subsequent  to  that  time  the  department  was  very 
active  in  recreation  of  both  patients  and  detachment  men. 

There  were  enrolled  in  educational  work,  4,031  patients,  exclusive  of  those 
in  recreational  activities.  A total  of  113  civilian  aides  were  at  one  time  or 


Fig.  108. — Blind  patients  learning  typewriting,  General  Hospital  No.  2. 


another  on  duty.  Sixty-one  enlisted  men  and  noncommissioned  officers  were 
assigned  and  later  were  transferred  to  other  hospitals  or  were  discharged. 
Eighteen  different  officers  served  in  the  department. 

Until  November  1,  1919,  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  the 
Knights  of  Columbus,  and  Jewish  Welfare  Board  had  representatives  in  the 
hospital;  and  the  various  welfare  organizations  cooperating  with  the  educa- 
tional department,  arranged  a very  active  schedule  of  activities  for  both  patients 
and  detachment  men. 

From  its  early  organization  the  educational  department  received  a great 
deal  of  assistance  from  the  American  Library  Association,  and  with  the  arrival 
of  a representative  of  this  organization  at  the  hospital  arrangements  were 
made  by  which  the  American  Library  Association  could  have  its  library  in  the 


352 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


educational  building.  The  library  was  utilized  as  a study  room  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  various  academic  classes,  who  found  their  reference  material  in  the 
library. 


Fig  109. — Patients’  work  in  jewelry  class,  General  Hospital  No.  2. 

The  Mess. 


With  the  arrival  of  the  first  officers  and  enlisted  men  in  August,  1917.  it 
was  necessary  to  establish  two  messes,  one  for  the  officers  and  one  for  the  en- 
listed men  of  the  detachment.  Additional  messes  were  established  for  patient 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED  ) . 


353 


officers,  for  enlisted  patients,  and  for  the  nurses.  The  first  officers’  mess  was 
in  ward  1,  then  the  administration  building,  while  the  enlisted  men’s  mess  was 
in  the  basement  of  the  same  building.  From  ward  1 the  officers’  mess  was 
moved  into  a set  of  officers’  quarters,  where  it  remained  until  the  mess  hall  was 
completed  in  the  spring  of  19 IS. 

About  January  1,  1 9 IS , the  enlisted  men’s  mess  was  moved  from  the  base- 
ment in  ward  1 to  barracks  2 and  3,  and  then  to  the  immigration  building,  in 
May  of  the  same  year.  At  this  time  the  mess  for  patients  and  enlisted  men  was 
consolidated.  The  permanent  mess  was  sufficiently  complete  about  August  1, 
1918,  to  permit  establishing  therein  the  mess  for  the  patients,  about  800  in 
number.  Several  weeks  later  the  enlisted  men’s  mess  was  moved  there  from 
the  immigration  building. 

As  the  number  of  patients  and  enlisted  men  increased  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  inaugurate  the  cafeteria  system  of  serving  meals.  This  was  done  about 
the  middle  of  August,  191S,  and  was  found  so  successful  that  it  was  continued 
in  operation  thereafter.  It  was  exclusively  for  patients  able  to  wait  upon 
themselves. 

About  January  1,  1919,  approximately  7,200  men  were  fed  daily.  The 
amount  of  food  required  for  this  number  of  men  is  indicated  by  the  following 
figures:  For  a single  meal,  16  dozen  cans  of  corn,  350  pounds  of  potatoes,  16 
dozen  cans  of  tomatoes,  16  dozen  cans  of  peas,  16  dozen  cans  of  string 
beans,  800  pounds  of  meat,  and  16  dozen  quarts  of  milk.  For  breakfast  150 
pounds  of  sliced  bacon  were  consumed.  Nine  hundred  pounds  of  bread,  100 
pounds  of  butter,  140  gallons  of  coffee,  350  pounds  of  sugar,  5 crates  of  eggs 
were  consumed  daily.  One  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds  of  cereal,  100 
gallons  of  ice  cream,  6 crates  of  fresh  fruit,  60  gallons  of  pudding,  8,000  to  10,000 
cakes,  20  gallons  of  sirup  were  consumed.  To  cook  and  prepare  this  large 
amount  of  food  required  150  employees.  The  mess  hall  contained  a complete 
refrigerating  plant,  electrically  driven  meat  choppers,  and  three  large  double 
ranges. 

The  special  diet  kitchen  was  installed  in  the  lower  wing  of  the  general  mess 
and  was  under  the  charge  of  the  chief  dietitian,  who  supervised  the  preparation 
of  all  diets  connected  with  the  general  mess.  It  was  operated  very  satisfac- 
torily, and  there  were  but  few  complaints.  All  purchases  for  this  mess  were 
made  by  the  mess  officer,  and  only  sufficient  food  for  48  hours  was  purchased  in 
advance. 

Post  Exchange. 

The  post  exchange  was  opened  November  1,  1917,  a small  stock  of  merchan- 
dise being  obtained  on  credit.  The  sales  for  the  first  month  amounted  to  $210. 

Subsequent  additions  to  the  exchange  were  a modern  antiseptic  barber 
shop,  with  8 chairs,  a well-equipped  soda  fountain,  a tailor  shop,  restaurant, 
and  laundry. 

The  total  sales  at  the  exchange  amounted  to  $240,834.55.  Dividends  were 
paid  to  the  hospital  mess  fund  amounting  to  $7,647.50. 

Quartermaster  Department. 

The  first  quartermaster  arrived  for  duty  at  the  hospital  September  21,  1917. 
At  the  time  the  armistice  was  signed  and  until  May,  1919,  about  200  enlisted 
45269°— 23 23 


354 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


men  were  on  duty  with  the  Quartermaster  Corps,  most  of  them  being  emergency 
men  who  were  replaced  by  civilians;  and  from  June  until  September,  1919, 
there  was  the  same  number  of  civilians  carrying  on  the  activities  of  the  corps. 

The  functions  of  the  quartermaster  department  were  varied  and  were 
divided  into  10  divisions,  the  names  of  each  indicating  its  activities:  Supply 
office  (administration);  finance  division;  medical  supply  division;  subsistence 
division;  clothing  and  equipage  division;  salvage  division;  transportation 
division;  operating  record  division;  Motor  Transport  Corps,  and  Quartermas- 
ter Detachment. 

Utilities. 

The  utilities  department  was  subdivided  into  departments  of  electricity, 
carpentry,  plumbing  and  painting,  police  and  fatigue,  and  the  post  fire  depart- 
ment. The  electrical  shop  was  developed  into  a highly  efficient  working  unit. 
Additional  street  lamps  were  installed  throughout  the  post.  The  necessary 
poles  were  erected  and  the  wiring  was  done  by  the  utilities.  A telephone  fire 
alarm  system  was  installed  as  well  as  an  electric  alarm  connection  from  the 
fire  station  to  the  steam  fire  alarm  whistle  at  the  power  house.  Much  of  the 
wiring  throughout  the  post  had  been  changed  in  order  to  take  care  of  the  in- 
creasing load  through  the  use  of  water  heaters,  sterilizers,  and  medical  appli- 
ances. This  was  especially  true  in  the  X-ray  and  psychiatric  departments, 
where  many  complicated  machines  were  being  used,  requiring  almost  constantly 
the  services  of  one  electrician.  A school  of  photography  of  the  educational 
department,  installed  in  building  No.  50,  necessitated  much  new  wiring.  The 
56  electric  motors  throughout  the  post  were  overhauled  and  put  in  new  condi- 
tion. Nearly  6,000  electric  lamps  were  used  on  the  post,  which,  in  order  to 
conserve  electricity  during  the  period  of  the  coal  famine,  were  reduced  about 
one-third.  The  carpenter  shop  force  comprised  five  carpenters  and  four  carpen- 
ter helpers.  The  frame  type  of  construction  used  at  the  hospital  necessitated 
many  repairs.  The  acid  fumes  from  manufacturing  plants,  just  across  the 
Patapsco  River,  caused  many  hundreds  of  yards  of  wire  screening  to  disinte- 
grate. All  this  had  to  be  replaced,  and  in  addition  the  new  screening  had  to  be 
painted.  In  May,  1919,  this  office  completed  the  addition  to  the  receiving 
ward  at  the  cost,  of  $3,000.  Most  of  the  material  therefor  was  transferred  from 
other  camps  by  the  Construction  Division.  Lockers  for  both  nurses  and  pa- 
tients were  built  and  installed  in  all  wards  and  quarters,  and  work  benches  and 
lockers  were  built  in  all  the  ward  schools.  The  plumbing  force  consisted  of  4 
civilians,  1 enlisted  man,  and  1 helper.  Changes  in  location  of  diet  kitchens 
for  bed  patients  made  demands  upon  the  plumber  for  new  sinks,  steam  tables, 
etc.  The  sewage  ejector  of  the  immigration  station  was  found  to  be  too  small 
to  handle  the  increased  load  caused  by  crowding  patients  into  these  buildings, 
and  a new  and  larger  type  of  ejector  was  installed  by  this  department  in  the 
spring  of  1919.  The  water  supply  early  in  the  year  was  found  to  be  inade- 
quate, so  much  so  that  at  times  it  had  to  be  cut  off  to  permit  refilling  the  storage 
tanks;  so  in  July,  1919,  funds  were  secured  with  which  to  augment  the  water 
supply.  This  was  done  bv  increasing  the  size  of  the  city  supply  pipe  for  a 
distance  of  about  1,000  feet  west  of  the  post.  The  incinerator  erected  under 
the  supervision  of  the  utilities  was  well  constructed  and  operated  efficiently: 
all  the  garbage  and  trash  from  the  entire  post  was  disposed  of  through  this 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (CONVERTED). 


355 


plant,  about  6 tons  of  material  being  handled  daily,  using  about  600  pounds  of 
soft  coal  for  incineration.  The  fire-fighting  equipment  consisted  of  one  com- 
bination hose  and  chemical  truck  and  seven  hand-drawn  chemical  wagons. 
Throughout  the  wards  and  corridors  there  were  367  chemical  fire  extinguishers, 
and  water  barrels  and  buckets  were  placed  at  every  strategic  point.  Fire  drills 
were  held  daily  by  the  fire  department  personnel,  and  every  second  Thursday 
a general  fire  drill  was  attended  by  the  entire  post  personnel. 

The  Repositorium. 


In  view  of  the  fact  that  many  unique  and  wonderfully  successful  operations 
were  performed  on  the  wounded  men  in  this  hospital,  it  was  thought  advisable 
to  make  a permanent  record  of  these  operations,  to  be  sent  eventually  to  the 
Army  Medical  Museum  in  Washington.  These  records  were  made  by  means 
of  charcoal,  and  pen  and  ink  drawings,  plaster  casts,  wax  models,  photographs, 
X-ray  prints,  model  splints,  and  pathological  specimens. 

For  the  purpose  of  centralizing  the  responsibility  and  care  of  these  rec- 
ords and  of  still  further  stimulating  interest  in  the  medical  cases  under  treat- 
ment, a repositorium  was  created.  Building  No.  56,  in  which  the  old  orthopedic 
workshops  were  located,  was  given  over  for  this  purpose,  and  here,  in  April, 
1919,  the  staff  of  artists  and  modelers  was  established. 

Among  the  interesting  exhibits  of  work  done  subsequent  to  that  time 
were  many  drawings  and  plaster  casts  showing  the  wounds  of  the  head  in 
different  stages  of  healing,  both  before  and  after  operation.  The  entire  time 
of  a sculptor  was  devoted  to  work  connected  with  the  maxillofacial  depart- 
ment, making  models  in  plaster  and  wax  to  represent  as  nearly  as  possible  the 
original  features  of  the  men  disfigured  by  high  explosive  injuries,  thus  greatly 
assisting  the  surgeons  in  their  work  of  facial  reconstruction. 

Two  very  interesting  exhibits  were  held  in  connection  with  the  reposito- 
rium, one  at  Atlantic  City  during  the  week  of  the  medical  conference  there  in 
June,  1919,  and  the  other  later  in  the  summer  at  the  Medical  and  Chirurgical 
Building  in  Baltimore. 

The  following  is  a list  of  the  exhibits  received  from  the  chief  departments 
of  the  hospil  al. 


Maxillofacial : 

Wax  models 81 

Plaster  of  Paris  models 62 

Charcoal  sketches 80 

Photographs 706 

Orthopedic: 

Charcoal  sketches 30 

Photographs 41 

Water-color  paintings G 

X-ray  plates  for  exhibition 8 

Model  splints 12 

Plaster  of  Paris  models 7 

General  surgical: 

Water-color  paintings 19 

Neurosurgical: 

Drawings  and  water  colors 109 

Plaster  of  Paris  models 76 


Ophthalmological : 

Photographs 50 

Charcoal  drawings 16 

Water-color  paintings 9 

X-ray  exhibition  plates 1 

Pathological: 

Water-color  paintings 26 

Specimens 18 

Dental: 

Photographs 18 

Drawings 13 

X-ray  exhibition  plates 14 

Plaster  of  Paris  models 2 


356 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


School  of  Photography. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  it  was  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  hospital 
schools,  the  school  of  photography  grew  so  rapidly  that  in  less  than  six  months 
the  number  of  students  in  attendance  was  more  than  60.  In  June,  1919, 
great  truck  loads  of  photographic  materials  were  brought  from  Camp  Meade 
to  Fort  McHenry,  and  after  the  delays  caused  by  the  necessity  of  building 
dark  rooms,  and  the  installation  of  apparatus,  the  school  was  opened,  sub- 
sequently playing  an  important  part  in  the  pictorial  work  of  the  hospital. 
The  students  of  the  school,  with  their  large,  complicated  Graflex  cameras 
soon  became  a familiar  sight  about  the  hospital,  and  no  events  of  general 
interest  were  allowed  to  pass  unphotographed.  Both  instructors  and  students 
worked  together  to  make  the  school  of  photography  not  only  a place  where 


Fig.  110. — Patients’  class  in  photography,  General  Hospital  No.  2. 

the  enrolled  could  learn  the  photographic  profession,  but  also  to  make  it  of 
help  and  benefit  to  the  hospital.  The  school  supplied  the  educational  officer 
with  a set  of  photographs  of  all  the  schools  on  the  post,  for  the  educational 
booklet  which  was  printed  at  the  hospital;  it  furnished  the  hospital  paper, 
the  Trouble  Buster,  with  numerous  photographs  from  time  to  time;  and  made 
photographs  of  the  jewelry  and  other  articles  manufactured  by  the  different 
schools. 

The  school  of  photography  was  established  in  ward  2S.  This  space  was 
rapidly  outgrown  and  the  entire  upper  floor  of  building  No.  50  was  assigned 
to  it  and  equipment  was  then  secured. 

All  together  about  150  men  were  enrolled  for  the  course  given  in  the 
department.  Of  this  number,  many  advanced  to  such  a stage  as  to  cause 
them  to  decide  that  photography  in  one  of  its  many  branches  would  be  their 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED ) . 


357 


profession  after  discharge.  The  school  averaged  about  1,250  photographs  per 
month,  of  which  approximately  3,000  prints  were  made.  Enlargements 
numbered  100  and  Kodak  developments  about  100  per  month. 

The  Library  Service. 

In  the  first  week  of  December,  1918,  the  organization  of  the  library  at 
the  hospital  was  begun.  During  the  early  days  there  was  no  regular  system 
of  circulation  and  no  arrangement  for  the  collection  of  books  to  be  placed  in 
the  wards  and  changed  from  time  to  time.  One  of  the  wounded  men  who 
had  been  quietly  watching  the  progress  of  the  work  asked  one  day  if  he  could 
assist  in  any  way,  though  he  had  but  a left  hand  to  offer.  From  that  day 
and  through  many  months  to  follow  this  thoroughly  trained  business  man 
stood  as  adviser  and  assistant. 

The  generous  support  of  the  American  Library  Association  made  it 
possible  for  the  soldier  assistants  to  receive  a small  remuneration  for 
the  services  rendered.  This  kept  the  library  group  intact  for  a longer 
period  of  time  and  made  the  hours  spent  there  more  worth  while.  It  was 
through  the  medium  of  this  training  in  library  duties  that  more  than  one 
soldier  with  unsteady  nerves  came  back  to  his  former  self  in  performing  the 
small  details  necessary  to  maintain  the  efficiency  of  the  work.  During  the 
10  months  that  this  little  library  school  was  in  existence  8 patients  spent 
from  1 to  3 hours  daily  at  the  library  during  some  part  of  the  12  hours  that 
the  study  room  was  open. 

The  room  in  the  post  exchange,  which  had  been  assigned  for  library  use, 
soon  became  too  small  for  the  needs  of  a reading  room  which  would  serve 
the  entire  post.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  hut  was  not  ready 
for  occupancy  and  the  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House  was  not  finished  by 
the  1st  of  March,  1919,  so  the  educational  officer  set  apart  a large  sunny  school- 
room for  library  purposes,  which  became  a distinct  asset  to  the  educational 
department  of  the  hospital  in  that  it  served  the  double  purpose  of  a study 
room  and  reading  room  for  all,  and  a circulating  department  for  the  text  books 
needed  in  the  schools.  When  the  circulation  increased  to  meet  the  needs  of 
the  class  room  and  the  requests  of  the  reconstruction  aides,  who  taught  the 
bed  patients  in  the  wards,  there  were  at  all  times  between  500  and  550  books 
charged  to  the  educational  department. 

A reading  room  was  provided,  but  how  to  furnish  it  became  a problem. 
An  appeal  was  made  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Peabody  Institute  of  Baltimore, 
which  brought  a ready  response  in  the  nature  of  furniture,  old  and  new;  and 
a sufficient  number  of  Windsor  chairs  was  obtained  from  another  post  to 
equip  the  reading  room  of  the  library  very  comfortably. 

The  main  library  and  reading  room  in  the  educational  building  soon 
became  the  center  of  the  little  system  which  very  soon  included  a collection 
of  fiction  in  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  hut  and  the  Red  Cross 
house,  where  the  object  of  each  was  more  recreational  than  otherwise,  and 
where  the  assistants  in  charge  referred  back  to  the  study  room  when  books 
of  nonfiction  were  desired. 

The  ward  collections  were  changed  or  added  to  from  time  to  time,  the 
supply  coming  from  the  main  library  in  the  educational  building. 


358 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


While  the  chief  aim  was  always  service,  yet  there  was  a well-formed  plan 
to  reach  the  men  and  persuade  them  to  visit  the  library  themselves  rather 
than  to  serve  them  too  generously  in  the  wards.  If  a man  could  make  an 
effort  to  go  to  school  he  could  pass  through  the  library  in  his  own  school 
building  or  in  the  building  adjoining,  coming  to  or  from  classes,  and  obtain 
his  study  books  or  fiction. 

In  the  meantime  the  wards  were  distributed  daily  with  home  newspapers, 
for  the  patients  who  could  not  get  out,  and  with  popular  stories,  magazines, 
and  books  especially  requested  by  the  patients. 

The  library  at  General  Hospital  No.  2 laid  stress  upon  the  educational 
side  of  the  library  work,  due  to  the  character  of  the  hospital  and  the  large 
part  played  by  the  vocational  school. 

The  Convalescent  Camp. 

Situated  on  a delightful  site  on  a bluff  overlooking  the  Severn  River,  about 
7 miles  from  Annapolis,  was  an  ideal  spot  for  a convalescent  camp.  Through 


Fig.  HI. — A view  at  Camp  Purnell.  Patients  bathing.  General  Hospital  No.  2. 

the  generosity  of  a resident  of  Baltimore,  the  use  of  this  site,  the  Kelly  Estate, 
was  donated,  and  after  the  camp  was  started  a large  number  of  workmen  from 
Baltimore  went  down  to  the  place  on  several  occasions  and  gave  then-  services 
in  erecting  the  buildings. 

On  April  13,  1918,  the  camp,  Camp  Purnell,  was  officially  presented  to  the 
hospital.  On  September  7,  191S,  a monster  military  atheltic  meet  was  held  at 
Homewood,  Baltimore,  teams  from  every  Army  and  Navy  camp  in  the  State 
participating,  and  the  proceeds,  amounting  to  about  810,000,  were  donated  to 
the  camp.  A special  mess  hall  was  built  where  about  100  men  were  fed  daily; 
a separate  lighting  system  was  installed  and  a pumping  system  for  the  camp 
water  supply.  In  addition  there  were  built  a bungalow  for  the  commanding 
officer,  special  barracks  for  the  officer  patients,  and  tents  for  the  enlisted  men. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED  ) . 


359 


Some  of  the  most  attractive  features  of  the  camp  in  the  way  of  recreation 
were  the  fishing  and  bathing  in  the  Severn  River.  Several  boats  and  numerous 
battling  suits  were  bought  for  the  camp  and  furnished  free  of  charge  to  the 
patients.  Every  week  the  officers  and  nurses  made  special  trips  to  the  camp 
for  an  outing.  The  Red  Cross  gave  moving  picture  exhibitions  weekly;  the 
American  Library  Association  supplied  books;  and  in  addition  there,  were  vic- 
trolas  and  pool  tables  supplied  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  so 
there  was  no  lack  of  amusements. 

A separate  mess  consisting  of  liquid  and  soft  diets  for  the  maxillofacial 
patients  was  established  by  the  Red  Cross,  which  sent  several  volunteer  workers 
several  times  a week  to  prepare  this  food. 

There  were  on  an  average  100  patients  at  a time  at  the  camp.  As  a result 
of  the  recreation  and  change  they  improved  rapidly  in  health. 

Fifty-Fifty  League. 

The  patients’  Fifty-Fifty  League  was  formed  by  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  hospital  on  July  4,  1919,  for  the  purpose  of  permitting  the  patients  to 
govern  themselves.  In  this  way  the  commanding  officer  proposed  to  make 
better  citizens  of  them.  The  first  meeting  of  the  league  was  held  on  October 
20,  1919,  at  the  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House.  Thereafter,  the  league  met 
every  Monday  afternoon  at  the  Red  Cross  House,  each  ward  being  represented 
by  a delegate  elected  by  the  majority  vote  of  his  ward.  At  these  meetings  the 
delegates  transacted  all  business  concerning  the  welfare  of  the  patients  and 
the  hospital  and  drew  up  resolutions  which  were  presented  to  the  commanding 
officer  for  his  approval. 

The  league  made  every  effort  to  cooperate  with  the  administrative  officers 
of  the  hospital.  Through  the  efforts  of  the  league  the  patients  were  issued 
honor  cards,  which  literally  solved  the  problem  of  passes.  Every  patient  was 
entitled  to  make  application  for  these  cards.  The  league  officers  then  inves- 
tigated the  character  of  the  man  and  upon  approval  presented  the  application 
to  the  commanding  officer  to  be  signed.  In  this  way  the  ward  surgeons 
were  relieved  of  the  old  and  troublesome  daily  pass  system,  and  over  700  men 
enjoyed  the  privileges  of  a permanent  pass.  The  league,  in  addition,  came  to 
the  assistance  of  ward  surgeons  by  issuing  mess  tickets  to  the  men  who  were  un- 
able to  eat  after  cafeteria  fashion.  The  league  was  entrusted  with  the  distri- 
bution of  street  car  tickets,  which  were  given  to  the  patients  by  the  street  car 
company  of  Baltimore,  that  they  might  travel  around  the  city  on  the  cars,  free 
of  charge. 

The  executive  officers  helped  the  men  straighten  out  their  allotment  troubles 
and  insurance  difficulties,  and  from  time  to  time  informed  them  of  the  changes 
in  soldier  legislation. 

A preamble  of  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  written  entirely  by  the  soldiers, 
explains  how  the  patients  cooperated  in  making  the  hospital  a happy  and  con- 
tented place. 

PREAMBLE. 

We,  the  patients  of  U.  S.  A.  General  Hospital  No.  2,  have  gathered  together  for  the  purpose  of 
creating  a strong  and  effective  public  opinion,  founded  on  the  higher  principles  of  citizenship, 
which  obligate  us  to  support  existing  authority  and  to  make  it  increasingly  effective. 


360 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Our  purpose  is  to  cooperate  with  those  in  authority  in  carrying  out  law  and  order  and  to  make 
it  possible  for  them  to  grant  a maximum  of  liberty  to  all  concerned. 

We  believe  that  by  force  of  public  opinion  we  can  persuade  men  to  so  conduct  themselves  that 
a higher  degree  of  law  and  order  will  result,  thus  rendering  many  of  the  present  regulations  and 
restrictions  unnecessary. 

For  these  reasons,  and  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  the  commanding  officer  in  the  effort  to  give 
the  maximum  of  liberty,  we,  the  delegates,  have,  with  his  approval,  adopted  the  following  con- 
stitution : 

Article  I. — Name. 

1.  This  Association  shall  be  known  as  the  Patients’  Fifty-Fifty  League. 

2.  The  purpose  of  this  league  will  be  to  foster  and  perpetuate  real  Americanism  and  respect 
for  constituted  authority  in  ourselves  and  our  respective  communities;  to  inculcate  a strong  sense 
of  personal  responsibility,  loyalty,  and  individual  obligations  to  our  local  governments  and  to  our 
Nation;  to  combat  selfishness  and  disloyality  wherever  found;  to  promote  at  all  times  self-sacrifice, 
cooperation,  harmony,  and  respect  for  the  rights  of  others;  to  consecrate  ourselves  to  the  furtherance 
of  the  principles  of  justice,  freedom,  and  democracy. 

Article  II. — Membership. 

1.  The  membership  of  the  league  shall  be  made  up  of  all  patients  of  this  hospital  who  shall  be 
represented  by  one  delegate,  or  his  alternate,  from  each  ward,  who  shall  be  elected  by  a plurality 
vote  of  that  ward,  at  a monthly  meeting  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  each  month. 

2.  The  delegate  shall  represent  his  ward  at  all  meetings;  transmitting  to  the  main  body  all 
resolutions  and  complaints  or  suggestions  brought  to  his  attention. 

3.  He  shall  acquaint  his  ward  with  all  the  business  transacted  at  the  meetings  of  the  delegates. 

4.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  patient  of  this  hospital  to  make  himself  personally  responsible  for 
the  strict  observance  by  himself  and  others  of  the  principles  laid  down  in  this  constitution. 

5.  No  member  shall  decline  an  office  to  which  he  is  elected  or  appointed,  or  refuse  any  duty 
assigned  to  him  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  constitution  and  by-laws,  unless  excused 
by  the  league  by  vote  of  general  consent,  or  by  the  president,  to  whom  any  member  may  appeal. 

Article  III. — Officers. 

1.  The  officers  of  this  league  shall  consist  of  a president,  vice  president,  and  a secretary. 

2.  The  officers  of  this  league  shall  be  elected  by  a plurality  vote  of  the  delegates. 

3.  The  officers  of  this  league  shall  hold  office  for  a term  of  two  months. 

4.  The  president  shall  preside  at  all  meetings.  The  'idee  president  shall  act  in  the  place  of  the 
president  in  his  absence.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a record  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  league 
and  attend  to  the  necessary  correspondence.  The  officers  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  are 
connected  with  their  office  and  as  set  forth  in  the  by-laws. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( CONVERTED  ) 


361 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md.,  from  October, 

1917.  to  December,  1919,  inclusive .a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

4 

4 

4 

22 

4 

4 

3 

1 

io 

9 

December 

1 

10 

2 

4 

17 

10 

1 

6 

98 

1918. 

6 

24 

64 

14 

108 

27 

9 

79 

687 

79 

23 

360 

15 

477 

43 

12 

422 

2,  928 

31 

422 

52 

122 

29 

625 

76 

4 

11 

139 

29 

366 

13,010 

36 

366 

33 

78 

51 

528 

65 

3 

10 

324 

33 

93 

3,731 

50 

93 

37 

178 

37 

345 

90 

4 

4 

7 

11 

229 

5,  034 

5 

229 

18 

278 

48 

573 

163 

19 

6 

16 

369 

11,241 

July 

369 

23 

365 

60 

817 

162 

1 

31 

1 

6 

63 

553 

14,688 

18 

553 

51 

421 

102 

1,127 

263 

1 

51 

2 

14 

78 

718 

19, 744 

17 

718 

89 

844 

119 

1,770 

459 

14 

105 

2 

19 

142* 

1,011 

18 

23,847 

66 

October 

1,029 

102 

603 

133 

1,867 

960 

121 

46 

12 

54 

670 

4 

26,  736 

548 

November 

674 

53 

1,034 

116 

1,877 

439 

6 

38 

14 

60 

1,320 

22,  560 

48 

December 

1,320 

66 

526 

77 

1,989 

727 

14 

55 

34 

919 

947 

58;  003 

110 

1919. 

January 

947 

167 

1 , 379 

170 

2,  663 

874 

n 

19 

37 

112 

1 , 602 

8 

43, 129 

155 

February..., 

1,610 

106 

1,060 

170 

2,  946 

980 

16 

21 

41 

208 

1,669 

11 

50, 331 

295 

March. 

1,680 

113 

1,389 

235 

3,417 

915 

12 

18 

35 

329 

2, 108 

59; 314 

343 

April 

2, 108 

79 

697 

407 

3,  291 

924 

11 

38 

i 

78 

486 

1,746 

7 

40,  083 

172 

May 

1,753 

69 

874 

388 

3,  084 

741 

5 

21 

44 

385 

1,886 

2 

57, 012 

490 

June 

1,888 

48 

1,310 

385 

3,631 

777 

8 

37 

3 

83 

441 

2,281 

1 

62,  885 

38 

July 

2,282 

60 

888 

535 

3,765 

915 

1 

61 

568 

2,219 

1 

67, 779 

10 

August 

2,220 

53 

272 

471 

3,016 

418 

4 

104 

7 

i 

34 

760 

1,687 

1 

59 i 239 

6 

September 

1 , 688 

50 

194 

526 

2,458 

228 

98 

5 

129 

49 

444 

l'  500 

47,414 

4 

October 

1,  500 

63 

790 

424 

2,777 

179 

1 

159 

8 

79 

459 

1 , S90 

2 

54,646 

26 

November 

1,892 

42 

482 

381 

2,797 

173 

2 

82 

2 

49 

2, 112 

2 

59, 167 

37 

December 

2, 114 

68 

65 

301 

2,  548 

349 

3 

260 

39 

702 

1,193 

2 

52, 028 

67 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 


1917. 

N ovember 

December 


1918. 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 


Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

8 

7 

5 

20 

January 

0 

90 

13 

103 

0 

11 

12 

23 

February 

0 

168 

11 

179 

March 

0 

183 

12 

195 

April 

0 

193 

12 

205 

0 

12 

12 

24 

May 

172 

154 

11 

337 

5 

15 

12 

32 

June 

91 

140 

0 

2.37 

5 

15 

12 

32 

July 

93 

147 

7 

247 

5 

21 

14 

43 

August 

191 

176 

15 

382 

5 

24 

14 

43 

September 

4 

20 

18 

42 

5 

24 

14 

43 

October 

4 

20 

18 

42 

1 

37 

9 

47 

November 

4 

20 

18 

42 

0 

49 

8 

57 

December 

4 

20 

18 

42 

0 

60 

8 

6S 

0 

60 

8 

68 

0 

85 

8 

9.3 

0 

91 

13 

104 

° Compiled  from  monthly  returns,  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  theOffice  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


362 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md.,  from  October, 
1917,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

11 

1 

2 

4 

18 

4 

22 

October 

2 

2 

9 

89 

17 

106 

November 

8 

2 

2 

12 

89 

17 

106 

December 

15 

2 

2 

19 

119 

19 

138 

1918. 

January 

15 

2 

2 

19 

126 

28 

154 

12 

February 

27 

3 

3 

33 

136 

39 

175 

13 

March 

33 

3 

3 

39 

144 

52 

196 

32 

April 

37 

3 

3 

43 

169 

74 

243 

3S 

May 

34 

3 

3 

40 

219 

74 

293 

33 

June 

39 

5 

2 

46 

278 

71 

349 

44 

July 

37 

10 

2 

49 

276 

73 

349 

3S 

August 

49 

10 

2 

61 

308 

77 

3S5 

41 

September 

38 

9 

2 

49 

331 

80 

411 

69 

October 

34 

10 

2 

46 

388 

142 

530 

90 

November 

34 

15 

2 

51 

464 

145 

609 

96 

December 

59 

12 

7 

78 

692 

171 

863 

123 

1919. 

January 

74 

12 

8 

94 

684 

175 

8.59 

135 

February 

105 

13 

7 

125 

680 

174 

854 

145 

March 

117 

14 

8 

139 

729 

135 

S64 

158 

April 

115 

14 

10 

139 

714 

103 

817 

165 

May 

95 

12 

14 

121 

734 

64 

79S 

177 

June 

10 

15 

15 

105 

691 

38 

729 

175 

July 

88 

15 

15 

118 

730 

3 

733 

1S7 

August 

97 

14 

18 

129 

674 

10 

684 

184 

September 

80 

10 

17 

107 

668 

12 

680 

184 

< October 

63 

10 

8 

81 

774 

13 

7'7 

1S2 

November 

63 

8 

8 

79 

675 

27 

702 

17S 

December 

63 

10 

8 

81 

669 

32 

701 

173 

CHAPTER  XVII. 


THE  GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (TUBERCULOSIS). 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  21,  DENVER,  COLO.a 

PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

Geographic  location. — General  Hospital  No.  21  was  located  at  Camp  Miles, 
due  east  of  Denver,  with  which  place  it  was  connected  by  two  main  highways — ■ 
Colfax  Avenue  and  Mount  View  Boulevard.  Colfax  Avenue  was  a macadam 
road  and  Mount  View  Boulevard  had  a clay  surface.  The  Kansas  City  branch 
of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  passed  within  1 mile  of  the  reservation,  a spur 
track  having  been  projected  from  Sable  Junction  on  that  railroad  to  the  hospital. 
A tramway  connected  Denver  and  Aurora,  a small  town  2 miles  from  the 
reservation. 

Terrain. — The  reservation  comprised  595  acres  of  nearly  level  plateau, 
from  which  there  was  a splendid  view  of  the  neighboring  mountains  and  sur- 
rounding country. 

Soil. — The  soil  is  a moderately  rich  loam  Avith  a clay  subsoil. 

Climate. — The  following  climatic  data  from  the  city  of  Denver,  covering 
a period  of  20  years,  were  secured  through  the  courtesy  of  the  United  States 
Weather  Bureau:  The  mean  temperature  for  20  years  was  50°;  the  minimum, 
minus  21°,  and  the  maximum,  101°.  The  minimum  temperature  above  noted 
was  in  January,  1913.  The  lowest  recorded  temperature  since  1872  was  in 
January,  1875,  when  the  thermometer  fell  to  minus  29°.  The  maximum 
temperature  during  the  20-year  period  Avas  in  July,  1910.  Only  three  times 
within  20  years  did  the  temperature  reach  100°:  in  August,  1901,  July,  1902, 
and  in  July,  1910.  The  climate  was  characterized  in  summer  by  warm 
days  and  cool  nights  and  in  winter  by  a considerable  amount  of  sunshine  and 
the  absence  of  long-continued  cold.  These  data  are  for  the  city  of  Denver, 
where  the  temperature  Avas  several  degrees  warmer  than  at  General  Hospital 
No.  21,  due  partly  to  the  more  exposed  position  of  the  hospital  and  partly  to 
its  increased  elevation — 1,000  feet.  Humidity  ranged  from  44  per  cent  to 
50  per  cent  annual  mean.  Sunshine  varied  from  56  per  cent  to  75  per 
cent.  The  greatest  annual  rainfall  for  20  years  Avas  22.96  inches,  for  the 
year  1909.  The  loAvest  Avas  7.75  inches,  for  the  year  1911.  The  annual  mean 
for  the  20  years  Avas  14.40  inches.  The  greatest  recorded  snoAv  storm  Avas  in 
December,  1918,  AAdien  45  inches  fell.  The  prevailing  winds  AATere  from 
the  south,  and  Avhile  distinctive  storms  Avere  rare,  high  AAunds  causing  dust 
storms  were  rather  common.  The  greatest  recorded  velocity  was  on  August 
6,  1S77,  Avhen  the  Avind  reached  75  miles  per  hour. 

° The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo.,”  by  Col. 
Henry  Page,  M.  C.,  XT.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


363 


364 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fig.  112. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (TUBERCULOSIS).  365 

Sanitary  status  of  surroundings. — Serious  epidemics  in  the  city  of  Denver 
were  unknown.  The  greatest  annual  occurrence  of  the  more  important  com- 
municable diseases  was  as  follows : 


Typhoid  fever. 


Year. 

Cases. 

Deaths. 

Year. 

Cases. 

Deaths. 

1906 

8S4 

S9 

1909 

447 

47 

1908 

711 

74 

1910 

625 

59 

Subsequent  to  this  time  there  was  a gradual  immunization  against  this 
disease  until  1919,  when  there  were  but  62  cases  and  9 deaths. 


Scarlet  fever. 


Year. 

Cases. 

Deaths. 

Y ear. 

Cases. 

Deaths. 

1907  

1.194 

57 

1913 

878 

51 

1908 

'744 

30 

1918 

773 

7 

Smallpox. — This  disease  appeared  to  be  more  prevalent  than  is  consistent 
with  well-enforced  health  regulations.  The  year  of  greatest  frequency  was 
1918,  when  there  were  898  cases;  1919,  567  cases;  and  1911,  472  cases. 


CONSTRUCTION. 

On  February  14,  1918,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  to  the  Secretary 
of  War  that  a 995-acre  tract  of  land  near  the  city  of  Denver  be  leased  at  81 
per  year.  The  site  had  been  investigated  by  a representative  from  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office  with  a view  to  locating  thereon  a large  general  hospital  for  the 
treatment  of  tuberculosis.  This  request  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of 
War  on  February  20,  1918,  the  lease  being  made  with  the  Denver  City  and 
Commercial  Association,  and  was  dated,  and  became  effective,  on  April  19, 
1918.  Of  the  various  sites  inspected  in  the  vicinity  of  Denver  the  one  selected 
was  considered  the  most  suitable. 

The  project  for  the  construction  which  was  to  be  installed  was  formally 
approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War  on  March  27,  1918.  The  ground  was  broken 
on  the  29th  of  the  month  following  and  construction  actually  begun  on  the 
2d  of  May.  Generally  speaking,  the  hospital  was  laid  out  on  a plan  pro- 
viding, in  a central  area,  a large  infirmary  building  for  the  bed  cases,  general 
cooking  and  messing  facilities,  administration,  surgical,  and  other  professional 
operative  activities;  and  grouped  about  this  area  at  intervals  of  200  feet  were 
the  wards  for  all  but  the  bed-ridden  or  infirmary  cases.  The  first  group  of 
buildings  to  be  constructed,  48  in  all,  comprised  the  administration  building, 
officers’  tuberculosis  ward,  officers’  quarters,  nurses’  infirmary,  operating 
pavilion,  garage,  officers’  recreation  building,  exchange,  central  infirmary  for 
300  bed  patients,  12  two-story  tuberculosis  wards  for  an  average  of  60  ambulant 
patients  each,  1 isolation  ward,  4 barracks  for  enlisted  personnel,  3 storehouses, 
chapel,  guardhouse,  laundry,  surgical  ward,  shop,  5 kitchens,  mess  for  sick 
officers,  duty  officers,  enlisted  sick,  nurses,  other  Medical  Department  personnel, 
and  other  miscellaneous  buildings  for  a total  capacity  of  about  1,000  sick. 


366  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  second  group  of  buildings  was  erected  later  and  consisted  of  16  open-air 
wards,  3 officers’  wards,  nurses’  quarters,  a barracks,  and  a storehouse.  Still 
later  a third  group  of  buildings,  mostly  wards,  was  erected.  In  addition,  a 
school  building  and  two  curative  shops  for  physical  reconstruction  work  were 


Fig.  113. — Wards  (under  construction).  General  Hospital  No.  21. 


constructed.  In  all  86  buildings  of  tile  and  stucco  were  constructed,  the  total 
cost  of  the  project  being  $3,205,000. 

The  foundations  of  the  buildings  were  of  reenforced  concrete,  the  walls 
above  ground  being  made  of  terra  cotta  wall-tile  stucco.  The  roofs  were  con- 
structed of  wood  covered  with  a four-ply  tar  and  gravel  material,  or  with 
“ Elaterite.  ” Interior  floors,  partitions,  and  ceilings  were  of  wood,  the  parti- 


Fig.  111.— Open-air  ward,  General  Hospital  No.  21. 


tions  and  ceilings  being  covered  with  asbestos  plaster  board  and  two  coats  of 
wall  plaster.  The  interior  woodwork  was  of  white  pine  covered  with  two  coats 
of  paint.  All  rooms  for  toilets,  utility,  and  baths  had  cement  floors. 

The  large  infirmary  building  accommodated  the  more  serious  ill  and  those 
confined  to  bed.  This  building  was  connected  with  the  administration  building 
and  mess  hall  by  covered  corridors.  The  remainder  of  the  ward  buildings  were 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (TUBERCULOSIS).  367 

widely  separated  and  were  not  so  connected,  consequently  patients  going  to 
and  from  mess  were  exposed  to  the  weather  and  much  inconvenience,  and,  in 
some  cases,  actual  suffering.  This  widespread  arrangement  of  the  buildings 
made  the  hospital  correspondingly  difficult  to  administer  and  expensive  to 
operate. 

Five  of  the  buildings  were  designed  as  officers’  wards  with  a central  lounging 
room  and  two  wings  on  either  floor.  In  each  wing  there  were  eight  individual 
sleeping  rooms  opening  on  a semi-inclosed  sleeping  porch. 

One  of  the  buildings  was  designed  to  accommodate  invalid  nurses.  This 
building  was  two-storied,  both  floors  being  similarly  arranged. 

Two  buildings  were  erected  as  quarters  for  nurses,  each  containing  48  bed- 
rooms. Another  building,  identical  with  the  quarters  for  the  nurses,  was  con- 
structed and  used  as  officers’  quarters. 

The  post  exchange  was  a one-story  building  containing,  besides  the  store, 
a tailor  shop  and  barber  shop. 

The  barracks  for  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the  Medical  Department  com- 
prised five  two-story  buildings,  each  designed  to  quarter  100  men.  Each  floor 


Fig.  115. — Officers’  apartments,  General  Hospital  No.  21. 


was  divided  into  two  dormitories,  25  capacity  each,  and  a separate  room  for  a 
squad  leader. 

The  hospital  possessed  its  own  refrigerating  and  ice-making  plant,  installed  in 
a two-story  brick  building.  The  plant  consisted  of  a 9 by  9 inch  Arctic  ammonia 
compressor  with  a daily  refrigerating  capacity  of  20  tons  and  an  ice-making 
capacity  of  71  tons.  In  the  building  there  were  two  large  refrigerating  rooms: 
One  for  meat,  with  3,600  cubic  feet  storage  capacity;  and  one  for  provisions 
and  fruits,  with  3,200  cubic  feet  storage  capacity.  The  ice  storage  room  had  a 
capacity  of  40  tons. 

The  floors,  walls,  and  ceilings  of  the  rooms  of  the  refrigerating  plant  were 
insulated  with  two  thicknesses  of  2-inch  cork  and  there  was  an  overhead  system 
of  refrigerating  coils  and  air  circulation.  A small  6-ton  refrigerating  plant,  in 
addition  to  that  described  above,  was  provided  for  the  general  mess. 


368 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  educational  service  occupied  four  buildings,  one  of  which  was  used  as  a 
schoolhouse.  Two  were  used  as  curative  shops  and  one  as  a shop  building.  All 
were  one-storied  except  the  schoolhouse,  which  had  two  stories. 

Four  buildings  were  designed  for  the  storage  and  distribution  of  quartermas- 
ter and  medical  supplies.  Each  had  a small  office  at  one  end  of  the  building  and 
there  was  a wagon  platform  extending  the  full  length  of  one  side.  One  building, 
approximately  13  by  27  feet,  was  designed  for  the  incineration  of  patients’ 
sputum  and  medical  and  surgical  refuse.  This  building  contained  a fire-brick 
incinerating  oven  of  1 -barrel  capacity.  Flame  flues  from  the  fire  pot  extended 
from  each  side  over  the  incinerating  chamber.  The  consumption  capacity  of  the 
incinerator  was  16  barrels  for  an  8-hour  day. 

Of  the  five  mess  and  kitchen  buildings  the  general  mess  was  the  most  impor- 
tant and  was  operated  for  the  enlisted  patients.  This  general  mess  was  a one-story 
building,  T -shaped  in  plan,  and  was  connected  with  the  main  infirmary  and  isola- 
tion ward  buildings  by  corridors.  The  other  mess  buildings  were  the  Medical 
Department  detachment  mess,  duty  officers’  mess,  patient  officers’  mess,  and 
nurses’  mess. 

An  old  family  residence  on  the  premises  was  remodeled  and  converted  to  use 
as  the  commanding  officer’s  quarters.  It  was  a fairly  modern  two-story  frame 
structure  located  near  the  southwest  entrance  to  the  hospital  grounds.  In  con- 
nection with  it  was  a good  stable  and  garage,  a cow  barn,  and  a chicken  house. 
Sewage  from  this  building  was  carried  to  an  old  abandoned  well,  72  feet  deep, 
near  by. 

The  Red  Cross  building  was  located  in  the  center  of  the  reservation.  Facing 
this  on  the  south  was  the  administration  building.  Between  the  two  was 
the  flagpole.  South  of  the  administration  building  were  the  surgical  ward  on  the 
east  and  the  operating  pavilion  on  the  west.  Infirmary  buildings  were  next  in 
order  to  the  south,  for  which  there  was  an  unobstructed  southern  exposure.  The 
general  mess  kitchen  was  located  directly  east  of  the  administration  building,  and 
an  inclosed  corridor  connected  the  administration  building  with  the  infirmary. 
This  corridor  was  crossed  by  a smaller  one  joining  the  surgical  ward  and  the 
operating  pavilion.  Southwest  and  southeast  of  the  administration  building 
were  the  semiambulant  and  ambulant  wards. 

Water  supply.  — Water  was  supplied  from  the  city  of  Denver  mains  which  were 
extended  to  the  hospital  from  the  town  of  Aurora.  Its  source  was  the  mountains 
adjacent  to  Denver,  from  which  it  was  piped  to  the  city  filter  beds.  The  mam 
to  the  hospital  had  a natural  pressure  varying  from  25  to  65  pounds  per  square 
inch,  which  was  augmented  by  the  installation  of  a booster  pump.  Distribution 
within  the  hospital  was  effected  through  a 75,000  gallon  pressure  storage  tank 
and  tower.  This  tank  had  an  elevation  of  87  feet  and  when  full  its  water  level 
was  115  feet  above  the  water  main,  giving  an  equivalent  pressure  of  50  pounds. 
Because  the  average  depth  of  frost  penetration  frequent  A reached  3 feet 
all  distribution  pipes  were  laid  about  5 feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
to  prevent  freezing.  There  were  59  fire  hydrants  located  about  275  feet  apart 
on  the  water  lines.  These  hydrants  had  a 4-incli  connection  with  a twin  2f-inch 
hose  coupling,  the  hose  connections  being  standard  with  the  Denver  lire  depart- 
ment. The  emergency  water  storage  was  provided  in  a concrete  reservoir  of 
1,200,000  gallons  capacity. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (TUBERCULOSIS).  369 

Sewerage  system. — The  soil  pipes  from  buildings  were  4-inch  standard  cast 
iron  connected  without  to  6-inch  tile  sewer  pipes  which  were  run  into  6,  8,  and 
10  inch  collecting  mains.  Brick  manholes  3^  feet  in  diameter  were  placed  at  in 
tervals  of  about  400  feet.  All  connections  between  mains  and  branches,  except  at 
manholes,  were  made  with  Y branches.  The  main  trunk  line  sewer  was  of  1 0-inch 
tile  pipe,  running  north  to  1,700  feet  from  the  center  of  the  grounds  and  empty- 
ing into  a septic  tank  battery  whose  total  capacity  was  240,000  gallons.  Each 
chamber  of  the  battery  was  12J  by  124  feet  square  and  15  feet  deep,  with  hopper 
bottom,  all  built  of  concrete.  Sludge  was  withdrawn  from  the  bottom  of  the 
chambers  and  discharged  into  a neighboring  creek  through  an  open  ditch.  The 
action  of  the  tank  was  syphonic,  sufficient  pressure  being  collected  to  automatic- 
ally operate  the  sprinkler  heads  on  the  filter  bed.  This  filter  bed  was  55  by 
186  feet,  built  with  concrete  retaining  walls  and  concrete  floor,  filled  with  a 
crushed  slag  filter  to  the  depth  of  5 feet  9 inches.  Distributing  mains  of  the 
filter  bed  were  connected  with  either  end  to  8-inch  tile  drains  leading  to  the 
discharge  sewer.  An  18-inch  tile  storm  sewer  drained  the  low  ground  of  the 
hospital,  terminating  in  an  open  ditch  which  emptied  into  a draw  near  the  septic 
tank. 

The  septic  tank  was  located  938  feet  north  of  the  northernmost  hospital 
building.  The  dosing  tank  was  500  feet  beyond  the  septic  tank  and  the  filter 
bed  was  460  feet  more  distant,  all  in  a northerly  direction.  The  final  sewer  pipe 
from  the  filter  bed  was  325  feet  long. 

Plumbing  system. — The  plumbing  system  was  a continuous  and  revent 
system  for  the  toilets  and  individual  revents  for  the  laboratories,  bathtubs, 
and  showers.  All  soil  and  waste  pipes  were  carried  under  the  floor  or  in  the 
ground,  the  horizontal  runs  being  cast-iron  sod  pipe.  All  vertical  waste  and 
vent  pipes,  2 inches  and  smaller,  consisted  of  galvanized  and  screwed  drainage 
fittings. 

The  hot  water  for  the  hospital  was  furnished  by  hot-water  heaters  located 
in  the  power  house,  and  was  circulated  throughout  the  grounds  by  turbine- 
driven  centrifugal  pumps.  This  maintained  a constant  circulation  and  pre- 
vented water  from  freezing  during  periods  of  small  demand.  Hot-water  lines 
were  carried  in  the  same  tunnels  and  trenches  as  the  steam  lines. 

Waste  pipes  from  all  sinks  in  kitchens  were  carried  through  specially  con- 
structed concrete  grease  traps. 

Lighting  system. — The  electric  current  for  lighting  and  power  purposes  was 
obtained  from  the  Colorado  Power  Co.  Connection  with  the  lines  of  this  com- 
pany was  made  at  Utah  Junction  and  transmitted  over  a 12^-mile,  3-phase, 
13,200-volt  transmission  line  to  a transformer  station  on  the  hospital  reser- 
vation. This  transformer  station  consisted  of  two  sets  of  three  transformers 
each;  either  set  of  transformers,  or  both,  being  usable  so  that  either  set  could 
be  thrown  into  service  to  permit  repairs  without  discontinuation  of  service. 
The  pole  lines  were  of  the  usual  wood  pole  and  cross-arm  type  of  construction. 
The  wire  was  triple  grade  weatherproof  insulation;  no  smaller  wire  than  No.  8 
being  used ; and  all  interior  wiring  was  run  inside  of  black  enamel  iron  conduits. 
Cut-outs,  switches,  and  fuses  were  in  iron  boxes  or  cabinets.  Infirmary  wards 
had  plug  receptacles  to  facilitate  connection  of  X-ray  machines,  electrother- 
apeutic  apparatus,  etc. 

45269°— 23 24 


370 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Heating  system. — The  central  plant  for  heating  the  hospital  buildings  was 
located  at  the  lowermost  point  to  favor  returns  hy  the  natural  grades  of  the 
ground.  The  pressure  carried  on  the  heating  mains  varied  from  50  to  60  pounds, 
readily  increased  to  100  pounds  when  necessary.  All  piping  in  tunnels  and 
trenches  was  covered  with  asbestos  air-cell  pipe  covering.  Altogether  about 

4 miles  of  underground  tunnels  and  trenches  were  required  to  carry  the  heating 
lines.  Besides  furnishing  radiation  for  the  buildings  of  the  hospital,  the  plant 
furnished  steam  for  use  in  the  laundry. 

Roads. — With  the  exception  of  the  main  entrance  road  none  actually 
existed  throughout  the  hospital  grounds.  The  main  road  had  a gravel  surface 
and  was  unsatisfactory  because  it  was  muddy  in  wet  weather  and  dusty  when 
it  was  dry. 

Walks. — All  hospital  walks  were  constructed  of  concrete  with  a width  of 

5 feet,  and,  wherever  possible,  roofing  the  steam  trenches. 

Actual  construction  of  the  buildings  of  the  hospital  began  May  2,  1918. 
The  first  buildings  were  occupied  and  the  hospital  officially  opened  for  the  re- 
ception of  patients  on  October  13,  1918.  Though  occupied  by  patients,  the 
hospital  was  not  officially  completed  until  well  into  1919. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

The  staff  encountered  great  difficulties  in  administration  during  this 
constructive  period.  They  were  handicapped  by  inexperienced  assistants, 
and  the  necessity  to  contend  with  numerous  difficulties  in  the  nature  of  com- 
plaints from,  and  active  resistance  on  the  part  of,  many  of  the  patients  who, 
with  exalted  ego,  considered  themselves  above  law  and  discipline.  In  this 
attitude  they  were  unfortunately  encouraged  by  numerous  well  meaning  but 
misguided  civilians  and  overzealous  volunteer  welfare  workers.  In  spite  of 
these  difficulties  real  constructive  work  was  done,  and  of  the  camplaints  made 
but  few  were  found,  upon  investigation,  to  be  based  on  fact. 

The  latter  part  of  the  fiscal  year  1919  found  practically  a complete  change 
in  the  administration  of  the  hospital.  Command  was  assumed  by  a regular 
officer  of  the  Medical  Corps  and  a new  staff  of  more  experienced  officers  was 
assigned.  During  the  earlier  days  of  the  hospital’s  existence  little  or  no  effort 
was  made  to  classify  patients.  Toward  the  end  of  1919  a receiving  ward  was 
organized,  and  patients,  upon  admission,  were  diagnosed  and  classified  as 
rapidly  as  possible  and  distributed  to  proper  wards.  One  end  of  the  infirmary 
ward  was  set  aside  for  the  very  sick,  which  included  those  with  advanced 
lesions,  high  fevers,  or  grave  prognoses;  another  section  of  the  infirmary  was 
set  aside  for  the  moderately  sick;  and  a third  section  was  used  for  ambulant 
cases.  Officers’  wards  were  later  similarly  divided  into  an  ambulant,  a semi- 
ambulant,  and  an  infirmary  or  very  sick  ward.  In  addition,  one  ward  of  the 
infirmary  group  was  set  aside  for  the  seriously  ill  officer  patients.  The  receiv- 
ing ward  was  located  in  the  infirmary  building  and  in  this  ward  all  new  cases 
were  treated  until  definite  classification  could  be  made. 

As  rapidly  as  the  outside  wards  were  completed  patients  not  requiring 
infirmary  treatment  were  transferred  to  them,  thus  relieving  the  congestion 
in  the  infirmary  wards. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (TUBERCULOSIS).  371 

The  maximum  bed  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  reached  in  August,  1919, 
when  approximately  1,400  patients  were  being  treated. 

About  August  1,  1919,  the  chief  of  the  medical  service  instituted  a course 
of  lectures  and  talks  to  patients  on  personal  hygiene,  and  tuberculosis,  its  compli- 
cations and  rational  treatment.  All  lectures  were  illustrated  with  lantern  slides 
and  talks  were  made  sufficiently  plain  to  be  intelligible  to  the  layman. 

A school  of  instruction  for  the  training  of  medical  officers  was  also  inaugu- 
rated, having  special  reference  to  the  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  tuberculosis. 
This  course  was  found  essential  not  only  for  the  general  professional  advance- 
ment of  the  medical  officers  but  to  secure  an  adequate  permanent  staff  for  the 
hospital,  since  many  of  the  officers  assigned  for  duty  had  but  limited  training 
in  the  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  pulmonary  tuberculosis.  This  course  also 
provided  a selection  from  among  the  medical  officers  on  duty  of  the  best  avail- 
able diagnosticians  and  clinicians  for  assignment  to  the  more  important  in- 
firmary wards,  hoards,  etc.  The  results  attending  these  lectures  were  most 
gratifying.  Frequent  changes  in  persomiel  consequent  upon  discharge  of 
emergency  officers  and  their  replacement  by  members  of  the  regular  service 
necessitated  a continuation  of  these  courses. 

HOSPITAL  SERVICES. 

LABORATORY  SERVICE. 

The  laboratory  service  was  quite  active  and  during  the  year  1919  made 
over  75,000  examinations.  These  examinations  included  routine  analyses, 
blood  chemistry,  zoology,  histology,  and  bacteriology.  The  service  was  made 
responsible  for  the  proper  conduction  of  autopsies,  tissue  examinations,  and  the 
preparation  and  inspection  of  the  bodies  of  deceased  soldiers. 

Three  officers  were  assigned  to  duty  in  the  laboratory  department.  In 
addition  there  were  six  enlisted  men,  two  female  technicians,  and  a varying 
number  of  patient  nurses  who  were  given  instruction  in  laboratory  technique. 
This  work  of  giving  instruction  in  laboratory  technique  to  patient  nurses  was 
primarily  undertaken  without  specific  authority,  but  with  the  idea  that  it  would 
give  nurses,  upon  return  to  civil  life  in  a partially  disabled  state,  an  additional 
opportunity  for  earning  a livelihood.  The  results  obtained  were  very  satis- 
factory and  authority  was  later  received  to  make  the  instruction  a definite  rou- 
tine. 

SURGICAL  SERVICE. 

The  general  surgical  service  was  necessarily  the  smallest  in  the  hospital, 
the  surgical  work  which  was  done  being  principally  incidental.  The  service 
included  general  surgery,  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat,  dental,  and  genitourinary 
work.  Two  officers  were  assigned  to  the  section  of  general  surgery,  four  to 
dental  surgery,  two  to  the  eye,  ear.  nose  and  throat  department,  and  one  to  the 
genitourinary  department.  By  far  the  largest  of  the  sections  was  the  dental 
service,  in  which,  in  addition  to  the  four  officers  regularly  assigned,  there  were, 
from  time  to  time,  several  patient  officers.  A dental  survey  was  made  of  all 
patients,  and  any  necessary  treatment  was  promptly  given.  Upon  its  estab- 
lishment, the  dental  service  occupied  three  rooms  in  the  administration  building. 
Portable  outfits  only  were  at  first  used  and  the  scope  of  the  dental  work  was 


372 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


necessarily  limited.  As  the  hospital  enlarged,  however,  this  service  automati- 
cally increased  until  the  clinic  in  the  main  building  comprised  six  rooms. 
Three  were  for  operating,  one  for  administrative  purposes,  one  for  a reception 
room,  and  one  for  a laboratory.  Dental  chairs  were  installed  in  the  infirmary 
where  much  of  the  emergency  work  for  infirmary  patients  was  done.  A valu- 
able addition  to  the  dental  equipment  was  the  dental  X-ray  unit.  A complete 
dental  examination  was  recorded  on  clinical  records,  and  any  diseased  condition 
found  was  promptly  treated.  The  importance  of  focal  infection  became  great 
subsequent  to  the  establishment  of  the  hospital,  and  it  was  given  special  atten- 
tion in  the  dental  service. 

EDUCATIONAL  SERVICE. 

This  service  was  instituted  in  June  1919,  with  a teaching  staff  of  23  and  an 
enrollment  ot  73.  The  work  performed  was  both  curative  and  educational, 
the  first  being  considered  of  paramount  importance.  The  percentage  of 
enrollment  in  the  educational  service  was  very  gratifying;  approximately  60 
per  cent  of  the  patients  passing  through  the  hospital  were  enrolled  in  some 
branch  of  the  educational  work.  It  was  very  noticeable  that  complaints  were 
rarely  heard  from  patients  who  took  an  active  interest  in  vocational  training. 
Obviously  in  infirmary  wards  little  instruction,  except  in  academic  subjects, 
could  be  given.  As  the  patients  became  ambulatory,  however,  classes  of 
instruction  and  work  in  shops  and  crafts  were  taken  up. 

In  connection  with  the  educational  and  recreational  service  an  enlisted 
service  club  was  operated,  directly  under  the  chief  of  the  educational  service. 
This  department  seemed  justified,  as  the  club  rooms  were  at  all  times  well  pat- 
ronized and  there  was  an  increase  in  the  demand  for  library  books.  Dances 
for  enlisted  men  were  given  twice  monthly  and  were  usually  well  attended. 
Ladies  of  the  city  of  Denver  secured  and  chaperoned  young  ladies  for  these 
dances.  Provision  was  made  for  various  athletic  sports  which  included  basket 
ball,  baseball,  tennis,  wrestling,  and  boxing. 

A "fifty-fifty”  league  was  organized,  in  connection  with  morale  work, 
with  branches  in  each  ward  and  in  the  detachments,  representatives  of  which 
met  in  an  executive  body  to  take  up  and  recommend  to  the  commanding  officer 
matters  of  improvement  deemed  by  them  advisable.  Questions  of  policy 
arising  from  other  sources  were  frequently  referred  to  this  body  to  secure  an 
expression  of  opinion. 

MESSING. 

From  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  the  hospital,  separate  messes  were 
conducted  for  enlisted  patients,  officer  patients,  nurses,  Medical  Department 
detachment,  and  duty  officers.  With  the  exception  of  the  last-named  class  of 
personnel,  the  financial  accounting  for  these  messes  was  consolidated,  though 
separate  accounts  were  kept  of  the  cost  of  operation,  income,  etc.  Subsequently 
the  detachment  mess  was  consolidated  with  the  general  mess  to  secure  economy 
of  operation  and  operating  personnel. 

During  the  earlier  days  of  the  hospital  much  unfavorable  criticism  was 
directed  toward  the  several  messes  operated.  Investigation,  however,  conclu- 
sively showed  that  the  conditions  were  never  as  bad  as  represented.  Errors 
in  management  existed,  but  these  were  believed  to  have  been  due  rather  to  lack 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  ( TLTBERCULOSIS)  . 373 

of  experience  than  to  intentional  wrong.  This  department  of  the  hospital 
received  more  attention  than  any  other  and  every  effort  was  put  forth  toward 
securing  efficient  service.  While  the  messes  were  at  times  not  quite  so  good  as 
it  was  desired  to  make  them,  the  fact  that  tuberculosis  patients  are  habitually 
discontented  and  inclined  to  grumble  was  taken  into  consideration.  Their 
fickle  appetites  frequently  made  them  refuse  dishes  which  had  been  especially 
requested  by  them.  This  psychological  condition  was  not  infrequently  encour- 
aged by  well  meaning  but  misdirected  sympathizers  who,  with  laudable  desire 
to  cheer  the  sick,  only  made  them  discontented  with  their  lot  and  environment. 

Another  difficulty  under  which  the  mess  was  administered  was  a financial 
shortage.  For  the  latter  half  of  the  year  1919  a large  percentage  of  the  patients 
were  beneficiaries  of  the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  Insurance,  from  which  it  was 
practically  impossible  to  receive  prompt  payment. 

PERSONNEL 

Under  this  heading  may  be  enumerated  the  greater  portion  of  the  troubles 
with  which  the  administrative  staff  of  the  hospital  had  to  contend.  Upon  the 
signing  of  the  armistice,  which  occurred  shortly  after  the  hospital  was  estab- 
lished, emergency  medical  officers  and  enlisted  personnel,  being  desirous  of 
returning  to  civil  life,  became  greatly  dissatisfied  with  the  service.  This  mental 
condition  was  invariably  reflected  upon  the  character  of  work  performed. 
Immense  pressure  was  brought  to  bear  directly  and  indirectly  through  Con- 
gressmen, governors,  legislators,  municipal  officers,  and  others  to  secure  release 
of  men  from  the  service.  In  spite  of  every  effort  to  maintain  morale,  the  spirit 
of  discontent  prevailed.  The  task  of  replacing  emergency  personnel  by  those 
of  the  Regular  Army  was  naturally  slow  and  with  the  lapse  of  time  the  spirit 
of  unrest  materially  increased.  This  was  especially  true  of  the  enlisted  per- 
sonnel. In  the  summer  of  1919  the  commanding  officer  adopted  the  policy  of 
discharging  emergency  men  according  to  length  of  service,  deviating  from  this 
rule  only  in  cases  of  extreme  emergency  or  because  of  misconduct  of  the  soldier. 
Rosters  were  prepared  according  to  length  of  service.  Infractions  of  discipline 
and  neglect  of  duty  were  punished  by  demerits,  placing  the  man  concerned 
lower  on  the  list  for  discharge.  This  policy  notably  improved  the  character  of 
the  services  rendered:  the  men  appreciated  that  their  discharge  would  be  expe- 
dited by  good  work  but  would  be  retarded  by  unsatisfactory  conduct  or  neglect 
of  duty. 


374 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo.,  from  September,  1918, 

to  December,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


1918. 
September. 

October 

November.. 
December. . 

1919. 

January 

February. . . 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September. 

October 

November.. 
December . . 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

T3 

o 

s 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

-r5 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Otherwise 

posed 

7 

7 

7 

39 

72 

111 

21 

2 

88 

89 

372 

2 

551 

92 

8 

451 

92 

211 

18 

772 

S3 

5 

1 

74 

609 

211 

236 

65 

1,121 

220 

6 

10 

880 

171 

196 

56 

1,303 

237 

7 

6 

1 

1 

132 

919 

129 

255 

155 

1,458 

250 

9 

1 

1 

149 

1,048 

108 

300 

115 

1,571 

220 

14 

2 

102 

1,233 

65 

316 

114 

1,728 

198 

13 

2 

1 

139 

1 , 375 

86 

260 

146 

1,867 

212 

12 

22 

20 

190 

1,411 

68 

134 

181 

1,794 

91 

132 

1 

7 

185 

1,363 

90 

243 

143 

1,839 

88 

19 

200 

3 

1.50 

1,379 

93 

229 

141 

1,842 

90 

10 

206 

6 

148 

1,382 

133 

85 

128 

1,728 

118 

16 

221 

12 

S6 

1,275 

144 

174 

77 

1,670 

98 

12 

191 

6 

59 

1,304 

171 

14 

60 

1,549 

140 

7 

158 

8 

1761 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

t 

'E 

t. 

"E 

I 

o 

a 

K 

5 

18 

83 

5 

836 

108 

419 

2 

9.869 

201 

605 

4 

16,280 

213 

880 

25,  S24 

304 

90s 

ii 

20,620 

151 

1,040 

8 

24,  487 

63 

1,231 

2 

35, 076 

105 

1,368 

7 

40,923 

88 

1,405 

6 

37,062 

110 

1,358 

5 

37,783 

164 

1,371 

8 

41,449 

135 

1.374 

8 

40,906 

209 

1.267 

8 

40,752 

200 

1,282 

22 

36,  754 

111 

1,047 

13 

36, 435 

51 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

September 

2 

2 

April 

54 

46 

100 

October 

14 

14 

May 

118 

36 

154 

12 

12 

June 

112 

39 

151 

3 

32 

169 

91 

260 

157 

89 

246 

1919. 

19S 

117 

315 

3 

32 

35 

201 

124 

328 

21 

51 

72 

193 

129 

399 

16 

38 

54 

170 

115 

285 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and 
month 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Aides 

and 

workers. 

Other 

civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.) 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous . 
(Q.M.C., 
etc.) 

Total. 

1918. 

7 

5 

1 

13 

50 

50 

40 

5 

2 

47 

119 

144 

46 

5 

6 

57 

256 

39 

295 

61 

40 

7 

7 

54 

4S2 

41 

523 

64 

1919. 

48 

9 

6 

63 

561 

87 

648 

90 

54 

11 

12 

77 

125 

650 

99 

14 

11 

80 

161 

722 

101 

59 

15 

13 

549 

128 

677 

115 

61 

15 

15 

91 

540 

625 

116 

59 

14 

16 

89 

60 

119 

53 

15 

21 

89 

519 

47 

12S 

57 

13 

20 

90 

617 

49 

666 

137 

September 

54 

13 

20 

87 

577 

39 

616 

157 

48 

55 

October 

51 

11 

15 

77 

561 

41 

602 

152 

61 

81 

November 

51 

11 

15 

77 

510 

52 

562 

156 

59 

10s 

December 

50 

11 

14 

75 

414 

56 

470 

14S 

58 

108 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section.  Adjutant  General's  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


THE  GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (NEW). 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  3,  COLONIA,  N.  J.a 

In  June,  1917,  a resident  of  Colonia,  N.  J.,  offered  his  home  to  the  Surgeon 
General  for  hospital  purposes.  This  elegant  place  was  situated  on  the  Lincoln 
Highway,  22  miles  from  New  York  City,  and  about  Id  miles  from  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad,  with  which  it  was  eventually  connected  by  spur.  On  the 
property  was  a large  house  which  the  owners  wished  used  as  a hospital  for  100 
beds.  The  original  intention  of  the  owner  was  to  equip  the  building  with  beds, 
linen,  china,  etc.,  and  the  Mercy  Committee  of  New  Jersey  had  volunteered  to 
continue  its  maintenance. 

PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS. 

Terrain. — The  country  in  this  section  of  the  State  is  rolling,  witn  wooded 
portions;  the  site  of  the  hospital  buildings  is  at  an  elevation  of  about  126  feet 
above  sea  level.  The  soil  is  sandy  with  an  overlying  surface  of  clay.  As  a 
result  there  is  practically  no  high-flying  dust  in  dry  weather,  but  a considerable 
amount  of  sticky  and  easily  carried  clay-mud  following  rains. 

Climate. — The  climate  is  moderate,  as  in  northern  New  Jersey.  The 
hospital  site  was  not  exposed  to  winds. 

Hospital  environment . — In  the  hospital  neighborhood  were  many  farms  of 
the  poor  sort  whose  owners  lived  in  a most  primitive  manner,  earning  their 
livelihood  as  best  they  could  by  small  trucking  or  day  laboring.  In  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  the  hospital  there  was  a high  class  residential  district,  com- 
prising several  country  estates.  The  hospital  environments  were  satisfactory 
from  a sanitary  standpoint;  the  buildings  were  on  a broad  plane  of  about  70 
acres  with  a gentle  southeast  slope,  affording  good  drainage  and  the  desired  sun 
exposure. 

HOSPITAL  CONSTRUCTION. 

A hospital  of  but  100  beds  was  deemed  too  small  for  practical  purposes; 
consequently,  plans  for  a 250  or  a 500  bed  hospital,  to  be  designated  Recon- 
struction Hospital  No.  3,  modeled  and  organized  like  the  Boston  reconstruction 
hospital,  was  contemplated.  Even  so  late  as  November,  1917,  tentative  plans 
for  a small  special  (reconstruction)  hospital  persisted.  Meanwhile,  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  authorized  the  acceptance  of  the  Colonia  place,  providing  the  Medical 
Department  appropriation  would  cover  all  the  expenses.  A nominal  lease,  at 
$1  per  year,  was  executed. 

By  December,  1917,  the  plan  for  the  utilization  of  special  hospitals  was 
largely  given  up  and  preliminary  plans  for  a 1,000  bed  hospital  at  Colonia  had 
been  provided  and  sent  to  the  Quartermaster  General  for  construction. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J.,”  by  Col. 
FredH.Albee,  M.C.,  U.S.A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  Official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital . The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C.  — Ed. 


375 


376 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fro.  116 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (NEW). 


377 


Construction  began  on  February  2,  1918,  and  while  in  progress  a 500-bed 
addition  was  planned,  the  construction  of  which  was  requested  on  February  23. 
Here,  as  at  General  Hospital  No.  2 and  many  other  general  hospitals,  the  build- 
ings pertaining  to  physical  reconstruction  work  were  not  built  for  some  time. 
The  plans  for  these  buildings  were  in  process  of  constant  revision  in  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office,  due  to  indefinite  requirements  for  equipment,  and  were  notsuit- 
able  for  release  at  the  time.  Later,  however,  these  special  buildings  were  secured, 
and,  from  time  to  time,  additional  small  items  of  construction  were  added.  These 
additional  items  were  relatively  few,  however,  and  by  June,  1918,  a 500-bed 
section  was  opened  for  patients,  the  designation  “General  Hospital  No.  3” 
being  given. 

Unlike  the  first  two  general  hospitals  (Nos.  1 and  2),  General  Hospital 
No.  3 was  constructed  upon  relatively  unimproved  land;  and  considerable 
road  construction  was  necessary;  water  was  brought  from  a distance;  a laundry 
was  constructed ; and  a complete  sewerage  system  and  sewage  disposal  plant 
(septic  tank,  filter  bed,  and  humus  tank)  were  installed. 


Fig.  117. — View  of  front  of  General  Hospital  No.  3. 


Much  of  the  expense  and  delay  in  the  construction  of  this  hospital  resulted 
because  no  railroad  spur  connected  the  railroad  siding  2\  miles  distant;  and  all 
materials  for  this  large  project  were  hauled  by  trucks  over  a road  which,  in  the 
spring  of  1918,  became  almost  impassable.  After  the  construction  period  was 
over  such  a spur  track  was  put  in  operation. 

By  October  the  major  portion  of  the  construction  had  been  completed  and 
1,700  beds  were  available  for  use.  Approximately  100  buildings  were  con- 
structed. The  total  cost  was  $2,750,000. 

This  was  a typical  general  hospital,  complete  in  every  department,  but  in 
addition  certain  special  work  was  provided  for.  Full  physical  reconstruction 
facilities  were  installed,  many  in  the  reconstruction  division  where  special 
attention  might  be  given  amputations,  organic  diseases  of  the  nervous  system, 
injuries  of  the  brain,  spinal  cord,  and  peripheral  nerves,  and  orthopedics. 


378 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


HOSPITAL  ORGANIZATION. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  arrived  for  duty  about  March  30, 
1918.  The  quartermaster  and  the  medical  property  officer  reported  at  about 
the  same  date.  The  organization  of  the  surgical  service  was  undertaken  by 
the  chief  of  service  on  June  5,  1918.  During  the  month  of  June  members  of 
the  medical  and  surgical  staffs  reported,  the  nurses  were  assigned  to  duty,  the 
wards  were  put  into  readiness,  and  the  hospital  was  practically  complete  and 
prepared  for  the  reception  of  patients  at  the  end  of  the  month.  The  first 
patients  were  admitted  on  July  5,  1918.  The  first  overseas  patients  were  re- 
ceived on  August  1,  1918. 

Occupation  of  hospital  buildings. — The  occupation  of  any  part  of  the  hospital 
first  occurred  when  the  commanding  officer  took  one  of  the  wards  temporarily 
as  an  office.  The  offices  of  the  quartermaster  and  the  medical  property  officer 
were  also  established  in  this  ward,  pending  the  construction  of  the  quarter 
master  buildings. 


Fig.  118. — Convalescent  wards,  General  Hospital  No.  3 


The  buildings  of  the  hospital  were  practically  complete  and  ready  for 
occupancy  July  1,  1918.  By  September  15,  1918,  the  day  the  acute  surgical 
wards  became  filled,  it  was  necessary  to  open  the  first  two  wards  of  the  con- 
valescent section. 

The  buildings  were  of  the  pavilion  type  of  construction,  according  to  the 
usual  military  hospital  standard.  Those  pertaining  to  the  immediate  care  of 
the  patients,  and  for  their  use,  were  connected  by  inclosed  corridors.  The 
general  arrangement  of  the  buildings  is  shown  in  Figure  116. 

Hospital  water  supply. — The  water  supply  for  the  hospital  was  furnished 
from  an  8-inch  main  by  the  Middlesex  Water  Co.;  it  was  very  satisfactory. 

Sewage. — Ultimate  disposal  of  the  hospital  sewage  was  by  means  of  a 
septic  tank  and  sprinkler  filters;  each  building  was  fitted  with  modern  plumb- 
ing fixtures  adequate  to  its  needs. 

Disposal  of  wastes. — Kitchen  wastes  and  other  forms  of  garbage  were  at 
first  disposed  of  by  means  of  an  incinerator,  or  were  fed  to  hospital  hogs. 
Later,  the  hospital  garbage  was  sold,  on  contract,  to  a near-by  stock  farm. 


TYPES  OE^ HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (NEW).  379 

Lavatories  and  baths. — These  were  located  in  each  building  in  adequate 
numbers. 

Heating. — A central  heating  plant,  consisting  of  eight  150-horsepower 
Kavanel  boilers  and  operating  by  the  return  vacuum  system,  furnished  steam 
heat  with  pressure  to  all  the  buildings  and  at  the  same  time  supplied  them  with 
hot  water. 

Hospital  lighting. — The  buildings  were  completely  wired  for  electricity, 
which  was  furnished  by  a local  service  company. 

Hospital  Teitchen  and  mess. — There  were  five  messes  and  kitchens.  As 
originally  constructed  the  general  mess  was  much  too  limited  in  capacity,  as 
was  also  the  mess  for  the  detachment  men.  These  were  enlarged  to  meet  the 


Fig.  119. — Bakery,  General  Hospital  No.  3. 

demand.  The  kitchen  of  the  general  mess  was  especially  a very  complete 
unit,  being  equipped  with  steam  cookers,  vegetable  peelers,  dishwashers, 
refrigerating  boxes,  ice  machines,  and  bakery.  The  officers’  mess  was  very 
adequate,  as  was  also  that  of  the  nurses. 

Hospital  laundry. — This  plant  was  very  successfully  operated.  It  handled 
all  the  hospital  linen  and  the  clothing  of  the  enlisted  men,  operating  in  two 
shifts  of  eight  hours  each,  with  men  on  duty  at  the  hospital  and  a few  female 
laundresses  for  ironing  purposes. 

Quarters. — The  original  officers’  quarters  were  destroyed  by  fire  on  October 
10,  1918.  During  the  months  following,  in  the  interval  of  rebuilding,  it  was 
necessary  for  the  officers  to  occupy  temporary  quarters  in  one  of  the  con- 
valescent ward  buildings.  New  quarters,  consisting  of  dormitory  and  a mess 


380 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


in  near-by  rooms,  were  built  in  March  and  proved  satisfactory  and  adequate  in 
every  particular.  The  nurses’  quarters  were  adequate,  but  the  barracks  for 
the  enlisted  men,  five  in  number,  were  not  adequate,  two  additional  buildings 
being  in  almost  constant  service. 

Hospital  chapel. — The  first  building  used  as  the  chapel  at  the  hospital  was 
opened  in  the  fall  of  1918.  This  was  used  not  only  for  religious  services  but  also 
for  amusement  purposes  bv  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  before  the 
completion  of  its  building  in  December,  1918.  A separate  chapel  was  con- 
structed in  the  spring  of  1919,  and  ivas  open  for  religious  services  early  in 
May,  1919. 

Hospital  storehouse. — There  were  three  quartermaster  storehouses,  includ- 
ing one  medical  supply  depot. 

PROFESSIONAL  SERVICES. 

Because  of  the  fact  that  General  Hospital  No.  3 was  designated  principally 
for  the  treatment  of  surgical  cases  the  medical  service  of  the  hospital  was  cor- 
respondingly small  and  was  limited  to  cases  incident  to  the  hospital  personnel 
and  the  medical  complications  of  the  surgical  patients. 

SURGICAL  SERVICE. 

The  type  of  cases  received  at  this  hospital  was  largely  that  involving 
injury  of  the  extremities,  either  previous  amputations  or  injuries  from  shrapnel 
or  high  explosives.  An  exceptionally  large  number  of  cases  of  gunshot  wounds 
showed  extensive  loss  of  bone  which  had  been  either  shot  away  or  removed 
at  an  early  operation.  A great  percentage  of  these  required  one  or  more 
preliminary  operations  for  the  removal  of  dead  bone,  foreign  material,  etc., 
before  the  final  plastic  work  could  be  undertaken.  Of  the  cases  of  amputations 
treated,  all,  with  very  rare  exceptions,  received  the  primary  operations  before 
admission  to  this  hospital;  usually  these  had  occurred  in  France.  These  cases 
were  assigned  to  General  Hospital  No.  3 for  further  care,  incidental  to  the 
ultimate  application  of  artificial  limbs.  Many  pathological  and  traumatic 
conditions  of  the  spine  were  also  treated.  Cases  of  nerve  injury,  includ- 
ing many  with  loss  of  substance,  were  common.  The  various  types  of  cases 
treated  in  the  different  departments  of  the  surgical  service  are  briefly  con- 
sidered under  their  respective  heads. 

The  history  of  the  surgical  service  of  the  hospital  dates  from  June  5,  191S, 
at  which  time  the  chief  of  service,  with  an  original  staff  of  three  assistants, 
undertook  its  organization,  with  the  purpose  of  formulating  an  efficient  working 
plan  for  the  administration  of  a large  reconstruction  service  handling  great 
numbers  of  wounded  men.  During  the  following  month  additional  officers 
reported  for  duty  and  the  nurses  likewise  were  assigned.  Organization  of  the 
various  departments  was  begun;  the  operating  pavilion  was  equipped:  the 
pathological  and  X-ray  departments  were  opened  by  the  respective  chiefs  : and 
the  11  acute  surgical  wards  just  nearing  completion,  to  which  the  officers  who 
had  reported  were  assigned,  were  put  into  readiness.  By  June  30,  19 IS,  the 
hospital  was  practically  completed  and  prepared  for  the  reception  of  patients. 

The  first  patients  from  overseas,  17  in  number,  arrived  on  August  1,  191S. 
In  September  the  number  of  patients  began  to  increase  rapidly  and  by  Decem- 
ber, 1918,  the  11  surgical  wards  for  acute  cases  being  entirely  filled,  the  opening 


TYPES  OE  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (NEW). 


381 


of  wards  in  the  convalescent  section  was  necessitated.  The  number  of  patients 
on  the  hospital  records  continued  to  grow  until  February,  1919,  when  active 
enrollment  reached  its  height,  approximately  2,000  patients  being  recorded  at 
that  time  as  having  received  treatment  at  the  hospital.  At  the  height  of  the 
work  the  surgical  staff  included  50  officer’s.  The  personnel  of  the  operating 
pavilion  regularly  consisted  of  eight  nurses  and  eight  enlisted  men. 

During  the  early  fall  months  in  1918  the  operative  work  at  the  hospital 
consisted  principally  in  cleaning  out  sinuses,  removing  dead  bone,  fragments 
of  shell,  or  even  bits  of  clothing  and  wood.  The  surgical  cases  were  for  the 
most  part  those  recently  wounded  and  showing  bad  infections.  It  was  not  until 
December,  1918,  that  bone-graft  operations  for  restoration  of  lost  substance 
could  be  undertaken  in  any  number.  The  great  amount  of  plastic  work  at 
this  hospital  subsequent  to  that  time  was  done  for  a wide  variety  of  conditions. 
A large  percentage  of  the  cases  of  this  group  were  treated  by  the  bone  graft 
for  loss  of  bone  resulting  from  gunshot  wounds  or  from  osteomyelitis,  a total 
of  149  cases  having  been  operated  upon.  Cases  of  special  interest  included 
three  instances  of  synthetic  transplantation  of  tissue  for  the  formation  of  new 
digits,  whereby  the  usefulness  of  the  disabled  member  was  restored  to  a great 
extent.  In  the  large  group  of  shoulder  cases,  restoration  of  substance  and 
shoulder-joint  motion  and  function  were  accomplished.  Extensive  loss  of 
substance  in  the  long  bones,  such  as  the  humerus,  ulna,  and  tibia,  was  replaced 
by  the  bone  graft,  with  the  resultant  return  of  function.  In  another  group 
the  bone  graft  was  used  to  relieve  affections  of  the  spine,  in  such  conditions  as 
compression  fractures  of  the  vertebral  bodies,  and  Pott’s  disease. 

Artificial  Limb  Service. 

The  artificial  limb  service  at  General  Hospital  No.  3 was  organized  on 
January  1,  1919.  Although  primarily  not  so  designated,  in  the  fall  of  1918, 
the  Surgeon  General  decided  to  include  cases  of  amputation  among  the  patients 
treated  at  this  hospital.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  special  ampu- 
tation subservice  there  were  in  the  hospital  nearly  400  such  cases  which  had 
been  sent  for  the  application  of  an  artificial  limb  and  for  preliminary  treatment 
incident  to  its  proper  fitting. 

February  10,  1919,  General  Hospital  No.  3 was  classified  as  one  of  the  two 
amputation  centers  of  the  East.  The  number  of  such  patients  admitted  increased 
very  rapidly,  reaching  its  height  in  April,  1919,  when  approximately  750 
patients  with  amputations  were  enrolled.  This  number  remained  practically 
unchanged  during  May.  During  the  summer  many  discharges  were  made  and 
the  number  of  patients  admitted  was  constantly  decreased  until  the  latter 
part  of  September,  when  the  amputations  in  hospital  numbered  only  about  200. 

With  the  exception  of  five  primary  operations  performed  at  the  hospital, 
all  the  operative  work  in  the  amputation  subservice  was  on  stumps.  These 
operations  consisted  of  re-amputations  to  secure  a satisfactory  stump  for  the 
application  of  the  artificial  limb,  occasional  sequestrectomies  when  necessary, 
and  the  final  plastic  work.  At  the  height  of  the  work  in  April,  1919,  the 
number  of  operations  performed  on  stumps  totaled  in  that  month  138.  A 
very  large  percentage  of  the  cases  requiring  re-amputation  were  those  preceded 
by  the  guillotine  operation  in  France;  in  these  instances  further  operative 
treatment  was  necessary  before  a successful  fitting  of  the  artificial  appliance. 


382 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Most  of  the  patients  arrived  with  open  stump  wounds,  badly  infected, 
which,  after  being  sterilized  by  the  Carrel-Dakin  method,  required  re-amputa- 
tion  or  plastic  operation  on  the  stump.  In  many  instances  patients  were 
received  with  the  stump  healed  and  large  scars  present,  in  which  excision  of 
scar  and  plastic  closure  were  necessary. 

As  a form  of  postoperative  treatment  after  the  healing  of  the  stump, 
the  patient  was  sent  to  the  department  of  physiotherapy  for  massage  and 
stump  calisthenics,  in  preparation  for  the  temporary  artificial  limb  which 
was  applied  at  this  hospital.  Having  been  fitted  with  this,  he  was  returned 
to  the  gymnasium  to  be  given  walking  exercises.  The  final  disposition  of 
patients  was  either  by  transfer  to  a convalescent  hospital  nearer  their  homes, 
or  by  discharge  through  the  hospital  discharge  board.  The  total  number 
of  cases  of  amputation  admitted  to  the  hospital  is  briefly  summarized  in  the 
following  table.  Of  the  16  double  amputations  recorded  there  was  only  one 
instance  of  loss  of  both  arms;  there  were  several  cases  in  which  arm  and  leg 
on  the  same  side  had  been  amputated;  in  one  case  both  legs  and  one  arm 
were  lost. 

Number  of  cases  of  amputation  admitted  to  United  States  General  Hospital  No.  3. 


Legs 1, 089 

Arms 246 


Total 1,335 

Double  amputations 16 


The  Orthopedic  Workshop. 

Coincident  with  the  growth  of  the  artificial-limb  service,  a part  of  the 
subservice  of  amputations,  the  demands  upon  the  orthopedic  workshop  at 
the  hospital  increased.  This  department,  which  was  organized  in  November, 
1918,  was  opened  primarily  for  the  manufacture  and  fitting  of  splints  and 
braces.  With  a subsequent  increase  in  the  working  force  and  equipment, 
the  fitting  of  the  artificial  limb  was  also  undertaken.  In  the  early  part  of 
March,  1918,  the  orthopedic  workshop  was  still  further  enlarged  to  make 
possible  the  manufacture  of  arms  as  well.  At  its  height  tins  service  employed 
a total  working  force  of  28  men,  including  the  officer  in  charge  and  his  assistant. 
Over  1,000  patients,  on  an  average,  were  fitted  each  month;  this  number 
included  cases  of  application  of  braces  and  splints,  as  well  as  of  artificial 
arms  and  legs,  and  their  adjustment.  In  the  11  months  of  its  history,  from 
November,  1918,  to  September,  1919,  inclusive,  the  department  handled 
over  11,000  patients. 

Work  done  by  the  orthopedic  workshop. 


Appliance:  Number  fitted. 

Legs S43 

Arms 7o 

Splints  and  braces 2,  745 


Total  number  of  appliances 3,  663 


Anesthesia. 

In  the  large  amount  of  operative  work  done  at  this  hospital  it  was  found 
that  nitrous  oxide-oxygen  and  minimum  ether  was  the  anesthetic  of  choice. 
The  rapid  induction  period  and  quick  recovery  (from  5 to  10  minutes'),  with 
very  little  unconscious  nausea  and  vomiting,  attending  the  use  of  this 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (NEW). 


383 


anesthetic,  permitted  dispensing  with  at  least  two  anesthetists.  The  immediate 
postoperative  care,  so  necessary  following  ether  narcosis,  was  not  required. 

The  operations  varied  in  length  from  periods  of  less  than  five  minutes  to 
three  and  four  hours,  and  ranged  from  brief  sequestrectomies  and  forcible 
manipulations,  to  intricate  plastic  work  involving  bone  and  nerve  repair. 
In  operative  work  of  less  than  five  minutes’  duration,  gas-oxygen  was  generally 
used.  In  operations  lasting  five  minutes  or  longer,  some  in  fact,  extending 
over  a period  of  four  and  one-half  hours,  gas-oxygen  and  minimum  ether 
were  administered  with  constantly  good  results.  Indeed,  in  many  cases 
gas-oxygen  alone  was  found  sufficient  to  maintain  the  proper  degree  of  surgical 
narcosis.  The  small  amount  of  ether  used,  however,  in  tins  type  of  anesthetic, 
did  not  seem  to  retard  recovery. 

The  work  with  ether  anesthesia  was  done  largely  by  the  Mayo  method. 
Ethyl  chloride-ether  sequence  was  used  when  nitrous  oxide-oxygen  was  not 
available.  Ethyl  chloride  was  administered  to  patients  in  the  wards  when 
surgical  dressings  were  found  to  be  very  painful.  The  Ohio  Monovalve, 
Connel,  and  Heidbruch  apparatus  were  used.  The  Ohio  Monovalve  was 
found  the  most  satisfactory  because  it  was  stable  and  did  not  get  out  of  adjust- 
ment; in  other  words,  it  was  always  in  good  order. 

With  few  exceptions  all  the  operative  work  at  the  hospital  was  handled 
by  two  anesthetists. 

Surgery  of  the  Head. 

For  this  branch  of  surgery  there  was  no  separate  building  at  the  hospital. 

The  eye  service  and  the  ear,  nose,  and  throat  departments,  at  several  times 
in  the  history  of  the  hospital,  were  combined  under  the  supervision  of  one 
chief.  The  eye  service  was  inaugurated  May  10,  1918.  The  work  consisted  of 
the  examination  of  patients  from  the  detachment  and  the  nursing  staff,  the 
first  overseas  patients  being  treated  August  19,  1918.  With  the  influx  of 
large  numbers  of  overseas  patients,  and  the  consequent  heavy  demands  of  the 
surgical  wards  upon  staff  members,  it  was  found  possible  to  again  combine 
the  eye  and  otolaryngological  departments. 

The  eye  and  the  ear,  nose,  and  throat  departments  at  no  time  had  a suffi- 
cient number  of  patients  warranting  the  setting  aside  of  a ward  for  their  special 
care.  In  the  otolaryngological  service,  tonsillectomies  represented  the  bulk 
of  operations  performed.  There  were  a few  cases  of  ethmoiditis  and  mas- 
toiditis, necessitating  operation.  In  the  ophthalmological  service  refractive 
errors  formed  between  70  and  80  per  cent  of  the  cases  received. 

The  Neurosurgical  Service. 

This  department  was  organized  the  last  week  in  January,  1919.  The 
neurosurgical  cases  which  were  not  complicated  with  infected  bone  or  soft- 
part  lesions,  were  concentrated  in  two  wards,  ward  14  being  used  for  pre- 
operative,  postoperative,  and  bed  patients,  and  ward  28  being  set  aside  as  a 
convalescent  ward.  The  offices  of  the  neurosurgical  service  included  the 
administrative  department  and  the  examining  rooms,  both  of  which  were 
located  in  ward  28. 

Subsequent  to  the  organization  of  this  service,  240  peripheral  nerve 
injuries,  10  head  injuries,  and  8 spinal  injuries  were  examined  and  treated. 
All  cases  having  a definite  involvement  of  peripheral  nerves  were  completely 


384 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


examined  in  regard  to  motor  and  sensory  function,  and  complete  records  of 
the  findings,  with  subsequent  changes,  as  seen  in  the  process  of  degeneration 
and  regeneration,  were  made  and  kept  on  file.  After  studies  of  these  cases, 
if  spontaneous  regenerative  changes  were  not  observed,  they  were  recorded 
as  operative  cases. 

The  department  operated  upon  80  cases  requiring  operation  of  a neuro- 
surgical nature  as  follows:  Amputation  neuromas,  16;  median  nerve,  5;  ulnar 
nerve,  8;  musculospiral  nerve,  12;  posterior  interosseus  nerve,  2;  brachial 
plexus,  6;  lesions  of  two  or  more  nerves  in  the  upper  extremity,  6;  sciatic 
nerve,  6;  external  popliteal  nerve,  10;  facial  anastomosis,  with  hypoglossal 
nerve,  2;  tendon  transplant,  2;  spine,  1;  brain,  3;  and  aneurysm  (arterio- 
venous), 1.  Sixteen  operations  were  performed  for  the  removal  of  painful 
neuromas  for  the  amputation  department.  Of  the  240  cases  of  peripheral 
nerve  injuries  examined  57  were  operated  upon. 

Brain  Surgery. 

Ten  head  cases,  referring  primarily  to  skull  and  brain,  were  treated  in 
this  service.  Two  were  operated  upon.  In  one  case  a decompression  opera- 
tion was  performed  upon  an  officer  on  duty  at  the  hospital,  who  had  sustained 
a very  severe  fracture  of  the  skull.  The  second  operation  was  for  the  removal 
of  a foreign  body  from  the  brain,  the  result  of  a battle  casualty.  Only  one 
spine  case  was  operated  upon:  the  removal  of  a foreign  body  from  the  body 
of  the  fourth  lumbar  vertebra.  In  no  case  of  spinal  injury  was  it  considered 
advisable  to  perform  any  operation  upon  the  spinal  cord. 

The  Dental  Service. 

The  dental  clinic  was  organized  July  24,  1918.  In  November,  1918,  the 
staff  was  increased  from  one  to  three  dental  surgeons,  and  during  the  major 
portion  of  the  subsequent  time  the  dental  service  consisted  of  that  number 
of  operators  and  a survey  officer,  with  an  enlisted  personnel  of  three  men,  an 
assistant  for  each  operator. 

Over  1 ,340  patients  were  treated  in  this  service,  with  a total  of  more  than 
26,000  sittings.  In  addition  to  the  regular  routine  work,  many  interesting 
plastic  cases  were  handled,  11  following  gunshot  injuries.  The  latter  included 
two  cases  involving  loss  of  substance  in  the  hard  part  and  one  instance  of  loss 
of  bone  in  the  right  mandible,  all  of  them  being  successfully  treated  in 
cooperation  with  the  chief  of  the  surgical  service. 

The  Genitourinary  Service. 

The  number  of  patients  treated  in  this  department  was  very  small,  the  total 
under  treatment  at  no  time  exceeding  six  or  seven.  A portion  of  one  of  the 
convalescent  wards  was  set  aside  for  the  care  of  such  patients. 

The  X-ray  Department. 

The  roentgenological  laboratory  was  established  coincident  with  the 
organization  of  the  surgical  service,  and  was  located  in  the  operating  pavilion 
at  the  special  request  of  the  chief  of  the  surgical  service,  who  personally  drew 
up  the  original  plans  to  include  both  services,  for  greater  cooperation  and 
efficiency  in  handling  the  large  number  of  cases.  The  plan  was  worked  out 
successfully;  owing  to  its  proximity  to  the  operating  rooms,  the  X-ray  service 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (NEW).  385 

frequently  rendered  valuable  assistance  during  the  progress  of  an  operation,  in 
throwing  light  on  unforeseen  conditions  as  they  arose. 

The  laboratory,  as  planned,  contained  a complete  United  States  Army 
roentgenological  equipment,  capable  of  every  variety  of  X-ray  examination, 
including  fluoroscopy. 

The  personnel  for  the  main  part  comprised  two  officers  and  four  enlisted 
men. 

Examinations  totaling  about  8,000  were  made  on  about  6,000  patients. 
The  examinations  and  the  making  of  plates  constituted  the  bulk  of  the  work, 
with  a small  amount  of  film  work  and  some  fluoroscopy.  Bv  far  the  greater 
part  of  the  examinations  were  for  bone  pathology.  Just  as  bone  work  was 
the  predominant  feature  of  the  hospital  service,  so  it  was  in  the  X-ray  laboratory. 
The  patients  were  closely  studied  both  before  and  after  operation,  and  the 
growth  of  new  bone  following  the  surgical  procedure  was  carefully  studied. 

THE  LABORATORY. 

The  laboratory  building,  adjoining  the  operating  pavilion,  included,  besides 
the  usual  pathological  and  bacteriological  sections,  a well-equipped  animal 


Fig.  120. — Chemical  laboratory,  General  Hospital  No.  3. 

research  annex  which  had  been  added  at  the  request  of  the  chief  of  the  surgical 
service.  Coincident  with  the  clinical  bone  work,  experimentations  were  made 
possible  by  such  resources  in  equipment  and  technical  assistance,  and  were 
carried  on  in  bone  growth  and  allied  subjects,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
chief  of  the  surgical  service. 

The  laboratory  was  organized  May  25,  1918.  The  staff  included  the  chief 
of  service,  two  officer  assistants,  and  nine  technicians. 

The  work  accomplished  in  the  pathological  and  bacteriological  departments 
comprised  the  usual  blood  tests,  urine  analyses,  Wassermann  reactions,  etc.,  as 
45269°—  23 25 


386 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


well  as  analyses  of  milk  and  water,  the  preparation  of  vaccines,  and  inoculations. 
Subsequent  to  August,  1918,  1,481  wound  cultures  were  taken  and  bacterio- 
logical counts  of  wounds  numbered  9,896;  10,260  liters  of  Carrel -Dakin  solution 
were  prepared;  114  histological  sections  were  preserved;  and  80  sections  were 
completed  and  examined. 

Autopsies. 

Facilities  for  conducting  post-mortem  examinations  were  excellent;  the 
morgue  consisted  of  an  autopsy  room,  containing  an  autopsy  table,  with  drain 
pipe,  and  two  sinks. 

HOSPITAL  RECREATION. 

Besides  the  amusements  and  recreation  provided  for  the  various  groups  of 
the  hospital  personnel  and  patients  in  the  houses  of  the  Red  Cross,  the  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association,  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  a certain  amount 
of  welfare  work  was  done  by  several  organizations  located  without  the  hospital 
grounds.  The  Mercy  Committee  of  New  Jersey  conducted  a small  canteen  for 
the  hospital  personnel,  the  patients,  and  their  guests;  representatives  of  the 
National  League  for  Women’s  Service  were  very  active  in  furnishing  recreation 
and  entertainment  for  patients  and  enlisted  men  at  a canteen  in  the  vicinity, 
to  and  from  which  guests  were  regularly  conveyed  by  motor;  and  a local  branch 
of  the  Motor  Corps  of  America,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Red  Cross,  was 
active  in  serving  the  patients. 

Outdoor  sports  on  the  athletic  field  proved  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
valuable  features  of  the  hospital  social  life.  This  field,  made  possible  through 
funds  provided  by  the  Mercy  Committee,  was  opened  in  May,  19 IS,  and  there- 
after it  was  in  almost  constant  use.  Numerous  field  meets  were  also  held  in 
which  opportunity  to  participate  was  afforded  patients  and  personnel. 

Besides  the  hospital  ball  team,  interest  was  shown  in  other  sports,  particu- 
larly in  boxing  matches.  Tennis  and  some  golf  were  played.  Clubs  were 
formed  to  stimulate  dramatics  among  the  enlisted  men  and  patients.  There 
were  several  musical  organizations,  including  a patients’  orchestra  and  an 
officers’  orchestra.  Numerous  organizations  of  a purely  social  nature  included 
the  officers’  club,  the  nurses’  club,  and  the  club  for  noncommissioned  officers. 

Great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  patients  and  enlisted  personnel  assigned 
to  duty  were  shown  by  many  societies  hi  near-by  towns,  as  well  as  by  individuals. 
Special  entertainments  were  permitted  at  the  post,  from  time  to  time,  and 
invitations  were  frequently  extended  to  various  hospital  groups  to  participate 
in  social  affairs  outside  of  the  hospital. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS GENERAL  HOSPITAL  (NEW).  387 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J.,  from  May,  1918,  to 

October  15,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

2 

8 

10 

10 

10 

3 

6 

2 

11 

S' 

33 

99 

2 

136 

103 

51 

418 

6 

578 

541 

89 

460 

2 

1.092 

982 

26 

664 

15 

1,687 

1,624 

55 

730 

11 

2, 420 

1,944 

78 

199 

8 

2,229 

1,448 

62 

250 

6 

1,766 

1,3.53 

51 

512 

7 

1,923 

1,504 

38 

299 

10 

1,851 

1,392 

63 

268 

28 

1,751 

1,328 

33 

272 

11 

1.644 

1,355 

26 

84 

8 

1,473 

1,220 

43 

55 

7 

1,325 

1,059 

40 

20 

6 

1,125 

908 

7 

1 

916 

Completed  cases. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

2 

8 

6 

1 

9 

19 

14 

37 

101 

5 

4 

49 

8 

6 

201 

4 

20 

244 

7 

614 

2 

14 

88 

63 

237 

3 

16 

2 

79 

76 

176 

4 

11 

20 

137 

71 

171 

1 

9 

2S 

194 

49 

262 

1 

10 

12 

10S 

30 

179 

2 

9 

14 

71 

14 

107 

15 

44 

45 

42 

41 

no 

34 

18 

63 

42 

1 

94 

2.8 

13 

39 

24 

237 

8 

22 

613 

12 

Remaining. 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


1918. 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September . 

October 

November.. 
December. . 


1919. 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September . . 
October 


1 

2 

103 

541 

9S2 

1,624 

1,944 


1,448 
1,353 
1,  504 
1,392 
1.328 
1, 355 
1,220 
1,059 
90S 


2 
35 
26 
1,429 
8, 236 
24. 130 
39. 790 
53,227 


51,811 
36, 907 
44,865 
43,174 
42,24" 
38, 112 
39,020 
32,384 
29,340 
6,455 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

4 

4 

8 

0 

0 

0 

24 

69 

93 

12 

151 

163 

December 

12 

155 

167 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

January 

10 

151 

163 

167 

February 

12 

155 

March..’. 

161 

167 

216 

226 

2.56 

May 

109 

244 

166 

247 

254 

318 

360 

July 

152 

268 

August 

12 

251 

September 

12 

226 

392 

6 

198 

350 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

191S. 

May 

s 

1 

1 

10 

103 

20 

123 

June 

14 

1 

2 

17 

122 

20 

142 

15 

July 

16 

2 

2 

20 

346 

32 

378 

16 

August 

15 

5 

2 

22 

360 

32 

392 

33 

September 

21 

5 

2 

28 

368 

32 

400 

39 

October 

DO 

s 

2 

65 

372 

31 

403 

47 

November 

52 

8 

2 

62 

375 

100 

475 

91 

December 

63 

13 

5 

81 

624 

106 

730 

85 

1919. 

January 

63 

12 

8 

83 

616 

136 

752 

97 

February 

67 

11 

9 

87 

610 

179 

783 

94 

March 

63 

13 

7 

S3 

621 

173 

794 

101 

April 

69 

11 

10 

90 

602 

159 

761 

112 

May 

55 

13 

10 

78 

599 

103 

702 

118 

June 

50 

14 

13 

77 

591 

97 

6SS 

116 

July 

52 

14 

14 

80 

593 

8 

601 

125 

August 

51 

14 

11 

76 

720 

9 

729 

123 

September 

45 

13 

10 

68 

622 

25 

647 

112 

October 

2 

1 

1 

4 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


POST  HOSPITALS. 

The  post  hospital,  as  its  name  implies,  is  a fixed  institution  provided, 
primarily,  for  the  peace-time  care  and  treatment  of  the  military  sick  occurring 
iti  the  garrison  of  which  it  forms  an  integral  part;  in  consequence  it  is  controlled 
by  the  post  commander. 

The  part  played  by  the  post  hospitals  in  the  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
during  the  World  War  was,  perforce,  relatively  small.  During  the  earlier  days 
of  the  war  period,  when  troops  were  being  recruited  to  augment  the  strength  of 
the  Regular  Army,  and  prior  to  the  provision  of  any  of  the  large  temporary 
war-time  hospitals,  use  had  to  be  made  of  those  military  hospitals  existent  at 
the  time.  This  use  necessitated  increasing  their  capacities  by  the  provision 
of  additional  buildings  of  temporary  construction,  and  the  personnel  for  their 
operation;  but  the  management  of  them  was  essentially  the  same  as  during 
peace  times;  that  is  to  say,  the  senior  medical  officer  on  duty  at  the  post  at 
which  the  post  hospital  was  located  discharged  his  duties  in  a dual  capacity; 
lie  was  post  surgeon  and  he  was  also  in  direct  charge  of  the  hospital.  The 
number  of  assistants  which  the  post  surgeon  had  depended  entirely  on  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  general  activities  of  the  post;  and  with  few  exceptions,  there  was 
little  or  no  effort  made  to  organize  along  the  lines  made  requisite  in  the  essential 
war  hospitals.  The  exceptions  to  this  statement  include  the  post  hospitals  that 
were  operated  at  the  large  recruit  depots  and  at  such  other  places  as  Fort  Jay, 
Fort  Leavenworth,  Fort  Monroe,  and  Vancouver  Barracks.  The  subsequent 
enlargement  of  many  post  hospitals  was  effected  when  they  were  metamorphosed, 
in  conjunction  with  the  remainder  of  the  buildings  at  a post,  into  general 
hospitals,  as  will  be  seen  in  connection  with  the  separate  histories  of  the  general 
hospitals. 

POST  HOSPITAL.  FORT  McDOWELL,  ANGEL  ISLAND,  CALIF.' 

Angel  Island  is  located  in  San  Francisco  Bay  and  is  considered  a part  of 
Marin  County.  The  nearest  large  city  is  San  Francisco,  which  lies,  at  its 
nearest  point — Fort  Mason — about  37  miles  from  the  southern  shore  of  this 
island.  Alcatraz  Island,  12  acres  in  area,  lies  between  these  two  points  about 
2 miles  distant  from  this  island.  The  Golden  Gate  entrance  to  San  Francisco 
Bay  is  6 miles  to  the  southeast.  To  the  west  is  a narrow  strip  of  water  known 
as  Racoon  Straits,  being  about  three-fourths  mile  wide  at  the  narrowest  place. 
To  the  east  the  mainland  is  separated  from  this  island  by  a stretch  of  about 
7 miles  of  San  Francisco  Bay.  Angel  Island  is  about  1 J miles  long  and  If  miles 
wide.  With  the  exception  of  small  beaches  on  each  of  the  four  sides  of  the 
island,  the  shore  line  is  bold  and  precipitous.  A narrow  dirt  road  encircles 

“ The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Post  Hospital,  Fort  McDowell,  Calif..  " by  Col. 
Powell  C.  Fauntleroy,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

388 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — POST  HOSPITAL. 


389 


the  island  following  very  closely  on  the  160-foot  contour  above  sea  level,  and 
was  constructed  by  Infantry  troops  at  long  intervals  in  the  past.  On  the  north, 
the  shore  line  is  from  200  feet  to  400  feet  from  this  road;  on  the  south,  400  feet 
to  1,000  feet;  on  the  west,  200  feet  to  1,200  feet;  and  on  the  east,  400  feet  to 
600  feet.  The  surface  of  the  island  is  very  broken.  In  a general  way  narrow, 
steep  ridges  rise  from  the  four  corners  of  the  island  and  meet  in  a common 
center  776  feet  above  the  sea.  This  high  point  is  about  3,600  feet  from  the 
north,  east,  and  west  shore  and  2,000  feet  from  the  south  shore.  The  ridges 
and  deep  ravines  are  on  each  of  the  four  sides;  but  there  are,  especially  on  the 
west  and  south,  wider,  more  gentle  slopes  leading  to  short  strips  of  sandy 
beach. 

Geologically,  Angel  Island  is  a tertiary,  sedimentary  formation  uplifted 
and  broken  through  by  older  series  of  serpentine.  The  basis  of  the  island  is  an 
argillaceous  sandstone  interrupted  across  the  western  half  by  upturned  strata 
of  serpentine.  There  are  also  outcroppings  of  talc  and  small  veins  of  flint. 
Overlying  the  sandstone  are  irregular  and  broken  beds  of  brown,  red,  and  blue 
shale,  which  are  in  turn  overlaid  with  sand  and  black  argillaceous  loam.  This 
loam  is  deep  and  rich,  especially  in  the  lower  levels  and  ravines,  and  is  capable, 
under  irrigation,  of  great  productiveness.  The  ravines  and  ridges,  especially 
on  the  north  and  south,  are  densely  covered  with  an  underbrush  of  vines  and 
briar  bushes,  poison  oak,  sage,  greasewood,  laurel,  and  elder.  The  principal 
trees  are  evergreens,  scrub  white  oak,  bay  tree,  pine,  cedar,  and  eucalyptus; 
the  latter  three  having  been  planted  on  the  south  and  east  side  in  1905.  On 
the  west  side  there  are  a few  cottonwoods,  Normandy  poplars,  large  cedars, 
and  pines.  The  absence  of  fruit  trees  and  grapes  is  particularly  noticeable. 
There  is  a growth  of  plants  and  flowers,  especially  in  and  around  the  occupied 
portion  of  the  island.  The  director  of  the  Golden  Gate  Park  has  supplied  this 
island  with  many  beautiful  plants,  bushes,  and  trees,  which  have  reclaimed 
and  made  beautiful  what  would  otherwise  be  unsightly  levels  and  slopes. 
The  dust  does  not  lie  well  on  the  roads  and  bare  places  during  the  dry  season, 
and  during  the  wet  season  the  mud  is  of  a gumbo  stickiness,  and  easily  carried 
on  shoes.  The  seasons  are  divided  into  wet  and  dry.  The  former  embraces  the 
months  from  October  to  May,  inclusive.  The  temperature  of  the  wet  season 
varies  from  32°  F.  to  70°  F.  There  is  an  annual  rainfall  of  about  18  inches. 
From  March  to  September,  inclusive,  the  trade  winds  blow  almost  continuously 
night  and  day  and  are  always  very  strong.  During  the  other  months  there  is 
always  a stiff  breeze.  Cold  fogs  come  up  nearly  every  afternoon  and  are 
especially  heavy  on  the  south  and  east  sides.  During  the  wet  season  all  plant 
life  quickly  becomes  green,  but  by  July  the  grass  is  brown  and  dry  and  the 
foliage  becomes  covered  with  dust,  giving  the  island  a parched  appearance, 
relieved  only  by  patches  of  evergreen  trees.  The  continuous  and  heavy 
winds  make  it  very  difficult  for  flies  and  mosquitoes  to  live  except  in  very 
sheltered  places. 

The  United  States  Government  first  took  possession  of  the  island  on 
September  12,  1863.  On  this  date  Lieut.  John  L.  Tierson,  in  command  of 
Company  B,  Third  United  States  Artillery,  landed  on  the  west  side  of  the  island 
and  established  a camp  which  he  called  Camp  Reynolds,  on  the  site  of  what  is 
now  known  as  the  west  garrison,  Fort  McDowell.  This  old  post  was  renamed 
Fort  McDowell  by  General  Orders  No.  43,  A.  G.  O.,  1900. 


390  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  east  garrison,  Fort  McDowell,  was  established  by  the  erection  of 
concrete  barracks  and  quarters  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  island  between  the 
years  of  1905  and  1910.  From  the  beginning,  Angel  Island  has  been  the  recruit 
depot  and  casual  camp  for  the  United  States  forces  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Prior  to  the  completion  of  the  transcontinental  railroads  recruits  were  sent  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  from  the  East  and  distributed  to  the  posts  in 
the  Western  Department.  Since  1898  all  casuals  and  recruits  destined  for 
garrisons  in  Hawaii,  the  Philippine  Islands,  and  China  have  been  sent  here 
prior  to  embarkation.  The  casuals  from  these  oversea  garrisons  are  sent  here 
on  their  return  to  the  United  States  for  discharge  or  assignment  to  other  posts. 

From  1909  the  island  had  been  purely  a recruit  depot  and  casual  camp, 
the  garrison  being  only  depot  recruit  companies.  A frame  150-bed  contagious- 
disease  hospital  was  built  in  1918  on  the  west  side;  and  the  old  hospital,  30  beds, 


Fig.  121. — East  garrison,  Fort  McDowell,  Calif. 


on  the  west  side  was  repaired.  All  the  sick  were  cared  for  in  these  two  hospitals 
together  with  one  of  the  old  frame  barracks  on  the  west  side.  The  concrete, 
Medical  Department,  buildings  on  the  east  side  were  constructed  at  about 
the  same  time  as  the  other  similar  buildings  on  this  side  of  the  islands.  The 
concrete  hospital,  however,  was  never  completed  as  a hospital,  but,  by  order  of 
the  Secretary  of  War,  was  left  uncompleted  and  converted  into  a barracks  for 
casuals  and  depot  company  troops.  By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  on 
April  20,  1918,  this  hospital  building  was  formally  turned  back  to  the  Medical 
Department  for  occupancy  and,  together  with  the  concrete  annex  hospital 
building,  was  used  for  recruiting  purposes  and  for  the  care  of  personnel  so 
engaged,  as  well  as  Medical  Department  recruits  and  casuals. 

In  1918  a large  frame  mess  and  dormitory  building  was  constructed  by 
contract  on  the  west  side.  Prior  to  the  erection  of  this  building  the  proper 
housing  and  care  of  the  Medical  Department  personnel  had  been  very  difficult 
and  unsettled.  At  the  same  time  a milk  house,  containing  apparatus  for  cooling 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS POST  HOSPITAL. 


391 


milk  and  the  disinfection  of  milk  cans  and  bottles,  and  an  automobile  garage 
were  constructed  by  Medical  Department  personnel  on  the  west  side.  All  these 
buildings  were  connected  by  an  intercommunicating  telephone  system  as  well 
as  with  the  general  telephone  system  of  the  island. 

The  old  post  brick  hospital,  in  the  west  garrison,  was  of  the  standard 
type  as  provided  by  plans  from  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  It  was  heated 
by  means  of  a hot-water  system  of  its  own.  By  means  of  labor  furnished  by  the 
Medical  Department  personnel,  this  old  building  was  repaired,  recalcimined, 
and  painted.  The  old  system  of  lighting  this  hospital  by  means  of  an  acetylene 
plant  was  supplanted  in  1918  by  an  electric  lighting  system.  The  new  frame 
150-bed  contagious-disease  hospital  had  a separate  steam-heating  plant. 
The  wards  were  heated  by  means  of  direct  radiation  from  radiators.  The 
ventilation  was  by  means  of  perflation  through  the  windows  and  doors  and 


Fig.  122.— Post  Hospital,  Fort  McDowell,  Calif. 

lattice  ridge  openings.  This  hospital  consisted  of  three  large  buildings,  with 
screened  verandas  on  one  side  of  each  building,  utilized  for  the  care  of  appro- 
priate bed  cases.  There  were  small  isolation  wards  for  diphtheria,  scarlet 
fever,  measles,  mumps,  and  meningitis;  and  a receiving  and  distributing  ward 
in  connection  with  which  provision  was  made  for  the  administration  of  pro- 
phylactic treatments.  This  hospital  also  had  its  own  dispensary,  kitchen,  and 
dining  rooms  for  nurses  and  patients.  The  new  frame  dormitory  and  mess 
building,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  personnel  of  the  Medical  Department, 
lay  just  north  of  the  brick  hospital. 

There  was  only  one  main  road,  a narrow,  dirt  road  which  encircled  the 
island.  It  was  so  steep  and  winding  on  the  south  side  that  practically  all  the 
travel  from  the  east  and  west  garrisons  was  over  that  portion  of  the  road 
around  the  north  side  of  the  island.  It  was  necessary  during  the  dry  season  to 
sprinkle  the  roads  through  the  garrisons  in  order  to  keep  the  dust  down.  There 
are  no  streams,  fords,  or  bridges  on  the  island.  There  were  wharves  upon  which 


392 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


vessels  discharged  cargoes  and  from  which  passengers  were  taken  on  and  off  the 
tugs  and  vessels,  at  the  east  and  west  garrisons. 

The  water  supply  of  this  island  was  partially  from  local  springs  and  bored 
wells.  The  amount  of  water  thus  obtained,  however,  was  less  than  one- third 
of  that  used.  The  other  sources  of  water  supply  were  the  Spring  Valley  Water 
Co.,  San  Francisco,  and  the  Presidio  system  of  water  supply.  Water  thus 
obtained  was  brought  to  the  island  in  a combined  water  and  freight  boat,  and 
also  a water  barge  exclusively  used  for  this  purpose,  and  was  pumped  up  to 
wooden  water  tanks  on  the  high  levels  at  the  east  and  west  garrisons  by  pumps 
installed  on  the  respective  docks. 

There  were  two  deep,  driven  wells  on  the  west  side,  which  supplied  a 
portion  of  the  water  used;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  water  used  was  brought  in 
barges  from  Sausalito,  the  source  of  which  was  the  Marin  County  Water  Supply 
Co.  The  plant  was  located  near  San  Rafael.  Samples  from  all  of  these  sources 
were  repeatedly  analyzed,  and  while  at  times  they  showed  colon  bacilli,  they 
were  pronounced  by  the  laboratories  as  good  and  potable. 

The  disposal  of  sewage  was  by  means  of  modern  water-closets  and  urinals 
connected  with  concrete  and  cast-iron  sewers,  which  emptied  into  the  bay  near 
the  east  and  west  side  docks. 


Statistical  data  United  States  Army  Poet  Hospital,  Fort  McDowell,  Calif.,  from  April,  1917,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive.11 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

o3 

a 

a 

o 

a 

o 

£ 

From  other 
sources. 

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1917. 

April... 

59 

402 

461 

191 

103 

4 

145 

10 

2.295 

220 

155 

366 

521 

363 

6 

74 

2 

67 

9 

4,014 

76 

22S 

304 

196 

9 

37 

2.093 

289 

July.... 

44 

206 

250 

1.54 

1 

43 

2 

5 

1,463 

302 

50 

165 

215 

136 

49 

2 

23 

1 045 

205 

28 

83 

50 

29 

3 

1 

362 

74 

4 

77 

81 

44 

3 

19 

15 

434 

15 

125 

140 

91 

1 

25 

23 

671 

4 

23 

124 

147 

83 

1 

31 

27 

620 

19 

1918. 

32 

219 

251 

157 

2 

4 

32 

50 

6 

1,261 

113 

181 

237 

139 

1 

17 

3 

1,219 

69 

80 

278 

358 

181 

3 

43 

10 

114 

2,678 

163 

April 

121 

213 

334 

241 

3 

45 

41 

4 

2.3.54 

140 

45 

417 

462 

233 

50 

9 

2 

5,049 

110 

177 

386 

563 

419 

2 

49 

1 

92 

3,030 

60 

July... 

92 

409 

501 

19 

20 

184 

857 

84 

187 

236 

423 

299 

1 

99 

1 

99 

1 

3,  .581 

54 

100 

94 

1 

1 

196 

109 

24 

58 

1,508 

106 

63 

628 

425 

31 

3 

157 

12 

2S7 

169 

120 

289 

211 

9 

8 

9 

64 

2 

3,090 

73 

66 

79 

145 

106 

3 

28 

I 

1,225 

47 

1919. 

29 

106 

135 

90 

1 

1 

9 

9 

24 

1 

766 

103 

25 

90 

62 

2 

2 

21 

3 

633 

93 

24 

71 

3 

2 

26 

6 

581 

209 

April 

32 

99 

131 

15 

5 

30 

4 

73S 

SI 

May 

34 

85 

119 

72 

2 

6 

32 

824 

48 

32 

79 

111 

69 

2 

9 

30 

i 

S65 

6 

July 

31 

97 

128 

85 

1 

7 

6 

97 

2 

9.50 

9 

August 

29 

125 

154 

102 

35 

5 

909 

109 

September 

40 

209 

249 

15S 

2 

9 

24 

56 

2 

1. 563 

106 

58 

233 

291 

198 

9 

72 

2. 192 

43 

November 

72 

193 

265 

161 

4 

1 

6 

12 

73 

i 

2,360 

23 

December 

74 

196 

270 

165 

1 

2 

1 

11 

20 

69 

1 

2, 127 

45 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns,  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — POST  HOSPITAL, 


393 


Statistical  data  United  States  Army  Post  Hospital , Fort  McDowell,  Calif.,  from  April,  1917,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

April 

7 

40 

40 

May 

10 

10 

41 

41 

June 

12 

12 

109 

109 

4 

July 

13 

13 

115 

115 

4 

August 

13 

13 

95 

95 

5 

September 

14 

14 

100 

100 

5 

October 

12 

12 

96 

96 

5 

N ovember 

12 

12 

99 

99 

5 

December 

11 

11 

101 

101 

1918. 

January 

10 

10 

106 

106 

5 

February 

11 

11 

115 

115 

11 

March . 

11 

11 

119 

119 

12 

April 

14 

14 

144 

144 

16 

May 

16 

16 

156 

16 

June 

12 

12 

156 

16 

July 

14 

14 

170 

170 

August 

14 

14 

174 

174 

19 

September 

15 

1S1 

181 

18 

October 

16 

16 

183 

1S3 

18 

November 

15 

182 

182 

13 

December 

12 

12 

110 

110 

13 

1919. 

January 

8 

8 

96 

96 

6 

February 

9 

9 

95 

6 

March . 

8 

8 

83 

83 

7 

April 

8 

8 

92 

92 

4 

May 

8 

8 

93 

93 

4 

June 

8 

8 

78 

78 

4 

J uly 

9 

9 

68 

68 

4 

August 

11 

11 

68 

68 

4 

September 

8 

8 

66 

66 

4 

October 

7 

1 

8 

64 

64 

November 

10 

1 

11 

66 

66 

4 

December 

9 

1 

10 

68 

6S 

Table  No.  20. — Consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  strength  of  personnel  at  United  States  Army  Post  Hospitals.' 


394  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


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Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly 
itical returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


Table  No.  20. — Consolidated  numerical  reports  of  side  and  wounded , and  strength  of  personnel  at  United  States  Army  Post  Hospitals. — Continued. 


396 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


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CHAPTER  XX. 

AVIATION  HOSPITALS. 


The  whole  question  of  the  history  of  military  hospitals  in  the  United  States 
has  been  considered,  in  the  previous  pages  of  this  volume,  in  a manner  regardless 
of  hospitals  especially  provided  aviation  stations.  These  hospitals  at  aviation 
stations  were  managed  in  a way  somewhat  similar  to  that  which  obtained  at 
post  hospitals  in  peace  times;  being  small  and  detached  from  other  training 
camps,  and  being  provided  essentially  for  the  care  of  local  sick  and  injured,  they 
were  not  organized  as  were  the  large  base  and  general  hospitals,  but  were 
managed  as  were  post  hospitals. 

The  general  problem  of  providing  hospitals  for  the  Aviation  Service  was 
entirely  distinct  from  that  connected  with  the  provision  of  hospitals  for  the 
Army  as  a whole.  The  two  activities  paralleled  one  another,  aviation  hos- 
pitals, however,  being  on  a very  much  reduced  scale.  The  separate  provision  of 
aviation  hospitals  was  provided  for  by  an  act  of  Congress  approved  July  24,  1917, 
which  appropriated  special  funds  for  the  construction,  maintenance,  and  repair 
of  hospitals  at  aviation  stations,  and  making  the  responsibility  for  the  provision 
of  these  hospitals  that  of  the  Chief  of  the  Aviation  Service.1 

TYPES  OF  AVIATION  HOSPITALS. 

In  July,  1917,  the  Chief  of  the  Signal  Corps,  who  was  at  that  time  at  the 
head  of  the  Aviation  Section,  Signal  Corps,  sent  the  officer  in  charge  of  con- 
struction at  aviation  camps  to  Camp  Borden,  Canada.2  At  that  time  Camp 
Borden  was  the  foremost  flying  field  on  this  continent,  and  the  object  of  the 
visit  of  the  construction  officer  was  to  obtain  data  which  would  be  of  value  in 
the  construction  of  buildings  at  the  aviation  camps  in  the  United  States. 
During  that  period  the  hospital  facilities  at  Camp  Borden  comprised  merely 
a small  dispensary;2  and  desiring  a more  adequate  provision  for  the  hos- 
pitals of  the  flying  fields  of  the  United  States,  tins  officer  enlisted  the  services  of 
a leading  architect  of  Detroit  to  design  suitable  plans  for  a cantonment  hospital. 
This  was  accomplished,  and  six  hospitals  so  designed  were  constructed  forth- 
with at  Selfridge  Field,  Mount  Clemens,  Mich.;  Chanute  Field.  Rantoul,  111.; 
Hazelhurst  Field,  Minneola,  Long  Island;  Scott  Field,  Belleville,  111.;  and  two  at 
Wilbur  Wright  Field,  Fairfield,  Ohio.2  In  this  original  type  of  hospital  three 
wards  were  provided  to  accommodate  24,  12,  and  4 patients  each,  or  40  in  all.3 

The  original  program  called  for  unit  aviation  fields  with  a normal  capacity 
of  450  each,  and  only  in  an  emergency  was  it  contemplated  that  there  would  be 
double  that  number.  A hospital  was  accordingly  planned  for  40  beds,  winch 
would  be  sufficiently  large  for  5 per  cent  of  a garrison  of  S00  men,  or  for  the  sick 
of  a continuous  force  of  450  men,  with  an  occasional  addition  of  an  equal  number. 
It  so  eventuated,  however,  that  as  soon  as  the  fields  planned  for  450  men 
started  to  operate  there  were  never  less  than  700  to  900  men  assigned  to  them, 
and  subsequently  this  number  was  increased  to  1,200  to  2,000  men  per  unit  field. 

After  the  original  hospitals  had  been  constructed  it  was  found  that  the  floor 
space  provided  for  the  patients  was  considerably  less  than  the  minimum  estab- 
lished at  about  that  time  by  the  Surgeon  General,  and  that  instead  of  40  patients 
398 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — AVIATION  HOSPITAL. 


399 


only  24  could  be  accommodated  in  them.4  This  necessitated  an  enlargement 
of  each  hospital,  which  was  effected  by  extending  each  of  the  three  wings  suffi- 
ciently rearward  to  give  the  required  capacity.5  This  enlarged  type  of  hospital 
was  subsequently  built  at  Kelly  Field  No.  2,  and  at  Dallas  Repair  Depot,  Tex.6 
Hospitals  of  the  original  type  and  practically  the  same  bed  capacity  were  then 
erected  at  each  of  the  following  fields:  Call,  Wichita  Falls,  Tex.;  Rich,  Waco, 


Fig.  123. — Hospital  at  Love  Field,  Texas,  showing  additional  wings. 

Tex.;  Park,  Wellington,  Tex.;  Love,  Dallas,  Tex.;  Barron,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.; 
Carrutliers,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.;  Taliaferro,  Hicks,  Tex.2 

It  was  not  until  January,  1918,  that  a division  was  organized  in  the  office 
of  the  chief  surgeon,  Aviation  Service,  for  the  specific  purpose  of  administering 
and  constructing  hospitals.2  Considerable  study  was  then  devoted  to  the 
problem  of  enlarging  the  original  type  of  hospital  to  50  beds.  The  plan  was 


Fig.  124. — Front  view  ofa  50- bed  aviation  hospital. 

finally  adopted  of  adding  to  the  original  design  an  isolation  wing  of  10  beds  and 
an  additional  ward  of  17-bed  capacity.7 

Early  in  February,  1918,  the  construction  division  of  the  Signal  Corps 
made  up  plans  for  a 50-bed  hospital  which  were  adopted  for  use  at  the  new 
single-unit  aviation  fields.7  This  type,  called  the  50-bed  standard,  was 
erected  at  each  of  the  following  nine  fields : Souther,  Americus,  Ga.;  Brooks,  San 
Antonio,  Tex.;  Payne,  West  Point,  Miss.;  Carlstrom,  Arcadia,  Fla.;  Dorr, 


400 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Arcadia,  Fla.;  Eberts,  Lonoke,  Ark.;  March,  Riverside,  Calif.;  Mather,  Sacra- 
mento, Calif.;  Taylor,  Montgomery,  Ala.6  This  standard  type  of  hospital  was 
of  the  gridiron  pattern,  consisting  of  a corridor  with  perpendicular  wings  on 
each  side. 

Subsequently,  a 100-bed  standard  hospital,  similar  in  plan  to  the  50-bed 
standard,  was  designed  and  built  at  Post  Field,  Fort  Sill,  OklaA  At  the  Army 


Fig.  125. — Aviation  hospital,  Rockwell  Field,  Calif. 


Balloon  School,  Arcadia,  Calif.,9  it  was  used  for  the  construction  of  a hospital, 
minus  one  20-bed  ward.  A modification  of  this  type  of  hospital  was  also  built 
at  Chapman  Field,  Miami,  Fla.,  which  was  sufficient  in  capacity  to  accommodate 
28  patients  and  a detachment  of  14  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department. 
This  was  done  with  a view  to  a later  extension  if  such  were  found  to  be  necessary. 

The  hospital  erected  at  Kelly  Field  No.  1 was  a standard  60-bed  hospital; 
and  the  hospitals  provided  the  Garden  City  Air  Service  Depot  and  the  station 


Fig.  126.— A ward,  Post  Hospital,  Eberts  Field,  Ark. 


at  Morrison,  Va.,  were  of  the  corridor  and  wing  type  with  an  original  accomo- 
dation of  163  beds,  subsequently  expanded  b}T  the  addition  of  wings  of  250 
beds  each. 

A 40-bed  permanent  two-story  hospital  of  Spanish  type  of  architecture  was 
completed  about  November  18,  191S,  at  Rockwell  Field,  Calif.  The  second 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL. 


401 


story  of  this  hospital  was  intended  solely  for  the  accomodation  of  the  detach- 
ment, Medical  Department.10 

An  isolation  hospital  was  built  at  the  Mechanics  Training  School,  St.  Paul, 
Minn.,  from  plans  drawn  by  the  officer  in  charge  of  construction  in  the  chief 
surgeon ’s  office,  in  collaboration  with  the  surgeon  at  the  training  school.  This 
hospital  was  of  the  pavilion  type  and  had  accomodations  for  120  patients.11 

Two  types  of  infirmaries  were  designed:  One  8-bed  type  with  a squad 
room  for  enlisted  men,  built  at  Indianapolis  Repair  Depot,  and  McCook  Field, 
Dayton,  Ohio;  and  a 6-bed  type  with  a squad  room  for  enlisted  men  at  Lee 
Hall,  Va.,  Montgomery  Repair  Depot,  Montgomery,  Ala.,  and  Buffalo  Accept- 
ance Park,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.3 

NURSES’  QUARTERS. 

The  standard  plans  for  nurses’  quarters  for  6,  12,  and  30  nurses  were 
prepared  with  the  intention  of  erecting  a building  for  6 nurses  at  each  single- 
unit field,  one  for  12  nurses  at  each  double-unit  field,  and  a building  for  30 
nurses  at  the  larger  fields.6  The  buildings  for  6 and  12  nurses  were  planned 
to  furnish  each  nurse  with  a separate  bedroom,  with  sufficient  floor  space  to 


Fig.  127.— Nurses’  quarters,  Eberts  Field,  Ark. 


permit  doubling  the  number  of  occupants  in  emergency.  The  30-nurse  build- 
ing contained  but  15  rooms.  The  quarters  for  these  nurses  were  never  author- 
ized by  the  Secretary  of  War,6  and  the  nurses  at  all  single-unit  fields  had  to  be 
quartered  in  hospital  wards,  of  which  there  was  always  a scarcity.  At  Eberts 
Field  a dormitory  for  nurses  was  constructed  with  funds  temporarily  supplied 
by  the  American  Red  Cross.12  Dormitories  with  a capacity  of  12  nurses  were 
constructed  at  Post  Field,  Fort  Sill,  Okla.;  Wilbur  Wright  Field,  Fairfield, 
Ohio;  Army  Balloon  School,  Arcadia,  Calif.;  Gerstner  Field,  Lake  Charles,  La.; 
and  Ellington  Field,  Fort  Omaha,  Nebr.6  Buildings  for  30  nurses  were  con- 
structed at  the  Air  Service  Depot,  Garden  City,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  at 
Camp  Morrison,  Va.6  At  the  Middletown  Supply  Depot,  Middletown,  Pa., 
the  nurses  were  accomodated  in  a small  wing  of  the  hospital.13 

45269°-  -23 26 


402 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ENLISTED  MEN’S  BARRACKS. 

In  the  early  months  of  the  war  all  aviation  hospitals  were  designed  to 
accommodate  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the  Medical  Department  in  the  same 
building.3  Later,  when  it  was  necessary  to  increase  the  capacity  of  these 
hospitals,  separate  barracks  were  erected  for  the  men;  and  these  were  designed 
to  accommodate  30,  60,  and  200  men  each.8  The  type  of  30-men  capacity  was 
built  at  Brooks  Field,  San  Antonio,  Tex.;  Carlstrom  and  Dorr  Fields,  Arcadia, 
Calif.;  Eberts  Field,  Lonoke,  Ark.;  March  Field,  Riverside,  Calif.;  Mather 
Field,  Sacramento,  Calif.;  Payne  Field,  West  Point,  Miss.;  Souther  Field, 
Americus,  Ga. ; Taylor  Field,  Montgomery,  Ala.;  Barron  Field,  Fort  Worth, 
Tex.;  Call  Field,  Wichita  Falls,  Tex.;  Carruthers  Field,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.; 
Love  Field,  Dallas,  Tex.;  Park  Field,  Millington,  Tenn.;  Rich  Field,  Waco, 
Tex.;  Taliaferro  Field,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.;  Chanute  Field,  Rantoul,  111.;  Scot 


Fig.  128.— Enlisted  men’s  barracks,  Post  Hospital,  Barron  Field,  Texas. 


Field,  Belleville,  111.;  Selfridge  Field,  Mount  Clemens,  Mich.;  Hazelliurst 
Field,  Mineola,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.;  and  Camp  John  Wise.  San  Antonio,  Tex.6 

The  type  of  60-men  capacity  was  erected  at  Fort  Omaha,  Nebr.;  Post 
Field,  Fort  Sill,  Okla.;  and  Wilbur  Wright  Field,  Fairfield,  Ohio.6 

The  200-men  type  was  erected  at  the  Air  Service  depot,  Garden  City, 
Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  at  Camp  Morrison,  Va.6  At  each  place  a separate 
building  was  provided  as  mess  hall  and  kitchen.  At  Langley  Field,  A a.,  a 
special  barracks  for  50  men  was  constructed,  to  be  used  in  addition  as  a deten- 
tion barracks  for  new  arrivals.14  At  Gerstner  Field,  Lake  Charles,  La.,  a bar- 
racks plan  was  used,  which  represented  half  the  regulation  Department  of  Mili- 
tary Aeronautics  squadron  barracks.  This  accommodated  75  enlisted  men  of 
the  Medical  Department.15  At  Ellington  Field,  Houston,  Tex.,  the  enlisted  men  s 
barracks  was  incorporated  in  the  plan  for  enlarging  the  hospital.16  A special 
small  wing  for  enlisted  men  was  built  at  the  supply  depot,  Middleton,  Pa.,  and 
connected  by  corridor  with  the  hospital.17  At  Hazelliurst  Field,  Mineola, 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL. 


403 


Long  Island,  a wing  was  likewise  provided  to  accommodate  tlie  enlisted  person- 
nel of  the  Medical  Research  Laboratory  at  that  place.18 


Fig.  129.— Enlisted  men’s  barracks,  Post  Hospital,  Wilbur  Wright  Field,  Ohio. 


MORTUARIES. 

Separate  buildings  used  as  mortuaries  were  erected  at  the  following  avia- 
tion fields:2  Barron,  Brooks,  Call,  Carlstrom,  Carruthers,  Chanute,  Chapman, 
Dorr,  Eberts,  Ellington,  Gerstner,  Camp  John  Wise,  Love,  March,  Mather, 
Park,  Payne,  Post,  Rich,  Scott,  Selfridge,  Souther,  Taliaferro,  Taylor,  and 
Wilbur  Wright. 

MEDICAL  RESEARCH  LABORATORIES. 

Special  buildings  to  be  used  as  medical  research  laboratories  were  con- 
structed at  the  following  fields:  Barron,  Call,  Carlstrom,  Eberts,  Ellington, 


Fig.  130.— Medical  research  laboratory,  Rockwell  Field,  Calif. 


404 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Gerstner,  Kelly  No.  1,  Love,  March,  Park,  Payne,  Post,  Rich,  Rockwell,  and 
Selfridge.10 

STYLE  OF  CONSTRUCTION. 

All  hospital  buildings,  except  the  permanent  two-story  hospital  at  Rock- 
well Field,  were  of  one-story  type,  2 feet  off  the  ground,  built  on  wooden  posts 
without  masonry.  They  were  constructed  of  wood  throughout.  The  exterior 
walls  were  covered  with  sheathing  and  siding;  interior  walls  were  lined  with 
wood  wainscoting  with  wall  hoard  above  and  on  ceilings,  and  the  roofs  were 
covered  with  two-ply  prepared  rooting.  V entilators  were  of  metal,  and  windows 
and  porches  were  well  screened.  The  operating  room  was  painted  with  white 
enamel,  and  the  remainder  of  the  building,  both  inside  and  out,  was  painted 
white.  They  were  heated  by  steam,  with  a separate  heating  plant  for  each 
building.  Hot-water  plants  were  provided,  and  all  buildings  were  lighted  by 
electricity.2 

CONVALESCENT  HOSPITALS. 

From  the  earlier  experience  of  the  Allies,  and  that  of  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  our  Army  during  the  fall  and  winter  of  1917-18,  it  became  evident 
that  aviation  personnel  required  not  only  special  medical  supervision  to  prevent 
their  flying  when  physically  or  temporarily  unfit,  but,  in  addition,  places  other 
than  ordinary  hospitals  to  which  they  could  be  sent  for  recuperation.  At 
first  this  problem  was  solved  by  giving  convalescing  officers  and  others  short 
leaves,  designating  the  localities  in  which  they  were  to  be  spent.  Many  pa- 
triotic citizens  living  near  aviation  fields  opened  their  homes  to  the  men  for  week- 
end parties,  and  in  many  instances  for  longer  periods  of  time.  Flight  surgeons 
were  thus  able  to  see  that  men  who  had  become  stale  or  who  had  worries  ren- 
dering them  temporarily  unable  to  fly  were  given  short  periods  of  rest  at  these 
places.  This  plan,  however,  was  open  to  the  objection  that  while  the  aviators 
were  away  from  the  post  they  were  not  under  the  supervision  of  anyone  in 
authority;  and  while  in  the  main  the  results  of  this  policy  were  good,  there  were 
instances  when  flyers  took  advantage  of  this  freedom  from  military  supervision, 
did  not  take  proper  care  of  themselves,  and  returned  to  the  flying  schools 
without  the  anticipated  improvement.  This  led  to  the  assignment  of  special 
hospitals  for  the  care  of  such  cases.20 

The  Mary  Imogen  Bassett  Hospital,  then  nearing  completion  at  Coopers- 
town,  N.  Y.,  was  offered  the  Government  for  the  use  of  the  Air  Service.21 
The  offer  was  accepted  and  the  hospital  was  opened  for  patients  in 
November,  1918.  Not  many  fliers  from  the  United  States  flying  fields  were 
sent  to  this  hospital,  but  it  was  used  extensively  for  patients  returned  from  over- 
seas. No  cases  of  acute  illness  were  transferred  there.  It  was  only  during 
the  period  of  convalescence  in  base  and  general  hospitals,  when  it  was  found 
that  patients  belonging  to  the  Aviation  Service  did  not  require  confinement 
to  bed,  that  they  were  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Cooperstown. 

Another  station  in  the  nature  of  a rest  camp  was  established  at  Warmers, 
Hot  Springs,  Calif.  This  was  a substation  of  Rockwell  Field,  San  Diego,  as 
well  as  March  Field,  Riverside,  Calif.  Both  of  these  fields  sent  then’  convales- 
cent patients,  without  transfer,  to  this  hospital,  the  patients  being  merely  placed 
on  sick  report.  A comfortable  tent  camp  was  built  at  the  springs,  adjacent 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL. 


405 


to  a large  adobe  house  in  which  were  located  the  mess  hall  and  kitchen.  The 
camp  was  about  80  miles  east  of  San  Diego  at  an  elevation  of  4,000  feet  in  the 
mountains.  Near  by  was  a fine  landing  field,  and  most  of  the  transportation 
of  the  patients  from  San  Diego  and  Riverside  was  by  airplane.  10 

HOSPITAL  EQUIPMENT. 

A standard  50-bed  equipment  was  adopted  for  use  in  the  aviation  hospi- 
tals 23  and  the  method  of  securing  it  was  so  simplified  that  early  in  1918  it 
became  the  rule  to  rush  hospital  buildings  to  completion  ahead  of  other  groups 
at  flying  fields,  and  to  have  medical  personnel  and  equipment  on  the  field  and 
ready  for  the  arrival  of  the  first  troops.  Since  flying  activities  began  almost 
immediately  thereafter,  it  was  obvious  that  the  Medical  Department  strove 
to  be  ready  for  all  emergency  and  ordinary  needs. 


Fig.  131— Operating  room,  aviation  hospital. 

A standard  40-bed  equipment  was  at  first  furnished  the  smaller  hospitals;24 
and  when  the  single-unit  hospitals  were  enlarged  to  50  beds  each  this  equipment 
was  increased  accordingly.  It  thus  became  a simple  matter  to  set  in  motion 
the  machinery  needed  to  put  a new  hospital  in  order  for  its  first  patients. 
When  delays  occurred  they  were  due  to  rail  congestion,  which  was  overcome 
in  time,  and  it  is  not  believed  that  any  actual  suffering  resulted  from  the  few 
delays  experienced. 

As  the  flying  of  those  in  training  proceeded  and  accidents  occurred,  it 
became  apparent  that  there  was  destined  to  be  a heavy  drain  on  the  ambulance 
service  of  a flying  field,  for  crashes  occurred  at  some  distance  from  the  field  as 
frequently  as  they  did  on  the  landing  field  itself.  It  was  found  expedient, 
therefore,  to  add  wire  cutters,  axes,  and  fire  extinguishers  to  the  box  of  surgical 
dressings  usually  carried  in  the  ambulances.25 


406 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IX  THE  UXITED  STATES. 


Fig.  132. — Sterilizing  room,  aviation  hospital. 


Fig.  133. — Dispensary,  aviation  hospital. 


TYPES  OE  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL. 


407 


Fig.  134. — Physical  examining  room,  aviation  hospital. 


Fig.  135 — X-ray  room,  aviation  hospital. 


408 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IH  THE  UHITED  STATES. 


Fig.  136. — Low  oxygen  tension  test  room,  aviation  hospital. 


Fig.  137. — Kitchen  and  mess  hall,  aviation  hospital. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION-  HOSPITAL, 


409 


Fig.  138. — Toilet  room,  Post  Hospital,  Rockwell  Field,  Calif. 


Fig.  139.— Ambulaneeand  field  equipment. 


410 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Flying  fields  became  so  active  that  auxiliary  landing  fields  were  provided 
at  each  airdrome,  by  which  means  specialized  and  group  flying  were  accom- 
plished without  having  needlessly  to  congest  the  landing  facilities  on  the  single 
field  originally  laid  out.  This  led  to  a demand  for  additional  medical  personnel 
and  ambulances  so  that  each  auxiliary  field,  often  many  miles  distant,  could 
have  its  own  medical  officer  and  motor  ambulance  on  duty  while  flying  was  in 
progress. 

It  was  but  a step  to  the  improvement  of  this  emergency  service  by  devising 
an  airplane  ambulance  so  designed  as  to  carry  a recumbent  patient  securely 
strapped  in  his  litter  from  the  scene  of  accident  to  the  hospital. 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Bulletin  No..  46,  W.  D.,  August  15,  1917. 

(2)  Report  on  Hospitalization,  Air  Service,  by  Lieut.  Col.  S.M.  De  Loffre,  M.  C.  On  file,  Histori- 

cal Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(3)  Shown  on  plans  of  hospital.  On  file,  record  room,  office  of  Chief  of  Air  Sendee,  general  files, 

632  (Selfridge  Field). 

(4)  Extracts  from  report  of  sanitary  inspections  made  during  the  World  War.  On  file,  Record 

Room,  S.  G.  0.  721-1. 

(5)  Memorandum  from  Lieut.  Col.  Nelson  Gapen,  M.  C.,  to  Lieut.  Col.  G.  H.  Crabtree,  M.  C., 

November  13,  1917.  Subject:  Hospital  facilities  at  certain  flying  fields.  On  file,  chief 
surgeon’s  office,  Air  Service,  632  (general). 

(6)  Letter  from  Chief  Signal  Officer  to  The  Adjutant  General,  April  16,  1918;  and  indorsements 

thereon.  Subject:  Authority  for  construction  and  alterations  to  various  hospital  buildings. 
On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Service,  632  (general). 

(7)  Plans  on  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air-  Service. 

(8)  Shown  on  plans.  On  file,  record  room,  office  of  Chief  of  Air  Sendee,  632  (post  field!. 

(9)  Shown  on  plans.  On  file,  record  room,  office  of  Chief  of  Air  Sendee,  632  (Balloon  School. 

Arcadia,  Calif.). 

(10)  Letter  from  Col.  W.  F.  Lewis,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  26,  1919.  Subject 

Report  on  sanitary  inspection,  Rockwell  Field,  Calif.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721 
(Rockwell  Field)  B. 

(11)  Letter  from  Col.  G.  H.  Crabtree,  M.  C.,  to  Lieut.  Col.  S.  M.  De  Loffre,  M.  C.,  September  15. 

1918.  Subject:  Conditions  at  Mechanics’  Training  School,  St.  Paul,  Minn.  On  file,  chief 
surgeon’s  office,  Air  Service,  201  (De  Loffre,  S.  M.). 

(12)  Memorandum  from  Lieut.  Col.  S.  M.  De  Loffre,  M.  C.,  to  the  supply  section,  Department  of 

Military  Aeronautics,  November  19,  1918.  Subject:  Nurses’  building  at  Eberts  Field, 
Lonoke,  Ark.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Sendee,  622  (Lonoke,  Ark.). 

(13)  Third  indorsement  from  Air  Service  Division.  S.  G.  0. , to  the  surgeon.  Aviation  General  Supply 

Depot,  Middletown,  Pa.,  December  24,  1918.  Subject:  Quarters  for  nurses.  On  file, 
chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Service,  622  (Middletown,  Pa.). 

(14)  Memorandum  from  Capt.  George  A^oung,  jr. , Signal  Corps,  to  the  Supply  Division,  Aviation 

Section,  March  2,  1918.  Subject:  Detention  barracks  at  Langley  Field.  Plans  attached. 
On  file,  record  room,  office  of  Chief  of  Air  Service,  general  files,  632  (Langley  Field). 

(15)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  W.  F.  Lewis,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  29,  191S.  Subject: 

Report  of  sanitary  inspection,  Gerstner  Field,  Lake  Charles,  La.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  721  (Gerstner  Field)  B. 

(16)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  W.  F.  Lewis  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  30,  1919.  Subject: 

Report  of  sanitary  inspection,  Ellington  Field,  Tex.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721 
(Ellington  Field)  B. 

(17)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Post  Hospital,  Aviation  General  Supply  Depot,  Middletown.  Pa.,  to 

the  Air  Service  Division,  S.  G.  0.,  July  3,  1918.  Subject:  Dormitories  for  Medical  Detach- 
ment, this  station.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Sendee,  621  (Middletown,  Pa.). 

(18)  Shown  on  plans.  On  file,  record  room,  office,  Chief  of  Air  Sendee,  632  (Hazelhurst  Field!. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL. 


411 


(19)  Memorandum  from  Maj.  Edward  Burns,  supply  section,  office  of  Director  of  Military  Aero- 

nautics, to  Air  Service  Division,  S.  G.  0.,  September  24,  1918,  Subject:  Laboratories. 
On  file,  chief  surgeon's  office,  Air  Service,  632  (general). 

(20)  Memorandum  from  Chief  of  Operations  Section,  office  of  Director  of  Military  Aeronautics 

to  Lieutenant  Benham,  Air  Service,  September  16,  1918.  Subject:  Rest  camps  for 
aviators.  On  file,  record  room,  office,  Chief  of  Air  Service,  general  files,  632  B. 

(21)  Letter  from  Edward  S.  Clark,  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.,  to  chief  surgeon,  Aviation  Section,  May 

17,  1918.  Subject:  Offer  of  Mary  Imogen  Bassett  Hospital  for  care  of  sick  and  wounded  of 
the  Air  Service.  On  file,  record  room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Cooperstown,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(22)  Letter  from  the  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken, 

N.  L,  October  29,  1918.  Subject:  Exhausted  aviators,  returning  from  overseas.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Cooperstown,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(23)  List  of  standard  50-bed  equipment.  On  file,  chief  surgeon's  office,  Air  Service,  400. 

(24)  List  of  standard  40-bed  equipment.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Service,  400. 

(25)  Memorandum  from  chief  of  training,  Air  Division,  to  the  Medical  Division,  April  13,  1918. 

Subject:  Equipment  for  ambulances.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Service,  451.8 
(general). 


Table  21. — Consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  w ounded,  and  strength  of  personnel  at  United  States  Army  Aviation  Hospitals.1 


412 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


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Table  21. — Consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  strength  of  personnel  at  United  States  Army  Aviation  Hospitals — Continued. 


414 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


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CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  AIRPLANE  AMBULANCE. 


The  first  known  report  of  any  plans  to  transport  patients  by  airplane  was 
made  by  Capt.  George  H.  R.  Gosman,  Medical  Corps,  United  States  Army,  and 
Lieut.  A.  L.  Rhoades,  Coast  Artillery  Corps,  to  the  Surgeon  General  of  the 
Army  early  in  1910.  These  officers  had  constructed  a plane  at  Fort  Barrancas, 
Fla.,  the  first  flight  of  which  was  made  in  January,  1910.  Shortly  thereafter 
Captain  Gosman  brought  his  report  to  Washington  and  endeavored  to  obtain 
funds  from  the  War  Deaprtment  for  the  work  of  improving  upon  this  plane 
and  using  it  for  carrying  surgical  dressings  and  transporting  patients.  His 


Fig.  140 Trial  flight  of  the  Rhoades-Gosman  airplane,  January  26, 1910. 


mission  failed,  but  he  was  undoubtedly  the  first  to  point  out  the  great  possi- 
bilities of  the  airplane  for  this  purpose.1 

In  February,  1912,  in  France,  Doctor  Duchaiissoy  suggested  the  use  of  the 
airplane  ambulance.3  In  April  of  that  year  a proposal  that  our  Army  use 
the  airplane  ambulance  was  made  to  the  representatives  of  military  aviation, 
who  reported  to  the  Secretary  of  War  on  May  23,  1912.  So  far  as  known, 
nothing  came  of  this  recommendation.  However,  during  the  retreat  of  the 
Serbian  Army  in  November  and  December,  1915,  13  wounded  or  sick  were 
transported  80  to  200  kilometers.  This  was  an  emergency  measure,  and  no 
special  provision  was  made  by  the  modification  of  the  plane.  The  maneuver 
was  successful,  and  not  only  were  the  patients  safely  transported,  but  they 
escaped  otherwise  inevitable  capture. 

In  France,  during  the  World  War,  Doctor  Chassaing,  a member  of  the 
Chamber  of  Deputies,  succeeded  in  inducing  the  aviation  department  to  con- 
struct an  airplane  ambulance  designed  for  patients  in  a recumbent  position. 

416 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL  (AIRPLANE  AMBULANCE).  417 


The  airplane  was  first  tried  out  at  Villacoublav  in  September,  1917,  and  later 
on  the  Aisne  front.3 

In  the  United  States  Army  the  necessity  for  this  mode  of  transportation 
for  flyers  injured  in  crashes  became  prominent  soon  after  flying  fields  were 
established.  It  was  evident  that  an  airplane  ambulance  would  not  involve 
the  delay  and  discomfort  of  the  ordinary  ambulance  at  many  of  our  stations 
where  the  roads  were  poor  and  the  distance  great.  This  was  especially  true 
of  victims  of  airplane  crashes,  who,  while  in  a critical  condition,  frequently 
had  to  be  carried  long  distances  and  by  roundabout  roads  to  reach  a hospital. 
In  addition,  it  was  seen  that  a flying  ambulance  would  offer  the  means  of  get- 
ting a medical  officer  to  the  patient  quickly  and  in  some  instances  would  mean 
the  saving  of  life.  So  far  as  records  show,  the  first  Hying  field  to  use  the  air- 
plane in  transporting  medical  officers  to  the  site  of  crashes,  and  also  for  trans- 


Fig.  141.— Airplane  ambulance,  first  used  at  Gerstner  Field,  La.,  January  28,  1918. 

porting  patients,  was  Gerstner  Field,  Lake  Charles,  La.  This  station  was 
located  in  low  swampy  country  surrounded  by  many  bayous.  Crashes  occurred 
at  places  which  could  be  reached  by  no  transportation  except  the  airplane, 
consequently,  in  February,  1918,  the  commanding  officer  at  that  field  author- 
ized the  conversion  of  a JN-4  airplane  into  an  ambulance,  and  it  was  completed 
and  placed  in  commission  during  that  month.4  Two  officers  on  duty  at  the 
station  made  the  plans  and  supervised  the  construction  of  this  ambulance  at 
Gerstner  Field.  They  are  entitled  to  the  credit  for  first  transporting  patients 
in  an  airplane  ambulance  in  this  country.  One  of  them  in  his  report  states: 

Up  to  this  time,  while  we  were  constructing  the  airplane  ambulance,  we  used  ordinary  flying 
machines  to  carry  doctors  to  the  scene  of  accidents,  and  in  this  way  Major  Driver  was  able  to  save 
the  life  of  two  cadets.  In  one  case  a rib  punctured  the  lung,  and  in  one  case  he  arrived  in  time  to 
stop  what  would  have  been  a fatal  hemorrhage.  The  surgeon  had  an  emergency  kit  in  the  hospital 
ready  to  go  in  the  airplane  at  all  times,  and  the  medical  ofhcers  were  ready  to  fly  with  any  flyers 
in  any  machine  at  any  time  to  the  scene  of  the  accidents.  They  received  no  flying  pay,  and  their 
only  object  was  to  save  life  and  improve  the  service  by  rendering  such  help  as  possible  to  pilots,4 

45269°— 23 27 


418 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN’  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  practical  utility  of  the  airplane  ambulance  was  at  once  established; 
and,  based  on  the  reports  of  actual  results  at  Gerstner  Field,  the  Director  of 
the  Air  Service,  on  July  23,  1918,  directed  the  construction  of  airplane  ambu- 
lances at  all  flying  fields.5 

The  necessity  for  providing  prompt  medical  aid  at  the  site  of  crashes  was 
also  recognized  at  a very  early  date  at  Rockwell  Field,  San  Diego,  Calif.,  as 
is  shown  by  the  following  communication  from  the  surgeon  at  that  station  on 
February  12,  1918: 6 

Owing  to  the  size  of  the  flying  field  at  this  post,  sometimes  there  is  considerable  delay  before 
the  arrival  of  the  ambulance;  also,  because  accidents  occur  at  distant  landing  fields  which  may 
be  remote  from  medical  aid,  I have  this  day  improvised  a first-aid  pouch  that  can  be  put  in  an 
airplane. 

2.  When  an  accident  occurs,  I take  the  Hospital  Corps  pouch,  enter  an  airplane  that  is  always 
standing  ready,  and,  piloted  by  the  chief  of  the  training  department,  reach  the  scene  of  the  acci- 
dent in  a few  minutes,  render  such  aid  necessary  until  the  arrival  of  the  ambulance  and  assistant 
surgeon. 

3.  First  Lieutenants  Pope,  Kramer,  and  Brooks,  M.  R . C.,  have  volunteered  to  answer  these 
calls  in  my  absence  and  are  being  trained  in  such  duties. 

4.  This,  I think,  will  often  be  the  means  of  saving  lives. 

5.  Owing  to  the  urgency  of  the  situation,  I have  taken  this  liberty  without  first  consulting 
the  chief  surgeon  and  am  writing  to  ascertain  if  this  meets  your  approbation. 

Major  Ream  was  one  of  the  first  medical  officers  of  the  United  States 
Army  to  be  designated  as  a flight  surgeon.  He  was  the  first  flight  surgeon  to 
be  placed  on  a flying  status.  He  was  killed  in  an  airplane  crash  at  Eppingham, 
111.,  on  August  24,  1918,  while  on  duty  with  the  Middle  West  flying  tour. 
Ream  Field,  Houston,  Tex.,  tvas  named  in  his  honor  by  the  Director  of  Military 
Aeronautics  in  September,  1918. 7 

At  Ellington  Field,  Houston,  Tex.,  the  first  airplane  ambulance  was  com- 
missioned about  April  1,  1918,  having  been  constructed  on  the  plans  of  the 
first  airplane  ambulance  at  Gerstner  Field. s An  improved  type  was  soon 
designed  and  was  commissioned  on  July  6,  1918.  This  was  the  first  plane  to 
use  the  standard  United  States  Army  litter.  The  commanding  officer  of  the 
field  at  that  time  made  the  following  report  upon  the  work  of  the  airplane 
ambulance  at  that  station  :s 

The  first  airplane  ambulance  was  put  into  commission  at  Ellington  Field  about  April  1,  19 IS. 
This  ambulance  was  made  out  of  a JX-4D  with  a Curtis  OX-5  engine.  Later,  when  the  Signal 
Corps  at  San  Leon  started  operation,  this  airplane  ambulance  was  sent  to  San  Leon  and  a new 
airplane  ambulance  was  made  out  of  a JN-4H.  The  new  one  was  completed  and  put  into  com- 
mission about  July  6,  1918.  This  ambulance  was  used  a great  deal  at  Ellington  Field.  San 
Leon,  the  gunners’  school,  was  about  17  miles  from  the  main  field,  and  all  instruction  in  aerial 
gunnery  was  carried  on  at  San  Leon.  A great  number  of  crashes  occurred  at  San  Leon,  and  in 
each  instance  the  injured  flyers  were  transported  to  the  hospital  at  the  main  field  by  means  of 
the  airplane  ambulance.  By  bringing  the  men  up  in  an  airplane  ambulance  the  actual  time 
consumed  in  transportation  was  about  15  minutes.  Had  it  been  necessary  to  transport  these  men 
in  a motor  ambulance,  it  would  have  taken  an  hour  and  one-half.  Thus  it  was  plain  that  a great 
deal  of  time  and  possibly  lives  were  saved  by  using  the  airplane  ambulance. 

Several  instances  occurred  where  men  crashed  when  out  on  a cross-country  trip  at  distances 
varying  from  50  to  150  miles  from  the  field.  Upon  telephonic  notification  the  airplane  ambulance 
was  sent  to  the  scene  of  the  crash  and  the  injured  flyers  were  brought  in  with  ease  and  comfort: 
whereas,  to  have  brought  some  of  these  injured  men  in  by  motor  ambulance  would  have  meant 
their  death  from  shock  and  discomfort  because  of  the  seriousness  of  their  injuries.  One  particular 
instance  is  recalled  where  five  planes  crashed  in  a hurricane  at  Brenham,  Tex.  In  this  case  it 
would  have  taken  a motor  ambulance  at  least  a day  to  make  the  return  trip  over  very  bad  country 
roads;  whereas  the  two  injured  flyers  were  safely  in  bed  in  the  Ellington  Field  Hospital  two  hours 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL  (AIRPLANE  AMBULANCE).  419 

after  the  crash,  by  use  of  the  airplane  ambulance.  So  much  use  was  made  of  the  airplane  ambu- 
lance at  Ellington  Field  that  we  considered  it  as  necessary  to  have  the  airplane  ambulance  in 
condition  as  we  did  to  have  the  motor  ambulance  in  condition. 

The  surgeon  of  Ellington  Field  submitted  the  following  report  on  Septem- 
ber 30,  1918:  9 

Lieut.  C.  E.  suffered  a fracture  of  the  left  leg,  tibia  and  fibula,  and  contusion  of  the 

face  and  head,  following  an  airplane  crash  at  Brenham,  Tex.,  September  27,  1918.  lie  was  imme- 
diately taken  to  the  local  hospital,  where  splints  were  applied  to  the  leg  and  the  contusions  dressed. 

On  the  following  day,  ambulance  ship,  Curtis  II,  left  Ellington  Field  at  1.30  p.  m.,  with  pilot 
and  medical  officer,  and  arrived  at  Brenham  at  3.15  p.  m. , making  the  90  miles  in  1 hour  45  minutes, 
due  to  adverse  winds.  On  the  return  trip,  left  Brenham  at  5.50  p.  m.,  and  arrived  at  Ellington 
Field  at  6.45  p.  m.,  making  the  trip  in  55  minutes,  with  a favoring  wind. 

The  patient  stated  that  he  felt  the  take  off  and  landing  very  slightly.  The  trip  across  was 
very  smooth,  so  much  so  that  he  almost  went  to  sleep.  The  loading  and  unloading  did  not  bother 
him  at  all.  The  difference  between  the  ease  and  lack  of  jarring  in  the  ship  and  ambulance  carry- 
ing him  to  the  ship  was  very  marked. 

In  April,  1918,  the  surgeon  at  Gerstner  Field  became  interested  in  trans- 
porting patients  by  airplane  ambulance,  and  substituted  an  adjustable  reclining 


Fig.  142. — JN-4H  airplane  ambulance  approaching  scene  of  accident,  Ellington  Field. 


chair  for  the  litter,  in  order  that  the  patient  might  be  placed  either  in  a sitting 
or  reclining  position.4  This  device,  however,  did  not  prove  to  be  satisfactory. 

In  August,  1918,  the  surgeon  at  Eberts  Field,  Ark.,  devised  a very  useful 
form  of  litter  to  be  used  in  the  airplane  ambulance  at  his  station.  This  litter 
consisted  of  a frame,  made  of  iron  pipe,  about  6 feet  in  length,  constructed 
in  such  a way  that  each  leg  of  the  patient  had  a separate  frame  for  splinting 
purposes.  Canvas  was  laced  to  this  frame,  and  broad  canvas  straps  were 
provided  to  firmly  fix  all  parts  of  the  patient’s  body  to  the  litter.1 

An  article  on  the  “Ambulance  Airship”  wras  published  in  the  Annals  of 
Surgery  for  November,  1918. 10  The  drawings  and  plans  for  the  ambulance 
plane  described  bear  the  date  of  August  8,  1918.  These  plans  of  the  Mather 
Field  ambulance  are  practically  identical  with  those  for  a plane  constructed 
at  Eberts  Field  and  commissioned  July  6,  1918.  The  Ellington  Field  ambulance 
was  an  improvement  over  the  one  made  at  Gerstner  Field,  and  the  plans  for 
the  Ellington  Field  ambulance  were  sent  to  practically  all  air  service  stations. 
Ambulances  built  after  these  plans  were  constructed  in  the  summer  and  fall 
of  1918  at  Taylor,  Post,  Mather,  Rich,  and  Carruther  Fields,1 


420 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fig.  143.— JN-4H  airplane  ambulance.  Top  removed  from  fuselage;  litter  being  removed. 


Fig.  144.— JN-4H  airplane  ambulance.  Rendering  first  aid  to  patient,  Ellington  Field. 


Fig.  145. — JN-4H  airplane  ambulance.  Preparing  to  “load  patient,”  Ellington  Field. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL  (AIRPLANE  AMBULANCE).  421 

After  receiving  the  instructions  noted  above  from  the  Director  of  Air 
Service,  most  fields  rapidly  provided  airplanes  for  transporting  sick  and 
wounded.  Many  of  them  attempted  to  improve  upon  the  Gerstner  Field  and 
Ellington  Field  types,  developing  models  of  their  own,  until  all  flying  fields 
with  two  or  three  exceptions  were  equipped.  Ingenious  ideas  were  brought 
out  in  the  matter  of  modifying  planes  and  adapting  litters.  In  some  a modified 
Army  stretcher  was  used;  in  others  a Stokes  litter  in  various  modifications  was 
used.  In  most  cases  the  turtle  back  of  the  plane  was  removable,  permitting 
placing  the  patient  inside,  or  on  the  fuselage  from  above;  in  others  from  below; 
while  in  one  model  the  patient  was  placed  on  a coffin-shaped  litter  and  slid  into 
the  side  of  the  airplane  ambulance  similar  in  manner  to  sliding  the  door  of  a 
chest.  An  interesting  type  was  one  which  used  the  Stokes  Navy  litter.  The 
advantages  of  this  form  of  litter  were  recognized  and  emphasized  by  the  flight 
surgeon  at  Rockwell  Field,  in  the  summer  of  19 IS.  In  the  airplane  ambulance 


Fig.  146. — JN-4H  airplane  ambulance.  Placing  patient  in  fuselage,  Ellington  Field. 


which  he  devised,  the  bottom  of  the  fuselage  was  lowered  at  one  end,  making 
an  inclined  plane  along  which  the  Stokes  litter  slid,  manipulated  by  cables 
and  a small  windlass.  After  the  litter  was  lowered  and  winched  up  the  incline 
into  place,  it  was  raised  by  another  winch  to  its  final  position,  flush  with  the 
bottom  of  the  fuselage,  and  locked  into  place.  By  using  this  form  of  litter  the 
patient  could  be  so  securely  fastened  as  to  permit  handling  both  patient  and 
litter  as  one  object.  The  Stokes  Navy  litter  appeared  to  be  the  best  t}Tpe 
devised  for  the  handling  of  a wounded  man,  particularly  the  grave  cases  usually 
resulting  from  an  airplane  crash.  The  patient  once  securely  fastened  in  a Stokes 
litter  did  not  have  to  suffer  disturbance  until  placed  on  the  operating  table 
or  in  his  hospital  bed.  This  litter  therefore  was  adopted  as  the  standard  type 
at  all  flying  fields  for  the  use  of  airplane  ambulances.  The  method,  however, 
of  drawing  this  litter  up  an  inclined  plane  into  the  fuselage  of  the  airplane 
was  too  complicated  for  practical  use  and  was  abandoned.1 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


422 


Fig.  147. — JN-5II  airplane  ambulance,  Ellington  Field,  showing  empty  and  loadod  Iittor. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL  (AIRPLANE  AMBULANCE).  423 


Fig.  148.— 'Winching  Stokes  litter  into  place  in  the  Rockwell  Field  airplane  ambulance. 


Fig.  149. — Final  position  of  litter,  Rockwell  Field  airplane  ambulance. 


424 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


TORES  LITTER  FOR  DH  4 BUJJ. 


Fig.  150. — Stokes  litter  for  DH-4  airplane  ambulance. 


Fig.  151.— Stokes  litter  in  place  in  a DH-4  airplane  ambulance. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS AVIATION  HOSPITAL  (AIRPLANE  AMBULANCE).  425 

From  what  has  been  stated  above  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  the  airplane 
ambulance  was  extensively  used  at  flying  fields  in  the  United  States  during  the 
World  War.  It  is  believed  that  no  other  country  used  it  to  any  extent  during 
the  war,  since  there  is  little  record  in  the  literature  outside  of  what  has  been 
mentioned  herein. 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Report  on  airplane  ambulance,  by  Col.  A.  E.  Truby,  M.  C.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office, 

Air  Service,  20  (Truby,  A.  E.). 

(2)  Duchaiissoy,  Blanchard,  R.:  Le  Transport  des  blesses  en  Aeroplane.  Medicine , 191G-1917, 

Paris,  xxi,  53-55. 

(3)  Letter  from  Chief,  Military  Intelligence  Branch,  Chief  of  Staff,  to  Col.  L.  P.  Williamson, 

M.  C.,  War  College,  May  1,  1918.  Subject:  Ambulance  airplane.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s 
office,  Air-  Sendee,  451.8  (general). 

(4)  Letter  from  Capt.  Wm.  C.  Ocker,  Air  Sendee,  to  the  chief  surgeon,  Air  Sendee,  March  21, 

1921.  Subject:  First  airplane  ambulance  in  the  United  States.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s 
office,  Air  Sendee,  451.8. 

(5)  Letter  from  the  Director  of  Military  Aeronautics  to  commanding  officers  of  flying  fields, 

July  23,  1918.  Subject:  Ambulance  plane.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Sendee, 
452.1  (ambulance  planes). 

(6)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Rockwell  Field,  San  Diego,  Calif.,  to  the  chief  surgeon.  Aviation 

Section,  Signal  Corps,  February  12,  1918.  Subject:  Attending  accidents  by  airplane. 
On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  office,  Air  Service,  201  (Ream,  W.  R.). 

(7)  Office  memorandum  No.  113,  Office  of  the  Director  of  Military  Aeronautics:  September  23, 

1918.  Subject:  Names  of  flying  fields.  On  file,  record  room,  office  of  Chief  of  Air  Service, 
201  (Ream,  W.  R.). 

(8)  Memorandum  from  Maj.  W.  H.  Frank,  Air  Service,  to  chief  surgeon,  Air  Service,  March  16, 

1921.  Subject:  First  airplane  ambulance  at  Ellington  Field.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s 
office,  Air  Service,  451.8. 

(9)  Letter  from  post  surgeon,  Ellington  Field,  Houston,  Tex.,  to  Air  Sendee  Division,  S.  G.  0., 

September  30,  1918.  Subject:  Report  on  ambulance  ship.  On  file,  chief  surgeon’s  offices 
Air  Sendee,  451.8  (Houston,  Tex.). 

(10)  Sharpe,  N.  W.:  The  Ambulance  Airship,  Annals  of  Surgery,  lxviii,  No.  5.  November, 

1918. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 

As  will  be  seen  in  more  detail  in  that  part  of  the  history  which  deals  with 
ports  of  embarkation,  troops  were  shipped  or  disembarked  at  11  different 
ports  in  the  United  States  and  Canada.  While  this  was  so,  in  ports  other 
than  New  York  and  Newport  News  no  special  port  hospitals  were  maintained. 
The  problem  of  taking  care  of  overseas  sick  and  wounded  need  be  considered 
at  the  two  ports  of  the  first  class  only,  New  York  and  NewportNews,  for  no  such 
sick  and  wounded  were  transferred  from  abroad  to  other  ports.  At  minor 
ports  the  casual  sick  and  injured,  of  troops  destined  for  overseas  service,  as 
well  as  of  the  permanent  personnel  at  the  ports,  were  sent  to  local  hospitals 
(Army  hospitals  whenever  practicable) ; and  the  same  disposition  was  made  of 
the  casual  sick  of  returning  troops.  At  Charleston,  S.  C.,  casual  patients, 
homeward  bound,  were  evacuated  to  the  United  States  Naval  Hospital  at  that 
place.1 

When  our  country  entered  the  World  War  plans  for  great  ports  of 
embarkation  did  not  exist.  It  is  not  to  lie  wondered  at,  then,  that  the  Medical 


PORT  HOSPITALS 


Fig.  152. 

Department  plans  were  nebulous  likewise.  Furthermore,  throughout  the  war, 
no  one  was  prepared  sufficiently  far  in  advance  to  permit  the  provision  of 
hospitals;  to  inform  the  surgeons  of  ports  regarding  the  number  of  troops  to 
be  embarked  month  by  month;  or,  even  after  the  armistice,  to  specify  the 
number  of  overseas  sick  and  wounded  to  be  shipped  back.  In  consequence, 
the  port  surgeons  had  to  estimate  both  the  numbers  of  embarking  troops  and 
the  probable  number  of  returning  patients.  It  might  be  thought  that  they 
would  have  been  on  firmer  ground,  so  far  as  the  permanent  provision  of  the 
ports  was  concerned,  but  these  varied  widely  at  different  times.  Substandard 
men  were  sent  to  the  ports  with  commands  under  orders  for  overseas.  Instruc- 
tions were  existent  which  should  have  limited  tins  condition  to  a relatively 
minor  degree,  but  once  at  the  ports  they  had,  of  necessity,  to  be  culled  from 
the  physically  acceptable,  and  to  be  placed  in  the  port  hospitals,  and  no  sys- 
426 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS- — EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  427 

tem  existed  which  would  constantly  and  promptly  free  the  port  hospitals  of 
these  physically  unlit  men.  Literally  thousands  of  such  men  demanded  hos- 
pital care  from  the  port  medical  departments.  The  fact  that  the  port  surgeons 
at  the  major  ports  estimated  so  closely  what  they  would  need  in  the  way  of 
hospital  accommodation  so  that,  except  at  first,  all  patients  could  be  well  taken 
care  of  even  at  the  maximum  number  with  no  undue  extravagance  in  hospitali- 
zation, is  an  eloquent  testimonial  to  the  sound  judgment  of  the  officers  selected 
for  these  difficult  duties. 

At  both  New  York  and  Newport  News  those  in  local  charge  experienced 
considerable  difficulty  in  convincing  higher  authorities  of  the  needs  as  regards 
hospitals. 

HOSPITAL  SITUATION  AT  PORT  OF  NEW  YORK. 

At  New  York  the  first  hospital  to  be  made  available  for  Army  use  was 
St.  Mary’s  Hospital,  Hoboken.  Patients  in  limited  numbers  were  admitted  to 
this  hospital  as  early  as  June,  1917. 2 On  September  18,  1917,  it  became  known 
as  Hospital,  Port  of  Embarkation,  and  200  beds  were  turned  over  to  the  Army; 3 
but  it  was  not  until  July  1,  1918,  that  the  entire  hospital,  with  its  650  beds, 
was  taken  over  by  the  port  surgeon.4  During  October,  1917,  arrangements 
were  made  with  certain  civilian  hospitals,  Englewood  Hospital,  Englewood, 
N.  J.,  North  Hudson  Hospital  at  Weehawken,  Jersey  City,  Isolation  Christ 
Hospital  and  St.  Francis  Hospital  in  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  for  the  care  of  a limited 
number  of  Army  patients,  but  the  aggregate  number  of  all  these  was  less  than 
200  beds,  and  the  arrangement  was  most  unsatisfactory.3  Operative  cases 
were  made  eligible  for  admission  to  General  Hospital  No.  1,  Williams  Bridge, 
N.  Y.,  then  a 500-bed  hospital,  in  October,  1917.5  Briefly,  then,  there  were 
approximately  400  beds  available  for  the  Port  of  New  York  on  October,  1917. 
These  400  beds  had  to  suffice  for  the  sick  of  the  permanent  cadre  of  the  port, 
and  for  those  detained  on  preembarkation  inspection  of  troops  en  route  to 
Europe.  During  October,  1917,  the  number  detained  was  31 1 .3 

On  November  15,  1917,  the  War  Department,  predicating  its  action  upon 
cabled  recommendations  from  General  Pershing,  that  increased  effort  be  made 
to  eliminate  venereal  diseases  from  troops  embarking  for  Europe,  issued  orders 
directing  a preembarkation  physical  examination  of  all  troops  for  the  detec- 
tion of  venereal  disease.6  Those  detained  on  tins  inspection  were  sent  to  St. 
Mary’s  Hospital  until  such  time  as  adequate  provision  could  be  made  for  their 
disposition.  Meanwhile,  negotiations  were  entered  into  with  the  New  York 
State  quarantine  authorities  for  the  use,  by  the  Army,  of  hospital  space  in 
their  quarantine  hospital  at  Hoffman  Island,7  as  this  was  the  only  civilian 
hospital  in  New  York  City  which  would  accept  venereal  cases.  Arrangements 
were  effected  whereby  approximately  700  beds  were  thus  made  available,  the 
institution  being  designated  as  United  States  Army  Hospital,  Hoffman  Island; 8 
later,  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3.9  The  buildings  of  this  hospital  were  old 
and  the  plumbing  and  heating  arrangements  left  much  to  be  desired;  however, 
the  location  was  ideal  for  isolation,  and  an  acute  situation  was  very  materially 
relieved  by  its  acquisition.10 

At  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,  in  the  fall  of  1917,  the  41st  Division  was 
quartered  in  tents,  and  a camp  hospital,  also  under  canvas,  was  maintained  for 
the  sick  of  that  organization.11  The  42nd  Division,  which  had  incurred  a con- 


428 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


siderable  incidence  of  contagious  disease,  had  just  vacated  Camp  Mills, 
leaving  behind  the  potential  seeds  for  disaster.  With  the  advent  of  cold 
weather  trouble  of  a serious  nature  began.  Disease  in  epidemic  form  made 
its  appearance  (scarlet  fever,  diphtheria,  cerebrospinal  meningitis,  measles, 
bronchitis,  and  pneumonia)  and  the  camp  hospital,  with  about  900  beds,  was 
soon  filled  to  overflowing.  The  water  pipes,  which  had  been  laid  on  the  sur- 
face, were  frozen,  and  the  means  of  heating  tents  were  lacking.12 

Until  this  time,  War  Department  plans  contemplated  control  by  the 
Surgeon  General  of  all  hospitals  in  the  vicinity  of  the  port  of  New  York,  the 
port  surgeon’s  jurisdiction  being  limited  to  the  supervision  of  embarkation  and 
the  piers.  On  November  23,  1917,  following  a conference  between  a repre- 
sentative of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  and  the  port  surgeon,  New  York, 
War  Department  instructions  were  issued  charging  the  port  surgeon  with  the 
responsibility  for  the  distribution  of  all  sick  in  New  York  and  its  vicinity.13 
On  the  same  date  the  port  surgeon  received  telegraphic  instructions  from  the 
Surgeon  General  to  relieve  the  distress  at  Camp  Mills.14  The  tent  hospital  at 
Camp  Mills  was  filled  to  overflowing  with  sick,  a very  considerable  proportion 
of  whom  were  contagious  cases.  The  capacity  of  General  Hospital  No.  1, 
with  its  500  beds,  was  soon  exhausted,  and  relief  had  to  be  sought  in  civilian 
hospitals.3  After  considerable  difficulty,  bed  space  was  obtained  in  the  fol- 
lowing institutions: 15  Bellevue,  Willard  Parker,  Greenpoint,  Rockefeller,  St. 
Vincent’s,  and  Mount  Sinai  Hospitals  in  New  York,  and  Nassau  County 
Hospital,  Long  Island.  A serious  obstacle  to  the  evacuation  of  sick  from 
Camp  Mills  was  encountered  when  the  railroads  refused  to  transport  conta- 
gious-disease patients;  accordingly,  it  became  necessary  to  transfer  such 
patients  by  ambulance,  obtained  from  the  Red  Cross  and  the  Women’s  Motor 
Corps  of  America,  to  New  York,  a distance  of  approximately  35  miles,  through 
deep  snow  in  almost  zero  weather.16 

Meanwhile  barracks  construction  was  going  on  at  Camp  Merritt,  N.  J., 
and  several  organizations  (501st,  502nd,  and  503rd  Engineers)  were  sent  there 
for  equipment  in  October.  It  was  not  until  November,  1917,  however,  that  em- 
barkation troops  began  passing  through  this  camp  in  considerable  numbers. 
Before  the  Camp  Mills  situation  had  been  relieved  epidemic  diseases  similar  to 
those  which  had  appeared  at  Camp  Mills  erupted  at  Camp  Merritt,  and  here 
again  the  port  surgeon  was  confronted  with  the  problem  of  inadequate  bed 
space.3  Prior  to  this  time  the  sick  from  Camp  Merritt  had  been  sent  to  St. 
Mary’s  Hospital  at  Hoboken  and  to  other  civilian  institutions  in  Hoboken  and 
Jersey  City,  where  a few  beds  had  been  made  available.  These  were  soon 
filled,  and  on  December  20,  1917,  the  isolation  ward  of  the  base  hospital  at 
Camp  Merritt  was  opened  17  and  was  filled  on  the  same  day.  At  the  Secaucus 
Hospital  suitable  space  was  obtained  for  patients  with  contagious  diseases,  12S 
cases  of  mumps  being  transferred  to  that  hospital  on  December  IS.3 

The  Secaucus  Hospital  was  later  (January  9,  191S)  taken  over  by  the  Army 
and  operated  as  a contagious-disease  hospital  under  the  direction  of  the  port 
surgeon.18  No  hospital  train  being  available  at  that  time,3  the  transfer  of  con- 
tagious cases  from  Camp  Merritt  was  made  by  ambulances  and  by  a hospital 
car  rented  from  the  Erie  Railroad. 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Merritt  was  officially  opened  January  9,  191S, 
with  a bed  capacity  of  416. 19  These  beds  were  rapidly  filled,  but  they  mate- 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION"  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  429 

rially  relieved  the  situation.  On  May  1,  1918,  this  hospital  was  increased  in 
bed  capacity  to  1,200,  and  eventually  (November  1,  1918)  it  became  a 2,500- 
bed  hospital.20 

On  December  23,  1917,  Hospital  Train  No.  1 was  sent  to  the  New  York 
port 21  and  pressed  into  service  for  the  relief  of  the  overcrowded  situation  at 
the  Camp  Merritt  hospital,  and  patients  were  evacuated  thence  to  general 
hospitals  at  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y.,  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore, 
and  Walter  Reed,  Washington. 

At  all  times  the  War  Department  was  slow  in  being  convinced  of  the  needs 
of  New  York  in  regard  to  hospitals,  and  between  the  date  of  the  approval  for 
more  hospitals  and  the  time  when  these  hospitals  were  actually  needed  for 
use  a sufficiently  lengthy  period  was  not  allowed  for  the  construction  work 
required  to  put  the  buildings  in  order  for  occupancy.  It  was  therefore  neces- 
sary in  the  emergency  to  place  patients  in  hospitals  before  the  facilities  for 
their  proper  care  could  be  completely  provided.  In  one  hospital  in  particular 
the  messing  arrangements  and  appliances  were  in  such  a state  of  incompletion 
that  it  was  immeasurably  difficult  to  have  cooked  and  served  food  sufficient 
for  the  wants  of  the  patients.  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  at  the  Greenhut 
Building,  New  York  City,  which  was  made  available  for  patients  on  November 
23,  1918,  and  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5,  at  the  Grand  Central  Palace,  New 
York  City,  which  opened  on  December  22,  1918,  furnish  splendid  examples 
of  what  may  be  accomplished  in  the  way  of  adapting  modern  commercial 
buildings  to  hospital  use. 

The  hospitals  at  the  port  of  New  York,  with  the  date  of  opening  of  each, 
were  as  follows:22 

Date  of  opening. 


Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Hoboken,  N.  J July  1,  1918.“ 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Secaueus,  N.  J Dec.  18,  1917. 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Hoffman  Island,  N.  Y Nov.  1,  1917. 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4 (Polyclinic  Hospital^  New  York,  N.  Y Oct.  20,  1918. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y Mar.  8,  1918. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y Aug.  2,  1918. 6 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 (Greenhut  Building),  New  York,  N.  Y Aug.  2,  1918. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  Long  Beach,  Long  Island,  N.  Y Sept.  8,  1918. 0 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5 (Grand  Central  Palace),  New  York,  N.  Y Jan.,  1919. 

Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1,  New  York,  N.  Y Aug.  24,  1918. 

General  Hospital  No.  1,  New  York,  N.  Y Sept.  1,  1918. d 

Nurses’  mobilization  station,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y June  15,  1917. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,  N.  Y Dec.  — , 1918. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Merritt,  N.  J Jan.  9,  1918. 


HOSPITAL  SITUATION  AT  PORT  OF  NEWPORT  NEWS,  VA. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  war,  conditions,  so  far  as  hospitals  were  concerned, 
were  no  better  at  the  port  of  Newport  News  than  were  the  conditions  described 
above  at  the  port  of  New  York. 

One  of  the  first  questions  taken  under  consideration  by  the  port  surgeon 
was  the  location  and  the  construction  of  a hospital  for  the  port.  At  the  time 
of  the  selection  of  Newport  News  for  a port  of  embarkation  the  medical  mem- 

a Partly  used  by  the  Army  from  June  9,  1917. 

b Operated  as  clearing  hospital,  Fox  Hills,  from  May  10,  1918. 

c Date  of  designation.  This  hospital  was  not  actually  used  as  a debarkation  hospital. 

<*  Date  it  was  placed  under  the  control  of  the  port  surgeon. 


430 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ber  of  the  board  appointed  for  the  selection  of  the  port  advised  that  a hospital 
be  constructed  on  vacant  land  on  the  water  front,  known  as  the  Casino.  This 
land  was  owned  by  the  Old  Dominion  Land  Co.  and  was  held  at  a high  rental, 
$15,000  a year.  In  the  opinion  of  the  port  surgeon  this  site  for  a hospital  would 
have  been  excellent  from  many  standpoints,  and  its  selection  as  such  was  ap- 
proved by  him.  However,  its  selection  was  disapproved  by  the  Secretary  of 
War  personally  at  an  inspection  which  he  made  of  the  port  August  1,  1917. 
Another  site  for  a hospital  on  leased  land  at  the  north  end  of  the  town  was  sug- 
gested; but  placing  a hospital  at  this  point  would  have  caused  its  separation  by 
a considerable  distance  from  the  largest  camp  of  the  port,  Camp  Stuart.  A 
tract  of  land  at  Camp  Stuart  was  ultimately  chosen  as  a site  for  an  embar- 
kation hospital,  and  a hospital  of  200  beds  was  planned.23 

On  August  22,  1917,  the  port  surgeon  addressed  a letter  to  The  Adjutant 
General,  in  which  he  reported  the  fact  that  16.7  acres,  at  Camp  Stuart,  had  been 
set  aside  as  a site  for  a hospital,  and  indicated  the  length  of  time  requisite  to 
perfect  a smoothly  operating  organization  for  the  care  of  the  sick.  He  strongly 
recommended  that  immediate  steps  be  taken  to  build  a hospital  and  start  its 
organization.  This  letter  was  conveyed  to  Washington  by  the  commanding 
general  of  the  port,  personally,  and  indorsed  back  to  the  port  surgeon,  with  the 
inclusive  statement  that  a hospital  of  200-beds  capacity  would  be  constructed 
on  the  selected  site  at  Camp  Stuart.24 

On  August  23,  1917,  a resident  physician  of  Newport  News  submitted  a 
proposition  to  rent  his  private  hospital  of  120  beds  to  the  Government  for  a 
yearly  rental  of  $10,000.25  This  was  disapproved  by  the  Surgeon  General. 

The  number  of  troops  at  the  port  of  embarkation  utilized  for  guard  duty 
and  various  other  purposes  was  now  gradually  being  increased.  No  hospital 
facilities  for  the  sick  among  these  men  were  available,  except  at  Fort  Monroe. 
Sick  call  was  held  in  the  attending  surgeon's  office,  Newport  News,  and  at  other 
places  when  required,  and  patients  were  transported  by  motor  ambulances, 
and  occasionally  by  trolley  car,  to  the  hospital  at  Fort  Monroe.  Since  the  gar- 
rison at  Fort  Monroe  was  likewise  increasing  in  strength,  it  required  greater 
hospital  facilities;  in  consequence,  the  only  hospital  available  to  the  troops  at 
Newport  News  became  overcrowded  about  November  1,  1917. 26  Transporta- 
tion of  patients  to  Fort  Monroe  was  effected  by  road,  which  was  in  wretched 
condition  and  proved  a severely  trying  experience  for  the  sick.26 

Many  of  the  negro  stevedores,  assigned  to  the  Stevedore  Regiment  at  the 
port,  were  taken  sick;  for  them,  space  was  rented  in  the  Whittaker  Memorial 
Hospital,  Newport  News.  About  40  beds  were  thus  made  available.26 

In  spite  of  frequent  personal  and  official  requests,  made  by  the  port  surgeon, 
for  hospital  facilities,  and  emphatic  statements  of  the  importance  of  early 
completion  of  the  embarkation  hospital,  construction  work  was  considerably 
delayed.27  This  delay  resulted  from  a variety  of  causes,  but  principally  from 
difficulty  in  securing  material  and  labor  and  the  necessity  for  rushing  other 
work.  In  the  meantime,  Camp  Hill,  at  the  north  end  of  Newport  News,  had 
been  completed  and  was  filled  with  troops;  many  stevedores  were  encamped  to 
the  north  of  Camp  Hill,  and  Camp  Stuart  was  about  to  be  filled  with  troops. 
Two  small  infirmary  buildings  at  Camp  Hill,  having  a capacity  of  about  50 
patients,  were  operated  as  hospitals.28  Fort  Monroe  was  unable  to  accept 
further  admissions  from  Newport  News  after  November  1.  1917. 26 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  431 


Fig.  153. 


432 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


About  November  10,  1917,  the  port  surgeon  succeeded  in  securing  the 
equipment  of  two  company  groups  of  barrack  buildings,  for  hospital  purposes, 
at  Camp  Stuart.  Medical  property  had  already  been  secured  for  equipping 
200  beds;  13  medical  officers,  75  enlisted  men,  Medical  Department,  were 
assigned,  and  by  the  evening  of  the  13th,  100  patients  were  being  treated.23 
The  buildings  which  were  assigned  to  the  Medical  Department  were  the  ordinary 
temporary  barrack  type,  without  water  or  sewer  connections,  and  accommo- 
dated 20  patients  on  each  floor.  An  operating  room  was  established  in  one  of  the 
wardrooms  wherein  emergency  surgical  work  was  performed  as  required.23 
This  extemporized  hospital  was  gradually  augmented  until  it  held  over  600 
patients.  Shortly  before  January  1,  1918,  plans  for  the  embarkation  hospital, 
at  Camp  Stuart,  had  been  changed,  increasing  its  bed  capacity  from  200  to  500, 
various  additions  having  been  requested  meanwhile.29  All  this  time,  too,  on 
account  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  hospital,  whenever  patients  temporarily 
increased  in  number  beyond  the  capacity  of  the  hospital,  these  barracks  had 
to  be  used  for  hospital  purposes.  This  state  of  affairs  was  true  of  Camp  Hill 
as  well  as  Camp  Stuart.  This  forced  use  of  barracks,  though  absolutely  essen- 
tial, was  most  unsatisfactory  from  every  standpoint.  Finally,  in  the  latter 
part  of  March,  1918,  a battalion  block  of  barracks,  having  a troop  capacity  of 
1,000,  was  turned  over  to  the  Medical  Department  for  hospital  use.30  This 
block  was  so  near  the  hospital  proper  that  it  was  quite  as  useful  from  that  point 
of  view  as  if  it  had  been  originally  constructed  for  hospital  purposes.  While  it 
was  never  used  for  patients,  except  convalescents,  its  component  barracks  housed 
nearly  all  enlisted  hospital  personnel,  as  well  as  convalescents  from  time  to  time 
as  necessary.  The  enlisted  personnel  of  the  Medical  Department  being  removed 
from  the  hospital  proper  and  quartered  in  the  barracks  liberated  their  quarters 
at  the  hospital  which  it  was  then  possible  to  convert  into  wards.  After  April 
1,  1918,  barracks  were  never  again  used  for  seriously  sick,  even  during  the 
epidemic  of  influenza  in  the  fall  of  1918.  Dating  from  April  1,  then,  hospitali- 
zation at  the  port  of  Newport  News  was  for  the  first  time  on  a satisfactory 
basis.  A great  deal  remained  to  be  done,  it  is  true,  but  subsequent  to  that  time 
available  hospital  beds  always  outnumbered  patients  instead  of  the  reverse, 
which  had  formerly  been  the  case. 

Local  conditions  at  Newport  News  differed  decidedly  from  those  which 
obtained  at  its  larger,  sister  port,  from  the  hospital  standpoint  as  well  as  from 
every  military  standpoint  involving  its  use  as  a port:  No  buildings  were  available 
either  in  the  city  of  Newport  News  or  its  vicinity,  for  use  as  hospitals;  nor  were 
there  civilian  hospitals  sufficiently  large  to  warrant  taking  them  over  for  Army 
use.  The  Hotel  Chamberlain  at  Fort  Monroe  received  some  consideration  as 
a possible  hospital ; but  while  this  large  building  would  have  fulfilled  this  pur- 
pose very  well,  the  port  commander  opposed  using  it  because  of  its  exposed 
site.  The  only  other  possibility  was  the  beautiful  Soldiers’  Home,  at  Hampton, 
Va.,  which  was  ultimately  secured,  but  only  after  authorization  by  a congres- 
sional enactment,  and  not  until  immediately  prior  to  the  armistice.31 

While  measures  for  securing  the  Soldiers’  Home  were  being  pursued,  and 
during  the  summer  of  1918,  it  was  necessary  to  go  to  Richmond,  Va.,  85  miles 
distant,  to  obtain  the  nearest  satisfactory  building  convertible  to  hospital 
use.32  In  this  connection,  it  should  be  stated  that  the  peninsula,  upon  which 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  433 

Newport  News  is  located,  is  a swamp,  the  only  high  ground  of  which  is  near 
Newport  News.  Extensive  filling  was  required  even  at  the  Embarkation  Hos- 
pital, and  further  hospital  construction  at  the  port  would  have  involved  budding 
in  a swamp.  Furthermore,  there  were  too  many  activities  already  in  operation 
on  the  peninsula,  and  on  the  Norfolk  shore.  Conditions  in  these  respects  were 
no  better  on  the  Norfolk  shore  than  at  Newport  News. 

To  secure  adjacent  hospital  facilities,  in  the  face  of  all  these  almost  insur- 
mountable difficulties,  one  other  possibility  presented  itself:  This  was  taking 
over  Morrison  Aviation  Camp  in  its  entirety  for  a hospital  of  approximately 
5,000  beds.33  Because  of  the  armistice  this  project  was  not  carried  to  a point 
of  completion. 

DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN  PORT  AND  OTHER  MILITARY  HOSPITALS. 

The  hospitals  at  both  New  York  and  Newport  News  formed  groups,  in  this 
sense  being  more  like  the  hospital  centers  in  France,  than  base  or  general 
hospitals  in  the  United  States,  where  each  operated  independently.  In  order 
that  each  port  hospital  might  play  its  proper  part  in  group  action,  the  port 
surgeons  exercised  direct  control  over  them  for  the  purpose  of  coordinating 
their  work.  Like  all  activities  in  a port  of  embarkation,  all  the  hospitals 
connected  therewith  operated  constantly  under  high  pressure;  instead  of  fol- 
lowing the  more  or  less  routine  of  the  ordinary  home  base  or  general  hospital, 
port  hospitals  were  so  organized  and  administered  as  to  meet  totally  unexpected 
demands  at  any  and  all  times.  Intended,  as  they  were,  mainly  for  temporary 
care  rather  than  definitive  treatment  of  patients,  and  thus  involving  constant 
and  rapid  changes,  the  administrative  rather  than  the  professional  side  of  the 
hospital  was  emphasized.  In  respect  to  the  patients  culled  from  troops  de- 
parting for  overseas,  the  administrative  duties  of  the  hospitals,  in  their  connec- 
tion with  these  physically  unfit,  were  emphasized.  They  must  be  cared  for 
and  then  properly  safeguarded  no  matter  how  they  came  to  hospital.  Many 
were  admitted  to  hospital  for  conditions  which  were  temporarily  disabling, 
necessitating  their  return  in  the  greatest  possible  number  to  their  respective 
commands  prior  to  the  time  for  sailing,  at  the  same  time  exercising  the  utmost 
care  to  eliminate  any  who  might  prove  a burden  or  a source  of  danger  through 
contagion.  In  the  hurry  of  departure,  when  there  was  a tendency  on  the  part 
of  the  troops  to  forget  or  disregard  every  regulation,  it  was  felt  that  the  admin- 
istrative functioning  of  the  port  hospitals  could  not  be  too  strongly  emphasized. 

When  the  current  of  the  sick  and  injured  was  reversed,  and  they  began 
to  return  from  overseas,  the  administrative  problems  were  more  difficult. 
There  were  missing  records  to  be  replaced,  and  the  disposition  of  cases  by 
classification  and  their  transfer  to  inland  hospitals  to  be  accomplished.  All  the 
many  records,  having  to  do  with  the  payment  of  the  patients,  had  to  be  made 
out,  and  payment  actually  made.  Following  this,  the  patients  were  gone  over 
again  carefully  to  prevent  sending  away  any  unfit  to  make  the  proposed  journey 
to  some  other  hospital.  The  last  state,  in  the  administrative  details  connected 
with  sorting  and  transferring  patients  from  the  ports,  had  to  do  with  placing 
them  on  the  hospital  cars  with  such  information  to  the  receiving  surgeons  as 
would  enable  them  to  give  any  needed  treatment  en  route.  The  observance 
of  infinite  tact  was  requisite,  though  this  was  not  solely  a characteristic  of 
45269°— 23 28 


434 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


hospitals  of  the  ports.  Many  patients  were  in  such  a mental  state,  when  de- 
barked, that  they  were  exceedingly  difficult  to  manage.  Especially  was  this 
true  of  the  officer  patients.  This  mental  condition  was  fostered  by  the  fact 
that,  after  the  armistice  a great  many  patients  were  returned  from  overseas 
who,  upon  arrival,  were  practically  well  and  in  a mood  resistant  to  the  neces- 
sary routine  connected  with  their  passage  through  the  port  hospitals.  Not 
with  the  patients  alone  was  tact  necessary:  their  well-wishers  varied  from  the 
wise  to  the  foolish,  and  regulations  had  to  be  formulated  which  would  encourage 
the  continuance  of  the  valuable  assistance  of  the  former,  and  at  the  same  time 
curb  the  activities  of  the  latter  to  an  extent  sufficient  at  least  to  prevent  actual 
injury  to  the  patients. 

The  port  hospitals,  during  the  war,  were  by  no  means  on  the  same  plane 
of  activity;  quite  the  contrary.  Some  of  them  received  only  overseas  patients, 
such  as  the  debarkation  hospitals,  the  Greenhut  Building  and  the  Grand  Central 
Palace  in  New  York,  and  the  National  Soldiers’  Home  at  Hampton,  and  the 
great  debarkation  hospital  of  the  port  of  Newport  News.  Certain  hospitals 
in  New  York  were  set  aside  for  special  purposes  such  as  for  the  care  of  con- 
tagious diseases;  other  hospitals,  at  both  ports,  discharged  a set  of  functions 
which  combined  those  of  a base  hospital  with  the  modifications  imposed  by 
the  peculiar  character  of  their  relation  to  the  culling  out  of  noneffectives  from 
troops  going  overseas,  and  the  reception  of  debarking  sick  and  wounded. 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  port  surgeon,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  January  4,  1919. 

Subject:  Hospital  facilities  at  the  port.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.3  (Charleston, 
S.  C.),  N. 

(2)  Letter  from  Sister  Justa,  superintendent  St.  Mary’s  Hospital,  Hoboken,  X.  J.,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  July  27,  1917.  Subject:  Account  for  hospital  care  and  treatment,  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  June  9 to  July  19,  1917.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  193776(01d  Files). 

(3)  Report  of  activities  of  the  office  of  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  X.J.  On 

file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(4)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  Embarkation  Hospital  Xo.  1,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

March  7,  1919.  Subject:  Report  of  hospital  for  the  year  191S.  On  file,  Historical  Division, 
S.  G.  O. 

(5)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  Xo.  1,  to  the  department  surgeon, 

Eastern  Department,  October  1, 1917.  Subject:  Patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.. 
187538-7  (Old  Files). 

(6)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  generals  of  all  d visions,  all  depart- 

ments in  the  United  States,  all  ports  of  embarkation,  and  to  all  staff  departments,  Novem- 
ber  15,  1917.  Subject:  Inspection  for  venereal  diseases  before  troops  are  embarked.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  726.1-1  (General 

(7)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  Dr.  L.  E.  Gofer,  chief  quarantine  officer.  Rosebank,  New 

York  City,  October  26,  1917.  Subject:  Facilities  at  Hoffman  Island  for  use  of  the  Medical 
Department.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Emb.  Hosp.  Xo.  3),  I. 

(8)  G.  0.  No.  37,  Hdqrs.,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  X.  J.,  November  27,  1917. 

(9)  G.  0.  No.  88,  Hdqrs.,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  X.  J..  August  2,  191S. 

CIO)  Report  of  Special  Sanitary  Inspection,  U.  S.  Army  Hospital,  Hoffman  Island,  X.  \ June 
27,  1918,  by  Col.  A.  E.  Trubv,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  O.,  721  (Emb.  Hosp. 
No.  3),  I. 

(11)  Telegram  from  Brown  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  27, 191/ . Subject:  Hospital  facilities 

at  Camp  Mills.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Camp  Mills),  D. 

(12)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  22,  1917.  Subject: 

Congestion.  Camp  Hospital,  Camp  Mills,  N.  Y.  Onfile,  Record  Room.  S.G.O.,  705  (Camp 
Mills),  I). 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  435 

(13)  3d  Ind.  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  23,  1917.  Subject: 

Disposition  of  patients  in  New  York  Harbor.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.G.O.,  701  (New 
York,  N.  Y.),  F. 

(14)  1st  Ind.  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  November  23,1917.  Subject: 

Congestion  at  Camp  Mills,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  705  (Camp  Mills),  D. 

(15)  Telegram  from  Kennedy  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  3,  1918.  Subject:  Hospital 

facilities.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  701  (New  York,  N.  Y.),  F. 

(16)  Letter  from  the  division  surgeon,  41st  Division,  Camp  Mills,  N.  Y.,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  November  21,  1917.  Subject:  Hospital  facilities  at  Camp  Mills.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Camp  Mills),  D. 

(17)  Letter  from  Col.  J.  M.  Kennedy,  M.  C.,  surgeon.  Port  of  Embarkation,  to  Col.  J.  D.  Glennan, 

M.  C.,  December  12,  1917.  Subject:  Hospital  facilities.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
701  (New  York,  N.  Y.),  F. 

(18)  Report  of  special  sanitary  inspection  of  the  Army  Hospital,  Secaucus,  N.  J.,  June  24,  1918, 

by  Col.  A.  E.  Truby,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  721  (Secaucus,  N.  J.),  I. 

(19)  Telegram  from  Sloat  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  2,  1918.  Subject:  Estimate  time  when 

buildings  will  be  completed  at  CampMerritt.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Camp 
Merritt,  N.  J.),  C. 

(20)  Shown  on  “Bed  reports.  ” On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(21)  Telegram  from  Reitz  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  23,  1917.  Subject:  Movement  of 

Hospital  Train  No.  1.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (IIosp.  Train  No.  1),  1. 

(22)  Shown  on  monthly  report  of  sick  and  wounded  (Form  51).  On  file,  Medical  Records  Section, 

World  War  Division,  A.  G.  0.  (name  of  hospital). 

(23)  Report  of  operations  of  the  surgeon's  office;  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  from 

July  16,  1917,  to  March  21,  1918.  On  file,  Medical  Records  Section,  World  War  Division, 
A.  G.  0.,  314.7,  retained  records,  surgeon’s  office,  Newport  News,  Va. 

(24)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  The  Adjutant  General, 

August  22,  1917,  and  indorsement  thereto.  Subject:  Hospital  at  Port  of  Embarkation. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Newport  News,  Va.),  N. 

(25)  Letter  from  Dr.  Joseph  T.  Buxton,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  August  23, 

1917.  Subject:  Rental  of  hospital  for  use  of  the  Government.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  201  (Buxton,  Joseph  T.). 

(26)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  all  medical  officers, 

October  31,  1917.  Subject:  Care  of  sick.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  701  (Newport 
News,  Va.),  N. 

(27)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  the  commanding  general, 

Port  of  Embarkation,  September  21,  1917;  and  indorsements  thereto.  Subject:  Embarka- 
tion hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Newport  News,  Va.),  N. 

(28)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  Maj.  II.  H.  Johnson, 

M.  C.,  Surgeon  General's  Office,  January  8,  1918.  Subject  : Situation  in  regard  to  hospital 
facilities  at  this  port.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Newport  News,  Va.),  N. 

(29)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  to  the  commanding  general,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News, 

Va.,  December  10,  1917;  and  indorsements  thereto.  Subject:  Embarkation  hospital. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  600.1  (Newport  News,  Va.),  N. 

(30)  Letter  from  the  commanding  general,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  the  Chief 

of  the  Embarkation  Sendee,  Washington,  D.  C.,  July  8,  1918.  Subject:  Prolusions  for 
housing  enlisted  personnel,  Medical  Department,  at  Embarkation  Hospital.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Newport  News,  Va.),  N. 

(31)  Bulletin  No.  60,  War  Department.  November  20,  1918,  publishing  act  of  Congress  approved 

November  7,  1918. 

(32)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

July  16,  1918.  Subject:  Hospital  needs  at  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721.6  (Newport  News,  Va.),  N. 

(33)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

November  23,  1918.  Subject:  Hospital  accommodations.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
721.6  (Newport  News,  Va.),  N. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  3,  NEW  YORK  CITY.“ 

PROCUREMENT  AND  ALTERATION  OF  BUILDINGS. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 comprised  the  following  four  properties:  The 
Greenhut  Building,  on  Sixth  Avenue,  extending  from  Eighteenth  to  Nineteenth 
Streets;  the  Cluett  Building,  19-23  West  Eighteenth  Street,  and  22-28  West 
Nineteenth  Street,  adjoining  the  Greenhut  Building:  a building  occupving 
30-32  West  Nineteenth  Street,  adjoining  the  Cluett  Building;  and  the  Trow- 
mart  Inn,  Twelfth  and  Hudson  Streets. 

The  Greenhut  Building,  the  main  building  of  the  hospital,  was  leased, 
effective  July  1,  1918,  at  $300,000  per  year.  It  had  been  formerly  the  Siegel- 
Cooper  Building,  a well-known  department  store,  and  occupied  the  full  width 
of  the  block  between  Eighteenth  and  Nineteenth  Streets  on  Sixth  Avenue, 
to  a depth  eastward  of  500  feet.  It  was  a six-story,  brick  and  steel  structure: 
and  in  addition  to  the  six  floors  and  basement,  there  were  subbasements, 
several  large  penthouses,  a large  glass-inclosed  conservatory  on  the  roof,  and  a 
seventh  story  at  front  and  rear. 

The  total  floor  area  was  650,000  square  feet.  The  building  was  relatively 
convenient  to  the  transport  docks;  near  by  was  a Hudson  tube  entrance:  a 
subway  station  was  in  the  basement  ; and  elevated  and  surface  lines  passed 
it  on  Sixth  Avenue. 

The.  selection  of  this  property  as  a hospital  gave  rise  to  some  surprise  and 
criticism  based  on  the  facts  that  the  elevated  trains  ran  by  the  building  and 
that  the  locality  was  generally  a noisy  one.  However,  these  detractions  had 
been  appreciated  when  the  property  had  been  selected,  and  it  was  felt  that, 
since  it  was  planned  to  keep  the  debarking  sick  here  only  sufficiently  long 
(not  over  10  days)  to  properly  prepare  them  for  their  transfer  to  the  general 
hospital  nearest  their  homes,  where  their  definitive  treatment  was  to  be  given 
and  their  convalescent  period  spent,  the  poor  features  of  the  property  had  no 
real  import. 

The  Cluett  Building,  an  11-story  brick  and  steel  structure  immediately 
adjoining  the  Greenhut  Building,  was  leased,  effective  October  16,  191S.  for 
$76,500  per  year.  It  was  used  for  housing  the  personnel  of  Debarkation 
Hospital  No.  3,  and  the  Medical  Department  personnel  necessary  for  the  man- 
ning of  the  hospital  trains  operating  between  New  York  and  the  various  Army 
hospitals  throughout  the  United  States. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  hased  on  the  “ History,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  YorkCity." 
by  Capt.  Henry  L.  Hayes,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used 
by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

436 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


437 


The  Trowmart  Inn,  at  Twelfth  and  Hudson  Streets,  formerly  a hotel  for 
working  girls,  was  leased,  effective  October  1,  1918,  as  quarters  for  the  nurses 
on  duty  at  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 and  nurses  awaiting  embarkation. 


Fig.  154. — Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Greenhut  Building,  New  York  City. 

The  relatively  small  building,  30-32  West  Nineteenth  Street,  located  in 
the  same  block  as  were  the  Greenhut  and  Cluett  Buildings,  was  leased  at  $1  per 
year  from  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Co.  of  New  York. 

The  Surgeon  General  requested  the  leasing  of  the  Greenhut  Building  on 
April  23,  1918;  and  when  the  lease  was  executed  in  June,  19 IS,  to  be  effective 


438 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


July  1,  the  work  of  planning  the  necessary  alterations  was  begun.  An  estimate 
of  cost  was  prepared,  and  approval  of  the  necessary  funds,  $306,400,  was 
requested  July  11,  1918.  The  expenditure  of  these  funds  was  approved  by 
the  Secretary  of  War  on  July  31,  1918;  and  on  August  12  the  local  constructing 
quartermaster  was  credited  with  the  allotment,  and  the  alteration  work  was 
started.  This  alteration  work  was  completed  on  November  23,  82  working 
days  later,  the  total  cost  of  which  was  $280,000. 

In  May  and  June,  1918,  when  plans  for  the  alteration  of  the  buildings 
were  being  studied,  in  anticipation  of  the  acquisition  of  the  buildings,  it  was 
concluded  to  divide  the  floor  space  into  large  wards,  to  utilize  and  conserve 
outside  light  as  much  as  possible  and  to  minimize  plumbing  and  interior 
partitioning.  The  use  of  such  large  wards  was  a decided  innovation;  and  against 
their  adoption  was  the  possibility  of  increased  cross-infection,  and  uncontrol- 
lable noise.  In  the  favor  of  their  adoption  was  the  knowledge  that  natural 
light  and  ventilation  would  be  proportionately  greater  the  more  minimized 
was  the  partitioning  of  the  floors  into  small  wards;  that  there  would  be  greater 
accuracy  in  the  construction  of  the  diet  kitchens,  utility  rooms,  toilets,  etc., 
at  a few  large  centers  on  each  floor;  and  that,  in  this  hospital  especially,  the 
stream  of  patients,  in  and  out,  could  be  made  to  move  more  smoothly  the 
larger  the  groups. 

The  isometric  plan,  Figure  155,  shows  how  a portion  of  the  first  floor,  with 
entrance  and  exit  on  Eighteenth  and  Nineteenth  Streets,  respectively,  was  re- 
modeled for  receiving  and  forwarding  the  sick.  On  the  left  and  fronting  on 
Sixth  Avenue  a portion  of  this  floor  was  turned  over  to  the  American  Red  Cross 
for  a theater  and  other  activities.  The  mezzanine  floor  was  used  for  offices, 
with  little  alteration.  The  second  floor  was  altered  so  as  to  provide  for  the 
general  kitchen,  diet  kitchen,  mess  halls,  and  five  wards.  On  the  third  floor 
10  wards  were  provided.  On  the  fourth  floor  the  surgical  operating  rooms, 
facilities  for  X-ray,  dental,  ophthalmological,  and  allied  specialities  were 
installed,  and  eight  general  surgical  wards  and  the  dispensary  were  provided. 
The  fifth  and  sixth  floors  were  rearranged  for  wards  solely,  10  on  the  fifth  and 
9 on  the  sixth.  The  conservatory  on  the  roof  was  set  aside  for  recreation. 
A penthouse  on  the  roof  was  converted  into  a laboratory  for  the  port  of  embark- 
ation, and  adjoining  it  was  the  laboratory  animal  house.  In  the  basement 
the  refrigeration,  light,  and  power  plants  were  left  intact,  and  facilities  for 
repair,  storage,  barber  shop,  hospital  exchange,  and  disinfection  were  prepared. 

The  Cluett  Building  was  not  greatly  altered;  an  aperture  was  made  in  the 
wall,  which  separated  it  from  the  Greenhut  Building,  on  the  kitchen  floor 
of  the  latter  to  facilitate  food  service  and  intercommunication  generally. 
This  building  was  cleaned,  painted,  and  repaired,  lavatories  installed,  and  old 
partitions  removed,  each  floor  being  left  open,  making  the  living  quarters 
similar  to  dormitories.  The  first  floor  contained  a recreation  room  and  gym- 
nasium, with  a specially  built  room  for  handball  and  basket-ball  and  shower 
baths.  On  the  second  floor  was  the  mess  hall,  which  had  a seating  capacity 
for  1,200. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  when  completed,  had  a bed  capacity  of  3,500: 
its  largest  ward  contained  157  beds;  and  in  its  kitchen  food  could  be  prepared 
for  over  5,000.  Its  receiving  section  was  so  organized  as  to  permit  the  orderly 


• NlNf.Tr. r.NTfi  • ,‘STPr.rT 


Fig.  155.— Isometric  plan  of  first  floor,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3. 


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440 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


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TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


441 


reception  of  enough  patients  in  a single  day  to  half  fill  the  hospital,  and  its 
forwarding  section  was  designed  to  effect  the  discharge  of  a like  number. 
Furthermore,  the  design  of  these  sections  was  such  that  when  necessary  they 
could  be  combined  so  that  patients  could  be  either  received  or  discharged 
through  them. 


Fig.  157. — One  of  the  large  wards  at  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3. 


ORGANIZATION. 

On  July  18,  1918,  two  officers  from  the  Hospital  Division  of  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office,  together  with  an  officer  from  the  office  of  the  surgeon,  port  of 
embarkation,  were  directed  to  effect  plans  for  adapting  the  Greenhut  Building 
to  hospital  use.  Civilian  help  was  employed,  and  with  a few  enlisted  men  of 
the  Medical  Department  on  duty,  the  building  was  rapidly  cleaned  out  and 
construction  work  begun.  On  August  2,  1918,  General  Orders,  No.  58,  Head- 
quarters, Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  was  issued,  officially  designating 
this  hospital  as  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3. 


OCCUPATION  OF  BUILDINGS. 

On  the  day  of  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  the  hospital  was  ready  for 
patients;  the  first  being  received  November  23,  1918.  During  the  interval, 
November  11,  1918,  to  November  23,  1918,  preliminary  rehearsing  and  training, 
regarding  the  reception  and  handling  of  the  patients,  were  given  officers  and 
enlisted  personnel. 

GENERAL  EQUIPMENT. 

Immediately  subsequent  to  the  arrival  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
hospital,  July  15,  1918,  he  caused  to  be  made  requisitions  for  the  vast  equip- 
ment essential  for  conducting  so  large  an  institution  as  this  hospital.  Shortly 


442 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN’  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


thereafter  trucks  by  the  hundreds,  loaded  with  supplies,  arrived  and  the  work 
of  outfitting  the  wards  was  begun.  The  hospital  wards  were  large  and  roomy 
and  they  were  left  open  to  permit  of  free  ventilation  and  light.  Diet  kitchen 
and  linen  rooms  were  made  parts  of  each  ward;  a gas  range  and  a large  ice 
box  were  installed  in  each  diet  kitchen,  with  the  necessary  cooking  utensils 
and  serving  dishes.  Ample  shelving  space  was  provided  in  each  linen  closet. 
Large,  well-lighted  toilet  rooms  were  also  installed  as  a part  of  each  ward,  in 
some  of  which  ventilation  was  provided  by  means  of  vent  shafts.  These 
vent  shafts  were  about  feet  square,  the  forced  draft  being  maintained  by 
means  of  electrically  driven  fans  on  the  hospital  roof. 


PERSONNEL. 

In  December,  1918,  after  the  hospital  had  been  completed,  there  were 
over  800  enlisted  men  on  duty.  These  men  were  assigned  to  the  following 
departments  of  the  hospital: 


Ambulance  service 10 

Chaplain’s  office 1 

Barracks 10 

Dental  laboratory 6 

Detachment  office 10 

Detachment  property  office 3 

Detachment  sick  call 4 

Dispensary 10 

Elevators 30 

Evacuation  office 9 

Guards 80 

Interpreter 1 

Kitchen  and  mess  hall 190 

Medical  supply  and  linen  room 20 

N ewspaper  office 2 

Office  of  officer  of  day 3 

Operating  room 10 

Orderlies  (barracks) 20 


Orderlies  (door) 6 

Detachment  of  patients  (office) . 5 

Patient’  s^property  room 30 

Personnel  adjutant’s  office 30 

Post  exchange 11 

Post  office 18 

Quartermaster 4 

Receiving  ward 3 

Registrar-’ s office 12 

Sanitary  fatigue 24 

Sergeant-major’s  office 17 

Special  details 3 

Telephone  operators 2 

Wardmasters  and  orderlies  (day) 140 

Wardmasters  and  orderlies  (night  90 

X-ray  room 5 

Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 1 


There  were  1 66  nurses  on  duty  at  the  hospital  at  this  time. 


HOSPITAL  DEPARTMENTS. 


SURGICAL  SERVICE. 


The  surgical  service  occupied  the  second,  third,  fourth,  and  sixth  floors  of 
the  hospital.  The  function  of  the  hospital  being  the  separation  of  debarking 
patients  into  groups  for  transfer  to  inland  hospitals  for  treatment,  the  work  ot 
the  surgical  service  was  not  as  active  as  the  size  of  the  hospital  would  seem  to 
indicate,  and  it  consisted  mainly  in  placing  the  patients  in  the  best  possible 
condition  to  enable  them  to  travel.  It  was  the  established  policy  of  the  port 
surgeon  to  restrict  the  number  of  operations  to  the  minimum,  preferably  trans- 
ferring operative  cases  to  base  or  general  hospitals.  Ward  6,  on  the  fourth 
floor,  was  completely  equipped  for  the  Carrel-Dakin  treatment  of  infected 
wounds,  and  with  Balkan  frames  for  the  proper  treatment  of  fractures.  Oper- 
ating rooms  were  established  on  the  fourth  floor. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


443 


EYE,  EAR,  NOSE,  AND  THROAT. 

The  eye  department  of  the  hospital  was  organized  on  December  1,  1918. 
It  was  located  on  the  fourth  floor,  or  main  surgical  floor,  of  the  hospital,  and 
occupied  one  room  of  sufficient  size  to  permit  doing  refraction  and  other  work 
connected  with  the  eye.  The  equipment  was  sufficient  for  general  clinical 
work  on  the  eye. 

The  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department  was  likewise  organized  on  December 
1,  1918,  and  was  adequately  equipped  to  permit  doing  general  clinical  work 
on  the  ear,  nose  and  throat. 

X-RAY  DEPARTMENT. 

The  X-ray  department  included  14  rooms  on  the  fourth  floor,  with  a total 
door  space  of  3,520  square  feet.  An  elaborate  equipment  was  installed,  current 
for  the  machines  being  supplied  by  the  Edison  Electric  Co. 

The  commissioned  personnel  of  the  X-ray  department  consisted  of  2 med- 
ical officers;  in  addition  there  were  5 enlisted  men  and  1 civilian,  a stenographer. 

DENTAL  DEPARTMENT. 

The  dental  department  was  first  represented  by  two  officers  of  the  Dental 
Corps,  who  reported  for  duty  on  November  23,  1918.  They  were  assigned  an 
operating  room,  13  by  24  feet,  on  the  fourth  floor,  for  which  there  was  a north- 
ern exposure.  In  addition,  a small  office  and  supply  room,  10  by  12  feet,  and 
directly  across  a corridor  from  the  larger  room,  was  given  to  this  department. 
The  first  two  weeks  subsequent  to  their  arrival  these  two  officers  occupied 
themselves  with  the  installation  of  equipment  comprising  two  base  dental 
outfits  and  one  laboratory  equipment.  The  first  great  influx  of  patients 
occurred  the  latter  part  of  November,  during  which  time  a chief  of  the  dental 
service  was  assigned,  November  25.  Under  the  supervision  of  the  chief  of 
dental  service,  March  13,  1919,  one  additional  base  dental  outfit  was  installed 
in  the  main  office.  An  auxiliary  office,  on  the  sixth  floor  of  the  hospital,  was 
established  at  the  same  time,  its  equipment  comprising  two  base  dental  outfits. 
With  five  operators  and  five  outfits,  the  activities  of  the  dental  service  increased 
materially  and  was  able  to  cope  with  the  large  numbers  presented  for  treat- 
ment. On  April  3,  1919,  oral  examination  was  begun  of  every  patient  received 
in  the  hospital,  this  constituting  a part  of  the  routine  physical  examination 
upon  admission.  All  cases  were  classified,  and  in  each  instance  were  recorded 
on  an  auxiliary  form — Form  55  M.  D.  Patients  requiring  emergency  treat- 
ment-were  given  immediate  attention:  others  were  given  appointment  for  work 
to  be  done  later,  when  necessary. 

The  greatest  handicap  noted  in  the  treatment  of  cases  was  their  short  stay 
at  the  hospital,  which  was  unavoidable  under  the  circumstances,  but  never- 
theless in  many  instances  patients  were  transferred  before  much  dental  work 
could  be  accomplished.  The  mouths  of  22,560  patients  were  examined  by  the 
officers  of  this  department;  the  number  of  officers  and  enlisted  men  treated 
was  2,677,  necessitating  4,101  sittings;  and  others  treated  number  168,  for 
whom  236  sittings  were  given. 


444 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


MEDICAL  SERVICE. 

The  fifth  floor  of  the  hospital  was  given  over  to  the  medical  service,  for 
which  there  were  11  wards,  the  total  bed  capacity  of  which  was  788.  Of  these 
1 1 wards,  4 were  special  wards  assigned  respectively  to  cases  of  tuberculosis, 
pneumonia,  diphtheria,  and  influenza;  the  remainder  being  for  general  medical 
cases.  It  was  found  to  be  neither  desirable  nor  possible  to  classify  the  patients 
according  to  diseases  in  a manner  practiced  in  a base  hospital,  where  wards 
were  smaller  and  where  patients  were  ordinarily  kept  for  considerable  periods 
for  observation  and  treatment.  In  Debarkation  Hospital  Xo.  3 it  was  possible 
to  segregate  the  contagious  from  the  noncontagious  only,  and  practically  only 
four  classes  of  communicable  diseases  were  handled:  Tuberculosis,  pneumonia, 
diphtheria,  and  influenza.  Other  cases  of  contagious  diseases,  especially 
mumps,  scarlet  fever,  and  measles,  appeared  spasmodically,  but  they  were 
promptly  removed  to  other  hospitals  where  isolation  could  be  more  effectively 
carried  out. 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED  DEPARTMENT. 

The  sick  and  wounded  department  concerned  itself  with  the  maintenance 
of  an  accurate  record  of  all  patients  in  the  hospital,  as  well  as  a medical  record 
of  the  personnel  on  duty.  The  work  of  the  department  dovetailed,  in  many 
instances,  that  of  other  administrative  departments,  particularly  the  personnel 
office,  the  office  of  the  detachment  of  patients,  the  receiving  office,  as  well  as 
the  medical  and  surgical  wards;  for,  whenever  information  was  required  con- 
cerning either  the  medical  or  personal  status  of  a patient,  it  was  necessary 
first  for  the  sick  and  wounded  department  to  ascertain  whether  the  patient  con- 
cerned was  at  the  time,  or  any  other  time,  in  the  hospital.  It  was,  therefore, 
the  purpose  of  this  department  to  keep  an  accurate  directory  in  which  was 
given  the  exact  location  of  each  patient  in  hospital.  This  was  made  possible 
by  using  a filing  system  composed  of  cards,  3 by  5 inches,  on  which  were 
recorded  the  name,  rank,  and  hospital  location  of  separate  patients.  Subse- 
quent to  the  transfer  of  a patient  from  the  hospital  this  card  was  placed  in  a 
“dead  file.”  The  cards  were  made  immediately  after  the  admission  of  a 
patient  to  hospital  and  contained  pertinent  abstracts  from  the  clinical  brief, 
or  Form  55 a,  Medical  Department,  the  first  sheet  of  the  patient’s  clinical 
record.  A carbon  copy  of  Form  55a  was  kept  on  file,  in  this  department,  for 
each  patient  in  hospital.  At  the  end  of  the  day,  after  the  patients,  who  had 
been  admitted,  had  had  cards  made,  a nominal  list  of  their  names  was  prepared. 
This  list  showed,  in  addition  to  the  names,  the  rank  and  organization,  location 
in  hospital,  and  the  name  of  the  transport  from  which  the  patients  had  been 
received.  Copies  of  the  nominal  list  were  distributed  to  the  following  officers: 
Two  copies  to  the  sick  and  wounded  department,  headquarters,  Port  of  Embarka- 
tion, Hoboken;  one  copy  to  the  post  office  of  Debarkation  Hospital  Xo.  3:  one 
copy  to  the  personnel  officer;  one  copy  to  the  hospital  representative  of  the 
Red  Cross;  one  copy  to  the  hospital  newspaper,  Home  Again;  one  copy  to  the 
patients’  property  office;  and  one  copy  filed  with  retained  records. 

While  patients  were  in  hospital  a sick  and  wounded  register  was  kept 
which  consisted  of  a card  for  each  patient.  When  patients  were  transferred 
from  the  hospital,  a list,  similar  to  the  nominal  list  of  admissions,  was 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


445 


compiled  containing  the  names  of  all  patients  evacuated  during  the  day. 
Copies  of  this  list  were  distributed  in  exactly  the  same  manner  as  were  those 
showing  admissions,  and  the  files  of  the  department  were  adjusted  to  accord 
with  the  changes.  On  the  completion  of  each  case,  the  clinical  record,  which 
had  been  in  the  keeping  of  the  ward  surgeon,  was  completed  and  filed  in  the 
sick  and  wounded  department.  This  clinical  record  was  frequently  referred  to 
to  obtain  information  regarding  a patient’s  condition  even  after  he  had  left 
hospital.  Field  medical  records,  which  accompanied  the  patients  from  over- 
seas, were  also  handled  in  this  department,  when  patients,  for  whom  they 
had  been  prepared,  were  transferred. 

The  administrative  details,  connected  with  the  transfer  of  patients  with 
communicable  diseases  from  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 to  an  isolation  hospital 
of  the  port,  were  effected  by  this  department,  as  were  those  concerning  the 
transfer  of  patients  from  ward  to  ward  within  the  hospital. 

A regular  numerical  morning  report  of  the  patients  in  hospital  was  com- 
piled each  morning,  copies  thereof  being  transmitted  to  the  news  officer,  the 
Red  Cross  representative,  the  chief  nurse,  and  the  adjutant.  A weekly  report 
was  made  every  Friday  morning  for  the  information  of  the  surgeon  of  the  port. 
This  weekly  report  included  data  regarding  the  number  of  personnel  of  the 
hospital  taken  sick  during  the  week  concerned,  grouped  by  diseases.  The 
monthly  sick  and  wounded  report,  consisting  of  a separate  card  for  each  patient 
treated  during  the  previous  month,  was  made  and  forwarded  to  the  Surgeon 
General  not  later  than  the  5th  of  the  month. 

The  work  of  the  sick  and  wounded  department  required  the  constant 
services  of  12  enlisted  men  and  4 civilian  typists. 

The  total  number  of  admissions  recorded  is  36,880,  of  which  35,850  were 
patients  received  from  overseas.  The  largest  number  of  admissions,  on  any 
one  day,  was  2,235  on  March  24,  1919,  received  from  one  transport,  steamship 
Artigan.  The  largest  number  of  evacuations  in  one  day  was  on  March  25, 
1919,  when  1,458  patients  were  transferred  to  inland  hospitals. 

PROCESS  OF  ADMISSION. 

Usually,  when  patients  were  received  at  the  hospital,  they  came  in  large 
numbers  from  the  debarkation  piers  in  ambulances.  The  ambulatory  patients 
were  met  at  the  front  door  of  the  hospital  by  orderlies  who  carried  the  patients’ 
hand  luggage,  and  who  escorted  the  patients  to  chairs  and  benches  located  in 
the  rotunda  on  the  main  floor  of  the  hospital.  On  these  occasions  members  of 
the  American  National  Red  Cross  were  requested  to  assist  in  seating  the  patients 
pending  their  admission  to  hospital.  In  the  routine  of  admission,  the  patient 
was  conducted  by  an  orderly  to  the  first  room  of  the  receiving  ward,  where 
Form  55  A,  Medical  Department,  was  prepared  in  triplicate,  as  well  as  an 
evacuation  card.  At  this  point,  each  patient  was  requested  to  deposit  any 
valuables,  in  his  possession,  with  an  officer  especially  detailed  to  receive  them, 
a receipt  being  furnished  for  any  valuables  so  deposited.  In  the  event  a 
patient  had  valuables,  which  he  did  not  desire  to  deposit  for  safekeeping,  he 
was  required  to  sign  a statement  showing  he  had  been  given  the  opportunity, 
the  advantage  of  which  he  refused  to  take.  From  this  room,  the  patient  passed 
into  another,  fitted  with  benches,  where  he  removed  all  his  clothing,  being 
assisted  in  this  by  an  orderly  when  it  was  necessary;  and  passed  into  an  adjoining 


446 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


room,  in  which  he  was  submitted  to  an  inspection  by  medical  officers,  the  pur- 
pose of  which  was  to  determine  the  nature  of  his  injury  or  illness  and  the  possible 
existence  of  vermin  infestation  and  communicable  disease.  In  this  room  his 
assignment  to  a ward  of  the  hospital  was  made,  a notation  of  the  ward  to  which 
he  had  been  assigned  being  made  on  his  Form  55  A.  His  clothing  was  examined, 
and  if  found  to  be  louse  infested,  was  subjected  to  a delousing  process;  likewise, 
if  the  patient  was  found  to  be  louse  infested,  he  was  deloused  in  a room  provided 
especially  for  this  purpose.  The  clothing  was  checked  and,  after  being  deloused. 
was  placed  in  specially  constructed  bins  in  the  patients’  property  room,  the  patient 
retaining  a duplicate  check.  When  the  patient  was  not  found  to  be  vermin 
infested,  his  clothing  was  checked  and  sent  to  the  sterilizing  plant  in  the  base- 
ment, whence  it  was  returned,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  the  clothing  bins,  there  to 
be  left  until  needed.  From  the  physical  inspection  room,  the  patient  passed 
to  the  shower-bath  room,  where  he  was  required  to  bathe,  attendants  being 
present  to  afford  assistance  when  necessary.  Following  his  bath,  the  patient 
was  given  slippers,  a clean  suit  of  pajamas,  a pair  of  socks,  and  a bathrobe, 
after  which  he  passed  out  into  a main  corridor  through  the  only  possible  exit, 
where  a throat  culture  was  obtained  by  one  of  the  laboratory  staff,  and  where 
a dental  officer  made  a mouth  inspection  to  determine  the  necessity  of  imme- 
diate dental  treatment.  From  this  point  an  orderly  conducted  the  patient  to 
one  of  the  many  elevators  and  to  the  ward  to  which  he  had  been  assigned. 
Arriving  at  the  ward,  the  patient  was  again  examined  by  the  ward  surgeon. 
The  patient’s  evacuation  card,  which  he  had  brought  with  him  from  the  admis- 
sion room,  was  then  completed  and  sent  to  the  evacuation  office. 

The  process  of  admission  required  45  minutes  for  each  patient;  and,  during 
the  admission  of  a large  number,  the  detail  of  the  following  personnel:  Thirty 
officers,  15  typists,  3 clerks,  70  orderlies,  30  clothing  checkers,  5 laboratory 
assistants,  and  4 dentists. 

Having  arrived  at  his  designated  ward,  the  patient  was  assigned  a bed.  and, 
his  physical  condition  having  been  determined  to  warrant  it,  he  was  given  the 
liberty  of  the  hospital.  Within  24  hours  after  having  entered  the  hospital,  the 
patient’s  uniform  had  been  sterilized  and  reclaimed  by  him.  In  the  meantime, 
each  ward  surgeon  had  made  requisite  clinical  notations  on  the  patient’s  clinical 
record  and  field  medical  card.  The  ward  surgeon,  deeming  it  advisable  and  the 
patient’s  condition  permitting  it,  the  commanding  officer,  detachment  of 
patients,  was  authorized  to  issue  passes  to  patients  after  their  first  24  hours  in 
hospital.  These  passes  permitted  patients  to  leave  the  hospital  between  the 
hours  of  10  a.  m.  and  5 p.  m.  regularly,  an  additional  pass  being  required  when 
they  desired  to  leave  the  hospital  in  the  evening.  Before  being  granted  this 
freedom,  however,  it  was  required  that  each  patient  going  on  pass  be  paid  in 
full.  This  was  accomplished  by  obtaining  the  patient’s  affidavit,  on  which 
was  set  forth  information  as  to  when  he  embarked  overseas,  when  he  was 
last  paid,  all  deductions  for  allotments  and  insurance,  and  his  rate  of  pay. 
From  these  data  a pay  roll  was  accomplished  and  the  patient  paid  in  full. 

EVACUATION  DEPARTMENT. 

The  steps  necessary  to  be  taken  to  effect  the  transfer  of  a patient  from  the 
hospital  to  other  hospitals  were  begun,  immediately  on  admission,  with  the 
preparation  of  the  evacuation  card.  On  this  card  were  noted  a patient's  name. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


447 


rank  and  organization,  date  of  admission  to  this  hospital,  ward  and  floor  to 
which  assigned,  home  address  of  the  patient,  and  a general  diagnosis.  This 
card  was  sent  to  the  evacuation  office  immediately  after  a patient  reached  the 
ward,  and  the  information  it  contained  was  certified  to  by  the  president  of  the 
physical  examining  board.  In  the  evacuation  office,  these  evacuation  cards 
were  arranged  according  to  the  States,  as  indicated  by  the  home  address  of  the 
patients,  and  were  so  classified  that  a patient  might  be  transferred  to  the  hos- 
pital nearest  his  home.  Numerical  and  nominal  lists  of  the  hospitals  designated 
were  then  prepared  and  forwarded  to  the  office  of  the  port  surgeon.  These 
lists  gave  information  regarding  the  number  and  names  of  the  patients,  their 
respective  physical  conditions,  and  the  hospital  to  which  they  were  to  be  sent. 
They  also  contained  sufficient  data  to  indicate  required  professional  attention 
en  route,  and  whether  the  patients  should  be  assigned  upper  or  lower  berths 
on  the  hospital  train.  When  the  lists  were  completed,  duplicate  stubs  were 
prepared  on  which  were  noted  the  names,  rank  and  organization,  ward  and  floor 
of  the  hospital  to  which  the  patient  was  assigned,  and  the  destined  hospital: 
the  stubs  being  then  filed  according  to  destinations  of  patients.  When  the 
nominal  lists  were  sent  to  the  office  of  the  port  surgeon,  requests  for  travel 
orders  or  special  transportation  accompanied  them;  and  when  the  travel  orders 
were  received  from  the  headquarters  of  the  port  of  embarkation,  each  patient 
listed  was  given  a number  which  was  inscribed  on  one  of  the  stubs  described, 
the  stub  in  turn  being  tied  to  a button  of  the  patient’s  blouse.  The  retained 
stub  in  the  evacuation  office  was  given  a similar  number.  Copies  of  the  travel 
orders  were  distributed  to  the  various  departments  of  the  hospital;  notice  of 
the  evacuation  being  sent  to  ward  surgeons  concerned,  apprising  them  the  hour 
when  the  patients  to  be  transferred  should  secure  breakfast  and  their  valuables. 
The  mess  officer  was  notified  to  enable  him  to  have  breakfast  served  in  ample 
time  prior  to  the  departure  of  the  patients.  When  the  transfer  had  been  con- 
summated, the  field  medical  card,  or  a transfer  card,  was  forwarded  to  the  hos- 
pital for  which  the  patient  was  destined. 

At  the  hour  of  evacuation,  all  patients,  selected  for  transfer  to  a particular 
hospital,  were  placed  in  the  charge  of  an  escort  assigned  to  accompany  them. 
A check  of  the  patients  was  then  made  and  a receipt  for  them  obtained  from 
the  officer  in  charge  of  the  escort.  Evacuation  cards  of  patients  who, 
for  one  reason  or  another,  failed  to  depart  at  the  time  designated  were  put 
aside  for  reclassification  on  the  next  list;  the  names  of  the  absentees  were  fur- 
nished the  adjutant,  the  commanding  officer,  detachment  of  patients,  the 
registrar,  and  the  personnel  adjutant. 

THE  MESS  DEPARTMENT. 

The  hospital  kitchen  and  mess  halt  were  located  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
Greenhut  Building,  occupying  all  the  space  on  the  east  side  of  the  rotunda. 
The  mess  hall  was  adequately  lighted  by  large  windows  on  both  the  Eighteenth 
Street  and  Nineteenth  Street  sides,  and  large  motor-driven  exhaust  fans  in 
four  of  the  windows  maintained  the  air  of  the  room  in  a constantly  satisfactory 
condition. 

The  mess  hall  was  divided  into  halves  by  a central  corridor,  which  extended 
from  the  entrance  doors  at  one  end  to  the  steam  serving  tables  at  the  other. 


448 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  corridor  was  divided  into  four  aisles,  each  aisle  corresponding  to  a door 
at  the  entrance,  the  two  inner  aisles  being  used  for  incoming  patients  and  the 
outer  ones  for  outgoing  patients.  Midway  of  the  mess  hall  and  adjoining  the 
outer  aisles  of  the  central  corridor  were  two  dish-washing  rooms,  each  20  by 
20  feet,  containing  a dish-washing  machine.  These  rooms  had  two  intake 
windows,  one  at  each  end,  through  which  the  used  dishes  were  passed  by  the 
patients,  each  of  whom  carried  his  table  utensils  to  the  dish-washing  room  as 
he  left  the  mess  hall.  Beyond  the  central  corridor,  on  each  side,  were  the 
spaces  for  the  dining  tables,  the  tops  of  which  were  made  of  three  boards,  the 
middle  board  being  removable  to  permit  their  sanitary  maintenance.  Fixed 
benches  were  provided  the  tables.  There  were  102  of  these  tables  in  the  mess 
hall,  each  accommodating  16  patients,  providing  a total  seating  capacity  of 
1,632. 

The  kitchen  was  fully  equipped  with  modern  labor-saving  devices,  all  of  the 
cooking  utensils  consisting  of  heavy  aluminum.  In  addition  to  the  usual 
tables,  chopping  blocks,  racks,  etc.,  the  equipment  composed  the  following 
articles:  Twenty  gas  ranges,  set  back  to  back,  in  two  batteries;  two  60-gallon, 
ull  jacketed  stock  kettles;  five  80-gallon,  two-thirds  jacketed  stock  kettles; 
five  35-gallon  vegetable  boilers;  three  3-compartment  vegetable  steamers  and 
boilers;  four  60-gallon  coffee  urns;  one  whipped-cream  machine  with  full  equip- 
ment; one  vegetable  peeling  machine;  one  meat  chopper;  one  fish  bowl;  two 
dish-washing  machines;  one  ice-breaker;  one  freezer  and  brine  tank;  one  bread 
slicing  machine;  three  steam  tables,  each  12  feet  long  and  having  eight  contain- 
ers; one  meat  slicing  machine;  one  hardening  room,  with  zero  temperature,  for 
the  ice  cream  plant;  and  one  cold  storage  plant  for  meats,  etc.,  cooled  by  the 
refrigerating  plant  in  the  hospital  basement. 

The  mess  hall  was  conducted  on  the  cafeteria  system,  and  all  able-bodied 
ambulatory  patients  were  served  at  the  double  steam  table  placed  across  the 
upper  end  of  the  mess  hall.  Ambulatory  patients  who  were  unable  to  serve 
themselves  because  of  physical  disability  had  their  meals  served  them  at  the 
mess  tables.  Bed  patients  were  served  in  the  wards  from  especially  designed 
mess  carts.  As  the  ambulatory  patients  completed  their  meals  they  carried 
their  used  eating  utensils  by  the  dish-washing  rooms,  through  the  intake  win- 
dows of  which  they  passed,  them.  The  cleaned  and  dried  dishes  were  taken  as 
they  emerged  from  the  dish-washing  machines,  and  were  passed  out  a third 
window  onto  a hand  truck  in  which  they  were  conveyed  back  to  the  steam  serv- 
ing tables;  and  thus  a constant  circuit  was  maintained  from  the  steam  tables 
to  the  washing  room,  thence  back  again  to  the  serving  tables. 

The  cafeteria  serving  system  proved  to  be  so  expeditious  that,  even  when 
the  hospital  was  filled  to  capacity — 1,000  patients — it  seldom  happened  that 
all  the  dining  tables  were  required,  as  there  was  a constant  stream  of  incoming 
and  outgoing  diners,  and  the  same  table  was  used  over  and  over  again  as  sepa- 
rate seats  became  available.  The  number  of  men  served  at  each  steam  table 
was  about  25  per  minute,  or  1,500  each  hour. 

Adjoining  the  general  kitchen  was  the  diet  kitchen,  wherein  there  was  a 
trained  corps  of  dietitians,  who  prepared  all  the  special  diets  for  the  hospital, 
distributing  them  in  the  mess  carts. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


449 


In  the  general  kitchen  the  food  for  the  duty  personnel  of  the  hospital  was 
prepared.  This  was  carried  to  the  detachment  mess  hall,  located  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  adjoining  Cluett  Building,  through  the  opening  made  in  the  inter- 
vening wall,  and  served  in  a manner  similar  to  that  just  described. 

Adjoining  the  office  of  the  mess  officer,  on  the  mezzanine  floor  of  the  Green- 
hut  Building,  were  the  butcher  shop,  the  vegetable  and  other  rooms,  fitted  with 
the  necessary  ice  boxes  and  refrigerating  apparatus. 

The  commissioned  personnel  of  the  mess  comprised  3 officers,  and  the  en- 
listed personnel  numbered  about  204,  among  whom  there  were  36  cooks  di- 
vided into  3 shifts,  one  working  at  night,  the  others  alternating  in  the  day 
work.  During  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1919,  the  mess  officer  expended 
$452,444.46  for  food.  The  number  of  meals  served  was  2,170,527. 

PATIENTS’  PROPERTY. 

The  property  of  all  the  patients  in  hospital  was  cared  for  by  the  officer 
in  charge  of  patients’  property,  with  the  exception  of  valuables  which  were 
deposited  for  safe-keeping  in  the  hospital  safe  under  the  care  of  an  especially 
detailed  officer.  The  patients’  property  department  was  made  responsible 
for  the  issuance  of  new  clothing  to  patients  who  desired  them.  New  cloth- 
ing of  an  approximate  value  of  $800,000  was  thus  issued;  each  transaction 
was  entered  on  the  patients’  individual  clothing  and  equipment  record  and 
was  receipted  for  by  them  on  Quartermaster  Form  165. 

HOSPITAL  ANNEXES. 

The  post  exchange  was  established  November  27,  1918,  and  equipped  with 
the  usual  supplies  found  in  a post  exchange.  Connected  with  it  were  a barber 
shop,  containing  11  chairs,  a shoe-shining  department  with  8 chairs,  a 
tailor  shop,  and  a photograph  gallery. 

Much  credit  is  due  the  Red  Cross  for  the  exceptionally  fine  morale  of  the 
patients  in  this  hospital.  A well  equipped  recreation  room  was  conducted  by 
its  representatives  for  the  entertainment  of  the  patients.  Each  night  at  7.15 
an  entertainment  was  given  in  the  Red  Cross  theater,  with  a seating  capacity  of 
1,600.  A recreation  bureau  was  maintained  for  providing  the  patients  with 
theater  tickets,  bus  rides,  dinner  parties,  etc.  Allied  with  the  Red  Cross  was 
the  American  Library  Association,  with  a well-equipped  library  of  over  20,000 
books.  The  Library  Association  also  distributed  books  and  the  various  popular 
magazines  to  patients  who  were  confined  to  bed. 

45269°— 23 29 


450 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Greenhut  Building,  New  York, 
N.  Y.,  from  August,  1918,  to  July  15,  1919,  inclusive.11 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. b 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for.  ! 

Completed  cases. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1918. 

3 

3 

47 

47 

14 

October 

7 

65 

1 

73 

46 

November 

5 

66 

4 

75 

50 

1 

8 

91 

120 

219 

70 

7 

1919. 

January 

76 

161 

251 

488 

111 

19 

February 

178 

198 

307 

683 

151 

10 

March..  I 

186 

250 

292 

728 

180 

April 

222 

205 

310 

737 

188 

14 

2 

231 

110 

1,  364 

1.  705 

1.  142 

10 

1 

June 

173 

64 

1,  211 

1 

l'  449  l'  176 

15 

July 

63 

13 

14 

90 

12 

13 

Remaining. 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


180 

336 

320 

302 

379 

194 

65 


177 

186 

222 

230 

173 

63 

1 

1 

1 

4,035 
5, 177 

0,  926 
7,650 
6,  651 
4,  982 

1,  374 


50 

31 

36 

46 

19 

19 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total . 

1919. 

1919. 

42 

42 

6 

79 

85 

3 

58 

61 

5 

79 

84 

5 

79 

84 

5 

79 

84 

April 

5 

80 

85 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

2 

1 

1 

4 

63 

63 

September 

5 

1 

1 

139 

139 

15 

2 

1 

IS 

167 

167 

60 

2 

2 

64 

650 

December 

92 

2 

2 

96 

853 

35 

8S8 

166 

1919. 

January 

90 

6 

3 

99 

960 

64 

1,024 

274 

February 

91 

6 

4 

101 

880 

106 

9S6 

261 

March 

90 

6 

4 

100 

SSO 

99 

979 

262 

April 

97 

4 

106 

913 

913 

270 

May 

87 

5 

4 

96 

877 

S77 

273 

June 

64 

4 

3 

71 

70S 

70S 

270 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  andsiek  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  woimded  figures,  above,  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held  in 
hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  command- 
ing generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States.  A.  G.  O., 
“E.  E.”  Misc,  Div.) 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL,  NEWPORT  NEWS,  VA.“ 

LOCATION. 

The  embarkation  hospital  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  was  located  to  the  east 
of  the  city  of  Newport  News,  along  the  shore  of  Hampton  Roads  and  adjacent 
to  Camp  Stuart  on  the  northeast,  the  total  area  occupied  by  the  hospital  being 
in  the  neighborhood  of  35  acres.  As  19  of  the  wards  of  the  hospital  were 
constructed  along  the  north  shore  of  Hampton  Roads,  within  a few  feet  of  the 
water’s  edge,  a beautiful  outlook  was  afforded.  The  advantages  of  the  location, 
however,  were  somewhat  offset  by  the  presence  of  Salters  Creek,  a small  tidal 
stream  which  skirted  the  boundary  of  the  hospital  grounds  and  created  a 
considerable  expanse  of  lowland  marsh.  The  creek  was  also  disadvantageous 
in  that  it  was  the  means  of  conveying  a large  amount  of  sewage  from  the 
northeastern  portion  of  the  city  of  Newport  News;  and  the  marshes  required  a 
great  amount  of  drainage  and  filling  in  in  order  to  prevent  them  from  becoming 
a serious  menace  by  reason  of  the  favorable  conditions  they  presented  for 
mosquito  breeding. 

The  terrain  was  flat  and  the  country  open  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
hospital  site.  This  ground  had  formerly  been  used  for  a truck  garden  and  was 
in  a high  stage  of  cultivation.  Its  soil  was  of  sand  and  as  the  hospital  site  was 
exposed  there  was  a resultant  high  degree  of  discomfort  from  flying  dust  in 
dry  weather,  ameliorated  somewhat  by  subsequent  planting  of  grass  and  flowers. 

The  climate  was  moderate  in  winter  and  the  heat  of  summer  was  tempered 
by  breezes. 

Good  roads  of  concrete  or  macadam  ran  directly  to  the  hospital,  making 
for  ease  of  access  from  the  camps  and  the  city  of  Newport  News,  and  a main  line 
of  the  street-car  system  passed  directly  through  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
hospital  grounds. 

BUILDINGS. 

Construction  of  the  hospital  continued  through  five  projects.  It  was 
originally  designed  to  accommodate  about  250  beds,  and  consisted  of  8 wards 
with  the  necessary  kitchens,  mess  halls,  quarters,  latrines,  and  storehouses, 
but  before  they  were  ready  for  occupancy  it  became  necessary  to  increase  the 
number  of  wards  to  16.  Six  wards  were  of  the  standard  one-story  type, 
designed  for  base  hospitals,  with  screened  porches  on  the  front  and  one  side. 
The  second  addition  to  the  hospital  was  begun  early  in  the  spring  of  1918,  and 
consisted  of  three  two-story  barrack  wards,  one  of  wood  and  two  of  hollow  tile 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va.,”  by 
Maj.  W.  C.  Rucker,  U.  S.  P.  H.  S.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


451 


EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL 
NEWPORT  NEWS,  VA. 


452 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


TTTBT-8  HiHOU 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


453 


and  stucco  construction.  At  the  same  time,  the  original  buildings  designed 
as  barracks  for  the  detachment  of  the  Medical  Department  were  converted  into 
wards,  made  possible  by  utilizing  camp  barrack  buildings  for  barracks  for  the 
hospital  personnel.  The  third  addition  to  the  hospital  was  started  early  in 
the  summer  of  1918,  and  comprised  three  isolation  wards,  six  two-story  barrack 
wards  and  five  two-story  standard  wards.  In  addition  to  these  wards,  one 
prison-ward  building,  one  large  kitchen  and  mess  hall,  and  additional  nurses’ 
quarters  were  developed  by  the  conversion  of  the  buildings  originally  designed 
as  storehouses;  and  one  building  was  especially  designed  for  the  housing  of 
the  activities  of  head  surgery,  the  dental  department,  and  the  department  of 
eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat. 

The  fourth  addition  was  started  before  the  completion  of  the  third,  in 
the  midsummer  of  1918,  and  consisted  of  the  development  of  the  necessary 


Pig.  159. — Headquarters,  Debarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va. 

utilities  to  serve  the  increased  capacity  of  the  hospital.  Additional  officers’ 
quarters,  storehouses,  and  the  conversion  of  two  standard  one-story  wards 
into  a building  for  the  accommodation  of  patient  officers  were  included.  This 
last  phase  of  construction  was  completed  about  January  1,  1919. 

A specially  designed  laboratory,  a large  two-story  hollow  tile  and  stucco 
building  completely  equipped  for  this  special  purpose,  was  erected  during  the 
winter  of  1918.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1918  a detention  camp  for  venereal 
disease  was  constructed  in  block  17  of  Camp  Stuart,  to  the  northwest  of  the 
hospital  grounds.  This  detention  camp  was  composed  of  103  tent  frames,  a 
large  mess  hall,  and  a treatment  house,  the  entire  camp  being  surrounded  by  an 
8-inch  wire-mesh  fence. 


454 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


During  the  fall  of  1918  two  more  camps  of  a similar  nature  were  designed, 
and  these  were  erected  on  a tract  of  leased  property  to  the  west  of  Camp  Stuart, 
and  extended  from  Hampton  Roads  northward  for  one-half  mile.  Construc- 
tion of  these  two  later  camps  was  completed  early  in  December,  1918. 

The  bed  capacity  of  the  hospital  at  its  completion  was  1,754  in  the  hos- 
pital proper,  and  1,800  in  the  three  venereal  camps,  making  a total  bed  capacity 
of  3,564. 

In  a general  way,  the  main  line  of  wards  extended  directly  along  the  shore 
of  Hampton  Roads;  and  the  buildings  used  for  administrative  purposes,  mess 


ft 


Fig.  160. — General  view  of  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va.,  showing  central  heating  plant. 


hall,  quarters  for  officers,  quarters  for  nurses,  storehouses,  etc.,  extended 
inland  from  the  wards,  all  buildings  being  connected  with  covered  corridors. 

OCCUPATION  OF  BUILDINGS. 

The  first  group  of  overseas  patients  arrived  on  the  U.  S.  S.  George  Wash- 
ington, on  January  18,  1918,  and  on  January  21,  1918,  the  hospital  proper  was 
opened,  but  the  barracks  in  block  2 of  Camp  Stuart  continued  to  be  used  for 
hospital  purposes  until  finally  closed  and  turned  back  to  the  camp  authorities 
on  April  2,  1918. 

HOSPITAL  WATER  SUPPLY. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  identical  with  that  of  Camp  Stuart  and  the 
city  of  Newport  News;  the  supply  for  Camp  Stuart  was  taken  directly  from  the 
city  mains.  Three  large  storage  tanks  located  near  the  entrance  to  the  camp 
guaranteed  an  adequate  reserve  and  sufficient  pressure  for  emergencies  and 
for  fire  protection. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


455 


SEWAGE. 

The  sewage  from  the  hospital  drained  into  the  main  sewer  of  Camp  Stuart, 
through  which  it  was  carried  to  two  septic  tanks,  the  affluent  flowing  into 
Salter  Creek  and  then  to  the  James  River.  The  septic  tanks  were  of  suffi- 
cient size  to  allow  for  five  to  six  hours  settling  time,  which  was  adequate  to 
render  the  affluent  free  of  harmful  organic  matter.  Surface  drainage  of  the 
grounds  was  maintained  by  ditching  and  by  storm  sewers  which  emptied  from 
one  main  outlet  directly  into  the  James  River. 

HOSPITAL  GARBAGE  DISPOSAL. 

Garbage  and  other  wastes  were  separated  into  the  following  classes : Fats, 
bone,  paper,  bottles,  rope,  tin  cans,  and  other  garbage.  Most  of  this  waste 
was  turned  over  to  the  reclamation  service,  the  remainder  being  disposed  of 
by  a private  concern. 

LAVATORIES  AND  BATHS. 

All  the  wards  except  the  temporary  wards  had  separate  bathrooms  with 
shower  and  tub  baths,  washbowls,  urinals,  and  closets.  The  temporary  wards, 
venereal  tent  hospital,  and  barracks  for  enlisted  personnel  were  equipped  with 
standard  latrines  adapted  for  camp  use.  These  latrines  furnished  toilet  facili- 
ties and  were  also  fitted  with  shower  baths  and  the  necessary  apparatus  for 
heating  water.  All  of  the  hospital  baths  and  latrines  were  fitted  with  modern 
plumbing  and  drained  into  the  general  sewerage  system  of  the  camp. 

HEATING. 

The  hospital  was  steam  heated  from  a central  plant,  which  also  furnished 
hot  water  for  the  various  wards  and  kitchens  by  a high  and  low  pressure  sys- 
tem. The  plant  was  equipped  with  10  boilers.  There  was  in  addition  a sepa- 
rate smaller  plant  for  maintaining  the  sterilizers  and  for  heating  the  operating 
rooms  in  case  of  emergency. 

HOSPITAL  LIGHTING. 

The  buildings  and  the  grounds  of  the  hospital  were  lighted  by  electricity, 
which  was  obtained  from  Newport  News.  For  lighting  purposes  this  was 
adequate,  but  much  difficulty  was  encountered  in  securing  the  current  neces- 
sary for  the  successful  operation  of  the  X-ray  apparatus. 

HOSPITAL  KITCHEN  AND  MESS. 

The  hospital  mess  comprised  three  separate  establishments : One  for  officers, 
one  for  nurses,  and  one  for  the  patients  and  enlisted  personnel.  The  officers’ 
mess  consisted  of  two  kitchens  and  mess  haffs,  each  of  which  had  its  own 
organization  and  management.  The  nurses’  mess  comprised  one  kitchen  and 
mess  hafl,  located  in  the  nurses’  quarters,  and  was  operated  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  chief  nurse.  For  the  feeding  of  the  enlisted  personnel  and  patients 
seven  kitchens  and  mess  halls  were  maintained  under  the  direction  of  the 
hospital  mess  officer.  Five  of  these  kitchens  were  of  the  standard  type,  built 


456 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  TN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


for  the  various  camps  and  cantonments,  for  the  feeding  of  troops,  two  of  them 
being  used  for  feeding  the  detachment  of  enlisted  men,  and  three  were  con- 
nected with  the  venereal  camp  hospital  and  the  temporary  wards,  where  the 
patients  were  suffering  only  from  such  ailments  as  would  not  prevent  their 
going  a short  distance  for  their  meals.  The  remaining  two  kitchens  were  for 
feeding  patients  at  the  hospital  proper.  One  of  these,  a smaller  kitchen  origi- 
nally designed  for  the  mess  of  the  detachment,  prepared  only  regular  diets 
for  patients  from  wards  14  to  19.  All  of  the  other  cooking  was  accomplished 
at  the  main  kitchen,  which  was  located  centrally  and  was  equipped  with  mod- 
ern kitchen  appliances,  such  as  steam  boilers,  ranges,  and  dish-washing 
machinery.  One  of  these  rooms  was  entirely  devoted  to  the  preparation  of 


Fig.  161. — Interior  of  power  and  heating  plant,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya. 


special  diets,  with  a trained  dietitian  in  charge.  The  main  storeroom  for  food 
supplies  and  for  meats  was  also  located  at  this  place.  Foods  to  be  served  in 
the  wards  were  conveyed  from  the  kitchen  in  food  carts.  Each  ward  had 
a small  diet  kitchen,  equipped  with  an  electric  stove  and  steam  table,  where 
the  food  received  from  the  main  kitchen  could,  if  necessary,  he  reheated  and 
served.  Easily  cooked  articles,  such  as  eggs,  were  prepared  hi  these  ward 
kitchens,  and  cutlery  and  dishes  for  use  in  the  wards  were  also  cleaned  and 
stored  there.  An  additional  kitchen  and  mess  hall  to  be  used  exclusively  for 
wards  containing  patients  suffering  from  contagious  diseases  was  later  con- 
structed. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


457 


HOSPITAL  LAUNDRY. 

Although  a building  was  erected  for  use  as  a hospital  laundry,  it  was 
never  placed  in  operation  because  of  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  essential 
machinery.  A large  steam  sterilizer  for  the  sterilization  of  clothing  and  bed- 
ding occupied  one  end  of  this  building,  the  remaining  space  being  used  largely 
for  storage  purposes.  The  need  of  a laundry  for  the  hospital  was  felt  greatly, 
as  the  laundry  at  Camp  Stuart  was  often  overtaxed  and  therefore  unable  to 
to  render  the  prompt  service  necessary  to  meet  hospital  demands. 

QUARTERS. 


Officers  on  duty  at  the  embarkation  hospital  were  furnished  quarters  at 
the  hospital.  Two  buildings  were  in  use  for  this  purpose  and  were  known  as 


Fig.  162— Nurses’  recreation  building.  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va. 


officers’  quarters  No.  1 and  No.  2.  Officers’  quarters  No.  1 was  the  building 
originally  designed  for  housing  the  officers,  but,  although  additions  were  made 
later,  it  proved  entirely  inadequate,  and  on  April  1,  191S,  officers’  quarters 
No.  2 was  established  in  the  barracks  originally  occupied  by  officers  of  one  of 
the  Infantry  regiments.  The  hospital  then  had  quarters  for  the  accommodation 
of  about  90  officers.  The  buildings  were  partitioned  into  rooms,  each  of  which 
was  occupied  by  two  officers.  Bathrooms  and  mess  halls  were  located  in  each 
building.  A four-room  cottage  pleasantly  located  on  the  back,  overlooking 
Hampton  Roads,  was  set  aside  for  quarters  for  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
hospital. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  hospital,  requiring,  as  it  did,  increased  quarters 
for  officers,  likewise  soon  led  to  a shortage  of  quarters  for  nurses.  As  originally 
planned  the  nurses’  quarters  were  identical  in  size  and  construction  with  the 


458 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


officers’  quarters  and  did  not  permit  of  further  additions.  Consequently, 
authority  was  requested  and  granted  to  make  the  changes  necessary  to  convert 
storehouse  No.  1,  located  near  by,  into  a suitable  nurses’  quarters.  This  was 
done  and  they  were  occupied  on  July  6,  1918.  Storehouse  No.  2 was  trans- 
formed into  quarters  with  an  accommodation  of  about  150  nurses.  The  nurses’ 
quarters  were  very  comfortable  and  well  heated.  A recreation  house  for  the 
nurses  was  supplied  by  the  American  Red  Cross  and  was  completed  in  October, 
1918.  It  was  located  in  a very  desirable  place  on  the  water  front  and  was  a 
source  of  great  pleasure  and  usefulness  to  the  nurses. 

HOSPITAL  STOREHOUSES. 

There  were  two  large  storehouses  connected  with  the  hospital.  One  of 
these  storehouses  was  used  for  the  storage  of  Medical  Department  supplies 
and  one  for  the  storage  of  quartermaster  property.  They  contained  the 
offices  of  the  medical  supply  officer  and  the  quartermaster,  respectively. 
Storage  space,  however,  was  entirely  inadequate  and  it  was  necessary  to  use 
temporary  structures  for  this  purpose. 

FIRE  PROTECTION. 

At  its  inception  the  embarkation  hospital  had  practically  no  protection 
against  fire.  Four  telephones  were  installed  in  November,  1917,  providing 
the  only  means  of  communication  through  Camp  Stuart  to  the  nearest  fire 
company,  a municipal  company  on  Twenty-fifth  Street.  No  additional 
telephones  were  installed  until  January  1,  1918,  when  an  order  was  issued 
causing  the  installation  of  a switchboard  and  20  telephones.  In  December, 
1918,  owing  to  the  rapid  growth  of  the  hospital,  anew  switchboard  to  accom- 
modate 100  telephones  was  authorized,  although  this  was  not  installed  until 
April,  1919.  While  not  comparable  in  rapidity  and  accuracy  with  fire-alarm 
boxes  for  the  report  of  a fire  to  the  engine  house,  the  telephone  system,  until 
April  15,  1919,  was  almost  the  only  communication  with  fire-engine  companies. 
In  January,  1918,  Engine  Company  No.  3,  consisting  of  15  men,  was  recruited 
from  among  the  firemen  of  the  larger  cities  and  placed  in  commission  at  Camp 
Stuart  on  the  25tli  of  that  month.  Engine  Company  No.  4,  in  Camp  Stuart, 
recruited  from  post  organizations,  did  not  go  into  commission  until  September, 
1918.  The  first  fire-alarm  boxes  were  installed  but  their  installation  was  not 
completed  until  September  28,  1918.  They  were  placed  at  long  intervals 
and  were  completely  omitted  from  the  isolation  and  Chestnut  group  of  buildings. 

In  the  fall  of  1918  the  constructing  quartermaster  began  work  on  the 
roads  and  fire  trails  around  and  through  the  hospital.  Previous  to  that  tune 
two  tarvia  roads  had  been  built,  one  in  front  of  officers’  quarters,  adminis- 
tration building,  and  receiving  wards,  and  the  other  running  past  the  power 
plant  and  nurses’  quarters  to  storehouses  Nos.  4 and  5.  Necessarily,  in  muddy 
weather,  a great  portion  of  the  hospital  could  not  be  reached  by  the  heavy 
fire  trucks,  so  beginning  in  October,  1918,  ramps  were  cut  across  all  corridors 
and  tarvia  fire  trails  were  built,  thus  making  fire  hydrants  easily  accessible 
to  fire-fighting  apparatus.  One  fire  trail  was  greatly  delayed  in  the  building 
because  of  the  hydraulic  fill.  In  place  of  the  tarvia  road  over  this  fill,  a road- 
way of  2-inch  lumber  was  built  from  the  laundry,  thus  making  the  fire  hydrants 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


459 


in  that  section  easy  of  access.  In  January,  1918,  three  hose  reels  were  installed 
by  the  constructing  quartermaster,  one  on  the  corridor  of  ward  6,  one  at 
ward  16,  and  the  other  at  officers’  quarters  No.  2. 

In  January,  1918,  seven  months  after  the  opening  of  the  hospital,  the  first 
chemical  fire  extinguishers  were  put  in,  numbering  about  70.  Six  months 
later  50  additional  extinguishers  were  obtained,  but  it  was  not  until  March, 
1919,  that  the  hospital  was  able  to  secure  chemical  carts,  at  which  time  14 
40-gallon  pumps  were  delivered  and  placed  advantageously  about  the  corridors. 
The  full  equipment  in  April,  1919,  comprised  309  3-gallon  extinguishers,  14 
40-gallon  chemical  trucks,  and  3 hose  reels,  complete. 

Until  October,  1918,  one  6-inch  main  from  Camp  Stuart  furnished  the  hos- 
pital with  water.  In  this  month  an  additional  8-inch  main  was  connected  with 
the  hospital  system,  the  two  mains  giving  ample  water  supply  when  Camp 
Stuart  was  not  full  of  troops,  but  when  many  water  outlets  were  in  use  those 
farthest  from  the  main  could  not  get  water  at  all.  Camp  Stuart  itself  had  but 
one  12-inch  main  until  April,  1919,  when  an  additional  16-inch  main  was  laid. 

In  April,  1919,  the  Aero  Fire  Alarm  Company  completed  the  installation  of 
the  fire-alarm  system.  This  system  was  both  automatic  and  mechanical.  The 
automatic  part  consisted  of  circuits  of  one-sixteenth-inch  copper  tubing,  ter- 
minating in  unit  sets  of  fire-alarm  boxes.  This  tubing,  strung  over  the  ceilings 
of  rooms  and  corridors,  contained  air  at  atmospheric  pressure  which,  expanding 
when  subjected  to  heat,  vibrated  a delicate  diaphragm  releasing  a drop,  thus 
completing  the  circuit  to  the  transmitter  which,  in  turn,  transmitted  the  cur- 
rent to  all  the  devices  that  rang  the  gongs  and  punched  the  recording  tapes  at 
all  such  installed  apparatus.  An  automatic  interlocking  device  prevented  any 
confusion  resulting  from  simultaneous  alarms,  one  alarm  being  held  until  the 
other  was  completed,  allowing  an  appreciable  interval,  when  the  second  alarm 
was  released  and  recorded  by  gongs  and  tape.  An  automatic  device  recorded 
the  air  pressure  so  as  to  prevent  false  alarms  resulting  from  a sudden  rise  in 
temperature  due  to  natural  causes. 

In  the  embarkation  hospital  the  automatic-alarm  system  comprised  62 
circuits,  using  approximately  95,000  feet  of  tubing.  The  whole  hospital  was 
thoroughly  wired,  and  the  62  unit  sets  were  placed  one  in  each  ward  and  at 
frequent  intervals  elsewhere  about  the  hospital.  Gongs  were  placed  in  the 
home  of  the  commanding  officer,  in  the  administration  building,  in  the  main 
mess  hall,  in  officers’  quarters  No.  1,  and  in  the  nurses’  quarters.  Punch 
registers,  which  accurately  recorded  the  number  of  the  box  sending  in  the 
alarm,  were  placed  in  the  administrative  building  and  in  the  mess  hall. 

So  far  as  equipment  went,  the  embarkation  hospital  was  not  completely 
protected  until  after  the  hospital  had  been  in  service  17  months.  During  the 
construction  period  the  heaps  of  debris  from  carpenter  work  constituted  a 
dangerous  fire  hazard.  <!No  smoking”  signs  were  posted  and  armed  guards 
enforced  the  order  so  far  as  it  was  possible.  A fire  patrol  was  on  duty  day  and 
night  and  all  persons  working  or  living  in  the  hospital  were  warned  that  ex- 
treme caution  was  necessary  to  prevent  the  start  of  a fire,  on  account  of  the 
hazard  existing  in  the  wooden  structures  of  which  the  hospital  was  composed. 
The  detachment,  Medical  Department,  was  drilled  three  times  a week  in  the 
mechanism  of  minor  fire-fighting  appliances,  and  all  equipment  was  inspected 
daily. 


460 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ORGANIZATION. 

In  the  discussion  of  the  general  hospitalization  problem  of  the  port  of  em- 
barkation, Newport  News,  mention  was  made  of  the  difficulties  incident  to  the 
acquisition  of  adequate  hospital  facilities  during  the  year  1917,  and  the  neces- 
sity for  the  use  of  converted  barracks  buildings  pending  the  completion  of  the 
specially  constructed  embarkation  hospital.  Thus,  though  troops  were  hos- 
pitalized in  the  converted  barracks  as  a temporary  expedient,  an  organization 
was  affected  to  permit  of  their  proper  use  as  a hospital  in  November,  1917.  As 
a matter  of  fact,  however,  the  permanent  organization  of  the  hospital  dates 
from  the  opening  of  the  main  hospital  group,  January  14,  1918. 

FUNCTION. 

As  its  name  implies,  the  original  intention  for  the  use  of  this  hospital  was  as 
an  embarkation  hospital  for  the  main  purpose  of  caring  for  the  physically 
incapacitated  eliminated  from  troops  embarking  for  overseas;  but,  as  it  was  the 
earliest  large  hospital  opened  at  Newport  News,  and,  throughout,  was  the 
only  hospital  at  the  port  possessing  facilities  for  the  care  of  contagious  disease 
cases,  its  operation  in  a dual  capacity  was  forced:  combining  the  functions  of 
base  hospital,  serving  the  personnel  on  duty  at  the  port,  with  those  of  an  essen- 
tial embarkation  hospital.  Later,  after  the  armistice,  when  the  human  tide 
turned  and  the  overseas  sick  and  wounded  began  to  be  debarked  in  great 
numbers,  the  embarkation  hospital  had  its  role  partly  reversed  and  it  became 
the  principal  debarkation  hospital  at  the  port  of  Neivport  News. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

The  threefold  phase  of  the  character  of  work  performed  at  the  hospital 
necessitated  that  its  administrative  functions  be  so  arranged  as  to  readdy  meet 
the  needs  of  the  varying  situation.  It  was  practically  impossible  to  develop 
any  immediate  relations  between  the  hospital  and  the  various  regimental 
infirmaries,  such  as  those  winch  existed  at  the  large  cantonments  where  the 
organizations  were  more  permanent. 

The  troops  arriving  at  the  port  were  given  a medical  examination  before 
their  departure,  and  it  frequently  happened  that  large  groups  of  patients  were 
sent  to  the  hospital  only  a few  hours,  or  at  best  but  a few  days,  before  the  organi- 
zation to  which  they  belonged  embarked.  Regimental  surgeons  and  camp 
commanders  were  pressed  with  the  business  of  getting  the  troops  aboard, 
which  added  to  the  administrative  difficulties  in  the  hospital.  It  necessitated 
an  elastic  organization  which  could  meet  the  routine  needs  and  at  the  same  time 
be  prepared  for  the  rapid  reception  and  evacuation  of  large  numbers  of  sick  and 
wounded.  The  vast  amount  of  paper  work  comprehended  in  the  admission, 
classification,  payment,  and  transshipment  of  several  hundred  patients  in  a 
single  day  made  it  necessary  to  correlate  the  functions  of  the  hospital  so  that 
when  occasion  demanded  work  could  be  performed  at  top  speed  without  main- 
taining an  extravagantly  large  office  force  between  peak  loads.  This  force  was 
kept  at  a minimum  until  the  receipt  of  large  numbers  of  overseas  sick  and 
wounded  made  enlargement  imperative,  to  permit  the  speed}'  handling  of 
patients  who  had  to  be  received,  classified,  and  evacuated  rapidly,  in  order  to 
prevent  permanent  congestion  of  the  port. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


461 


The  organization  of  the  hospital  was  the  result  of  a series  of  evolutionary 
changes,  and  while  it  was,  in  some  respects,  quite  different  from  the  average 
base  hospital,  it  may  be  stated  that  its  organization  scheme  was  so  successful 
as  to  warrant  its  adoption,  with  very  slight  modifications,  for  any  future  hospital 
for  embarking  and  debarking  troops. 

All  of  the  functions  of  the  hospital  were  grouped  under  the  commanding 
officer,  with  the  executive  officer  and  adjutant  as  intermediaries. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICER. 

In  a broad  way  the  executive  officer  handled  administrative  details,  which 
included  sanitation,  discipline,  prisoners,  morale,  intelligence,  inspections, 
fire  prevention,  construction,  utilities,  the  distribution  of  labor,  and  the  coordi- 
nation of  nonmilitary  activities. 

Distribution  of  Labor. 

The  distribution  of  labor  was  effected  through  a permanent  labor  cadre  to 
each  department,  the  labor  in  excess  of  actual  needs  being  thrown  into  a 
labor  pool  which  was  used  for  outside  police  and  similar  duties.  From  this 
pool  labor  was  assigned  to  the  various  departments  as  need  arose,  and  when 
an  emergency  ceased  it  was  returned  to  the  pool. 

Nonmilitary  Activities. 

In  order  to  harmonize  the  various  organizations  of  the  nonmilitary  activi- 
ties, they  were  placed  under  the  direction  of  the  executive  officer.  The  provi- 
sions of  General  Orders,  No.  17,  War  Department,  1918,  gave  the  fullest  military 
recognition  to  the  personnel  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  and  the  detachment 
of  officers  from  this  organization  were  thereafter  attached  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  hospital,  who  issued  orders  whereby  the  senior  Red  Cross  officer 
was  designated  as  director.  The  subordinates  of  the  director  reported  to  him, 
and  were  then  placed  on  duty  in  the  hospital  by  competent  military  authority. 
Orders  were  transmitted  through  the  director  to  his  subordinates,  and  all  com- 
munications were  forwarded  through  the  director  to  the  commanding  officer. 
Copies  of  letters  from  the  director  to  higher  authorities  of  the  American  Red 
Cross  involving  questions  of  policy,  administration,  or  supply  were  furnished 
the  commanding  officer.  Strict  orders  were  issued  that  no  supplies  were  to  be 
furnished  to  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital  or  to  individuals  unless  approval 
of  the  executive  officer  had  been  obtained. 

Weekly  meetings  were  held  of  a board  composed  of  the  executive  officer, 
the  chaplain,  and  representatives  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  Knights  of 
Columbus,  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  and  Young  Men’s  Hebrew  Asso- 
ciation. This  board  discussed  (pies lions  of  policy  and  activities  as  they  affected 
the  personnel  and  patients  of  the  hospital. 

ADJUTANT. 

The  duties  of  the  adjutant  did  not  differ  materially  from  those  usually 
vested  in  that  officer. 


462 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN’  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Information  Office. 

The  information  office  was  organized  as  a subdivision  of  the  adjutant’s 
office  about  the  middie  of  March,  1918,  an  officer  being  assigned  as  information 
officer.  His  duties  in  the  beginning  were  mainly  to  ascertain  from  the  ward 
surgeons  the  names  of  all  seriously  ill,  and  to  send  notes  by  letter  or  telegram, 
depending  upon  the  seriousness  of  the  case,  to  the  nearest  relative,  giving  infor- 
mation as  to  the  condition  of  the  patient  in  question.  Subsequent  telegrams 
were  sent  until  the  patient  was  out  of  danger.  The  information  officer  also 
interviewed  visiting  relatives  of  seriously  ill  patients,  explaining  the  condition 
of  the  patients  and  assisting  the  relatives  in  any  way  possible,  and  all  inquiries 
concerning  the  physical  condition  of  patients  were  referred  to  the  information 
office. 

In  compliance  with  instructions  from  the  port  surgeon  and  orders  from  the 
Surgeon  General’s  Office,  the  information  officer  was  also  directed  to  send  notes 
as  soon  as  possible  to  the  relatives  of  all  patients  received  from  overseas,  includ- 
ing a brief  statement  of  the  patient’s  injury  and  whether  or  not  the  condition 
was  serious  or  likely  to  lead  to  immediate  death.  In  order  to  accomplish  this, 
ward  surgeons  were  charged  with  the  duty  of  filling  out  cards  bearing  the  neces- 
sary data  for  the  information  officer.  The  Red  Cross  officers  assisted  in  sending 
out  these  notices. 

Upon  receipt  of  General  Orders  No.  S4,  Headquarters,  Port  of  Embarkation, 
1918,  which  directed  that  a special  officer  be  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
necessary  work  in  connection  with  deaths  at  the  hospital,  the  information 
officer  was  assigned  as  the  officer  in  charge  of  deaths,  in  addition  to  his  other 
duties.  Upon  the  death  of  a soldier  in  the  hospital  his  commanding  officer 
was  at  once  notified  by  telephone  and  this  message  was  confirmed  by  letter. 

Reports  required  by  Army  Regulations  were  made  out  by  the  information 
officer  and  the  desired  disposition  of  the  body  of  a deceased  patient  was 
requested  by  telegram,  from  the  patient’s  relatives.  When  no  information 
of  disposition  was  received  after  the  lapse  of  72  hours,  authority  was  granted 
to  bury  the  deceased  at  the  Hampton  National  Cemetery.  In  such  cases  it 
was  the  duty  of  the  information  officer  to  arrange  for  the  proper  burial  of 
the  dead,  which  meant  obtaining  the  necessary  transportation  to  the  cemetery, 
securing  the  firing  squad  and  the  services  of  a chaplain  and  sending  the  proper 
notification  to  the  superintendent  of  the  cemetery.  In  cases  where  relatives  of 
the  deceased  were  present  at  the  time  of  death,  it  devolved  upon  the  information 
officer  to  interview  them  and  acquaint  them  with  the  provisions  of  Army  Regu- 
lations covering  deaths  of  soldiers;  to  obtain  from  them  the  necessary  dis- 
position of  the  effects  of  the  deceased;  when  it  was  their  desire  to  have  a 
military  escort  accompany  the  bodv7  home,  to  obtain  the  necessary  orders  for 
such  escort;  and,  in  general,  to  assist  the  relatives  in  any  way  possible. 

The  signing  of  the  armistice  made  it  possible  to  allow  a greater  degree 
of  freedom  to  tlie  patients  and  to  persons  coming  to  the  hospital  as  visitors. 
The  question  then  of  the  entertainment  of  returned  overseas  patients  who 
were  ambulatory  and  were  able  to  leave  the  hospital  arose.  Numerous  requests 
were  constantly  received  that  patients  might  be  allowed  to  leave  the  hospital 
to  visit  homes  of  civilians  in  the  city  and  in  neighboring  towns,  and  from 
theaters  and  moving  picture  places  that  groups  of  soldiers  be  sent  there  for 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


463 


free  entertainment.  These  requests  became  so  numerous  that  frequently  it 
was  impracticable  to  give  them  adequate  attention.  The  information  officer 
was  charged  with  the  duty  of  receiving  all  such  requests  and  instructing  persons 
as  to  existing  orders  on  this  subject,  as  well  as  obtaining  men  who  were  in 
proper  physical  condition  for  the  assignment  of  them  as  assistants  to  the 
patients  granted  leave  from  the  hospital. 

Evacuation  of  Patients. 

As  the  number  of  overseas  patients  rapidly  increased  from  January  18, 
1918,  authority  was  obtained  to  evacuate  them  as  soon  as  practicable,  and 
the  following  system  was  instituted:  On  then*  arrival,  overseas  patients  were 
examined  and  classified  by  medical  officers,  the  result  of  this  classification 
being  at  once  telegraphed  to  the  Surgeon  General  who  assigned  cases  to  various 
hospitals  in  the  interior.  Based  upon  these  destinations  furnished  by  the 
Surgeon  General,  authority  was  obtained  from  the  commanding  general  to 
move  patients  to  the  hospitals  indicated.  This  system  not  only  permitted 
of  speedy  evacuation  but  resulted  in  the  disabled  soldier  being  sent  to  the 
place  where  he  received  the  best  care,  in  an  institution  as  near  his  home  as 
possible. 

After  the  disposition  of  patients  had  been  obtained  from  the  Surgeon 
General  and  the  necessary  orders  had  been  received  from  headquarters  of  the 
port,  a second  letter  was  sent  to  relatives  notifying  them  to  what  hospital 
and  upon  what  date  various  patients  were  transferred,  in  order  that  any 
further  inquiries  could  be  correctly  addressed. 

registrar’s  office. 

While  the  organization  of  the  registrar’s  office  was  quite  similar  to  that 
in  the  ordinary  base  hospitals,  it  was  so  arranged  that  it  met  many  special 
situations  as  they  arose.  To  this  end  the  personnel  adjutant  was  placed  under 
the  registrar  instead  of  under  the  adjutant.  This  was  found  necessary  because 
of  the  very  complicated  service  records  and  pay  accounts  of  debarking  patients 
who  were  under  command  of  the  commanding  officer  of  patients  and  therefore 
under  jurisdiction  of  the  registrar.  The  personnel  officer  assumed  charge  of  the 
service  records  of  all  patients  in  the  hospital.  Pay  cards  were  kept  and  pay  rolls 
prepared  so  that  patients  in  the  hospital  were  paid  at  the  end  of  the  month 
without  recourse  to  their  company  or  regimental  organizations.  In  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  a general  order  issued  by  the  commanding  general  of  the 
port,  all  service  records  of  soldiers  entering  the  hospital  were  to  be  delivered 
at  the  hospital  within  24  hours  thereafter.  This  order  also  specified  definitely 
just  what  property  was  to  be  sent  to  the  hospital  with  the  soldier.  With  actual 
control  of  the  soldier  patient  thus  given  the  hospital,  much  of  the  confusion 
prior  to  that  time  was  done  away  with,  and  the  personnel  office  so  discharged 
its  functions  as  to  prove  the  wisdom  of  this  addition  to  the  hospital  organization. 

Personnel  Office. 

The  personnel  office  was  opened  on  June  1,  1918,  but  received  very  few 
overseas  patients  before  September  2,  1918,  when  the  first  sick  and  wounded 
from  overseas  began  arriving  regularly  at  this  hospit  al.  As  these  patients 


464 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


were  unaccompanied  by  service  records,  a partial  payment  plan  was  used  and 
a partial  payment  of  $7.50  was  made  to  each  patient  who  desired  pay.  From 
that  time  until  December  15,  1918,  587  men  were  paid  in  this  manner.  On  the 
latter  date  a letter  was  received  from  the  Director  of  Finance,  War  Department, 
under  date  of  December  12,  1918,  giving  authority  for  the  full  payment  of  all 
overseas  patients  arriving  at  the  hospital  and  having  pay  due.  The  methods 
pursued  thereafter  were  in  the  following  manner:  A list  of  patients  sent  to 
each  ward  was  obtained  from  the  receiving  office  and  the  wards  divided  into 
four  groups,  each  group  containing  about  the  same  number  of  patients,  .in 
officer  (with  summary  court  power) , eight  typists  and  two  clerks  were  assigned 
to  each  group  or  section:  and  the  procedure  of  taking  affidavits,  arranging 
service  records,  pay  cards,  and  pay  rolls  was  commenced.  Seven  of  the  typists 
were  assigned  to  take  affidavits,  one  clerk  to  make  service  records  and  pay 
cards,  the  summary  court  officer  following  the  team  to  administer  oaths  to  the 
patients  and  to  collect  the  affidavits.  These  records  were  turned  over  to  the 
pay-roll  team,  one  clerk  and  one  typist.  One  clerk  figured  on  the  allotments 
and  insurance,  from  information  on  the  affidavits,  and  dictated  the  pay-roll 
data  to  the  typist.  After  the  roll  was  completed  for  each  ward,  it  was  signed 
and  immediately  sent  to  the  quartermaster  for  figuring  while  the  team  pro- 
ceeded with  the  work  in  other  wards. 

After  all  the  rules  were  completed  and  sent  to  the  quartermaster,  and  the 
money  was  ready  for  payment,  practically  the  same  method  as  that  described 
above  was  used  for  the  payment  of  the  men.  The  rolls  were  divided  into  four 
sections;  and  two  officers  and  enlisted  men  were  assigned  to  each  section,  the 
money  being  taken  to  the  wards  and  paid  to  the  men  directly. 

The  work  connected  with  the  preparation  of  affidavits  was  very  slow 
because  of  the  necessity  for  accuracy,  so  that  a team  of  one  officer,  eight  typists, 
and  two  clerks  could  complete  only  about  200  affidavits,  service  records,  and  pay 
cards  per  day,  although  a maximum  of  250  was  reached.  The  personnel  office 
during  the  months  of  December,  1918,  and  January,  1919,  was  equipped  to 
take  affidavits,  make  service  records  and  pay  cards,  and  indorse  them  to  general 
and  base  hospitals  at  the  rate  of  about  250  per  day;  and  that  schedule  was 
maintained  from  December  15,  1918,  until  the  middle  of  January,  1919,  when 
the  shipments  from  overseas  were  greatly  decreased.  From  the  time  that  full 
payment  to  overseas  patients  was  commenced,  on  December  15,  1918,  until 
April  15,  1919,  approximately  11,000  cases  were  handled.  These  all  received 
their  full  pay  on  their  own  affidavits  except  about  400  men  who  were  either 
absent,  too  ill  to  sign  the  rolls,  or  had  no  pay  due  them.  Of  the  11,000  cases 
received  after  December  15,  1918,  only  about  2,400  were  accompanied  by 
service  records,  and  later  about  40  per  cent  of  the  patients  were  received  with 
records  in  their  possession. 

Because  of  the  fact  that  very  few  service  records  accompanied  the  patients 
returned  from  overseas,  and  also  because  the  few  that  were  received  were  in- 
complete regarding  pay  status,  it  became  customary  to  take  affidavits  from  all 
patients  arriving.  On  comparing  affidavits  and  service  records  few  discrepancies 
were  found.  As  nearly  all  of  the  patients  were  anxious  to  have  their  pay  records 
straightened  out  before  going  to  a general  hospital,  and  as  some  wished  to  go 
home  on  furlough,  full  payment  on  affidavits  was  welcomed  by  all  of  them. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


465 


Surgeon’s  Certificate  of  Disability. 

Many  of  the  patients,  sent  to  the  hospital  as  a result  of  the  port  embarka- 
tion inspection  of  troops,  were  found  to  be  unlit  for  further  service  in  the  Army, 
or  at  least  for  foreign  service;  consequently,  there  were  discharged  from  the 
hospital  alone  several  hundred  patients,  on  surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability, 
which  number  does  not  include  patients  who  returned  to  their  organizations 
for  discharge  on  surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability.  In  addition  to  those  recom- 
mended for  discharge,  approximately  600  patients  were  classed  as  fit  for  domestic 
service  only. 

For  a considerable  time  all  men  selected  as  suitable  for  discharge  for  dis- 
ability, were  admitted  to  the  hospital  as  patients,  examined,  carried  through  to 
completion  of  their  papers,  and  discharged  at  the  hospital.  This  plan  was  found 
to  operate  much  more  smoothly  than  by  having  numerous  boards  scattered 
throughout  the  command.  Later,  the  scheme  was  modified  to  the  extent  that 
after  the  fourth  indorsement  of  the  certificate  of  disability  had  been  completed, 
the  man  concerned  was  transferred  to  either  Camp  Hill  or  Camp  Alexander,  and 
the  actual  discharge  given  at  one  or  the  other  of  these  places  by  the  local 
commanding  officer.  All  of  the  papers  in  the  case,  however,  were  prepared  by 
the  disability  board  of  the  hospital. 

PROPERTY  ADMINISTRATION. 

As  will  be  readily  understood,  it  was  not  necessary  to  keep  the  entire 
hospital  plant  in  operation  at  any  one  time,  excepting  during  periods  of  stress 
produced  by  the  sudden  reception  of  large  bodies  of  sick  and  wounded.  There- 
fore, in  order  to  obtain  the  maximum  flexibility  in  property  administration 
and  to  provide  for  the  constant  opening  and  closing  of  wards  and  the  con- 
tinual expansion  and  contraction  of  patient  personnel,  questions  of  property 
in  the  medical  and  surgical  service  were  handled  through  one  officer  detailed 
to  each  service.  Each  of  these  officers  was  under  the  command  of  the  respec- 
tive chief  of  service.  This  made  it  possible  for  the  chief  of  service  to  keep 
constantly  in  touch  with  the  situation  of  the  service  and  to  shift  property 
from  one  place  to  another  so  as  to  settle  emergencies  as  they  arose,  at  the  same 
time  keeping  track  of  the  property  and  the  property  accountability  of  persons 
connected  therewith.  Thus  it  was  practicable  to  perform  the  maximum 
amount  of  work  with  the  minimum  amount  of  property.  The  plan  worked 
extremely  well  and  the  amount  of  property  shortage  was  reduced  to  a very 
small  figure.  It  had  the  additional  advantage  of  relieving  men  who  were  doing 
technical  professional  work  from  a series  of  vexatious  details  which  would  have 
materially  interfered  with  the  performance  of  medical  and  surgical  duties. 

PROFESSIONAL  DEPARTMENTS. 

MEDICAL  SERVICE. 

In  the  organization  of  the  clinical  service  at  the  hospital  two  large  divisions 
were  maintained,  that  is,  medical  and  surgical.  Each  of  these  was  subdivided 
into  the  groups  of  disease  occurring  under  them,  with  a medical  officer  in  charge 
who  was  directly  responsible  to  the  chief  of  service.  Thus,  the  medical  service 
included  general  medical  cases,  contagious  diseases,  and  neuropsychiatric  con- 
ditions. 

45269°— 23 30 


466 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  medical  service  at  the  embarkation  hospital  presented  problems  that 
were  unique,  fascinating,  and  a real  test  of  efficiency.  Few  other  American 
military  hospitals  presented  so  complete  a range  of  medical  military  service. 
It  had,  first,  the  sick  from  the  camps  tributary  to  and  served  by  the  port,  which 
furnished  all  the  medical  problems,  clinical  and  pathological,  found  at  the  can- 
tonments; second,  the  handling  and  disposition  of  the  physically  defective 
culled  through  the  physical  preembarkation  examination  of  organizations 
going  overseas;  third,  the  examination,  classification,  treatment,  and  clearing 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  returned  from  overseas.  Thus,  it  was  necessary  to 
render  service  to  every  class  of  soldier  except  those  immediately  on  the  firing 
line.  The  bulk  and  variety  of  work  handled,  therefore,  required  a highly  ver- 
satile specialized  organization.  Any  delay  or  inefficiency  would  have  speedily 
resulted  in  the  hopeless  clogging  of  the  plant  which  was  receiving  patients  from 
every  direction.  All  officers,  from  the  chiefs  of  service  down,  came  from  civilian 
life  and  included  very  few  who  had  spent  more  than  a few  days  or  weeks  at  one 
of  the  training  camps,  which  rendered  them  more  or  less  proficient  along  general 
lines,  but  of  little  service  so  far  as  hospital  administration  was  concerned.  In 
addition  to  the  professional  and  military  duties,  certain  of  the  officers  were 
ordered  to  duty  as  transport  surgeons,  or  to  fill  vacancies  arising  in  organiza- 
tions prior  to  going  overseas.  Thus,  the  medical  staff  of  the  embarkation 
hospital  became  a reserve  for  those  purposes.  For  the  above  outlined  reasons 
and  to  establish  a uniformity  of  technique,  clinics  and  classes  for  instruction, 
both  along  professional,  administrative  and  military  lines,  were  established  in 
the  medical  service  and  they  proved  to  he  of  tremendous  value  both  for  the 
reasons  indicated  and  for  the  establishment  of  a splendid  esprit  de  corps.  The 
clinical  material  was  so  abundant  and  of  such  exceptional  interest  that  every 
officer  grew  tremendously  in  professional  value.  This  applied  especially  to  the 
clinics  using  the  cardiovascular,  contagious,  and  nervous  diseases  material. 

The  ward  surgeons  were  compelled  to  make  accurate  diagnoses  and  estab- 
lish efficient  therapeutics;  and  to  insure  that  such  was  done,  a system  of  ward 
supervision  was  established.  The  chief  of  service  made  daily  rounds  of  all 
wards,  seeing  cases  in  consultation  and  checking  ward  administration.  The 
assistant  chiefs  made  frequent  bed  checks  of  all  wards,  sending  a written 
report  to  the  chief  as  to  the  status  of  each  patient.  This  kept  the  ward  sur- 
geons from  becoming  carelesss  in  the  handling  of  patients  and  gave  needed 
help  in  the  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  difficult  cases. 

One  of  the  assistant  chiefs  of  service  saw  each  patient  who  was  to  be  dis- 
charged from  the  hospital,  at  the  ward  on  the  day  before  discharge  and  again 
at  the  receiving  ward  on  the  morning  of  discharge,  to  make  certain  that  no 
patient  was  sent  out  of  the  hospital  who  was  not  suffciently  recovered  to  go 
safely  to  duty  or  to  quarters.  This  proved  a very  valuable  procedure. 

A ward  report  of  disease  incidence  was  furnished  the  chief  daily,  and  a con- 
solidated report  was  made  therefrom.  This  also  proved  its  worth:  it  made 
for  accurate  and  speedy  diagnosis  and  indicated  wards  in  which  existed  prob- 
lems needing  attention:  undertermined  diagnoses  were  reduced  to  a mini- 
mum; chronic  disorders  such  as  arthritis  or  heart  disease  could  be  checked 
for  investigation  by  the  disability  board:  and  any  rise  in  disease  incidence 
could  be  determined  from  day  to  day. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


467 


The  above  plan  provided  uniform  methods  of  procedure,  trained  the 
staff  to  a high  degree  of  professional  and  administrative  efficiency,  established  a 
marked  degree  of  esprit  de  corps,  and  assured  ready  consultation  and  checking 
by  the  chief  and  his  assistants.  The  elasticity  and  effectiveness  of  the  service 
enabled  it  to  meet  and  surmount  every  crisis  as  it  arose.  The  influenza 
epidemic  and  the  sudden  influx  of  overseas  patients  which  occurred  from  time 
to  time,  frequently  causing  a doubling  or  tripling  of  the  service  in  a day,  were 
all  managed  with  ease  and  efficiency. 

In  the  handling  of  the  overseas  cases  the  hospital  was  not  content  to  rest 
on  the  order  to  classify  and  transfer  patients  on  the  overseas  diagnosis.  Every 
case  was  examined  before  classification  and  the  present  status  determined.  A 
record  of  the  condition  of  each  man  while  he  was  a patient  was  maintained. 
As  many  members  of  the  staff  as  were  needed  were  detailed  to  the  overseas 
ward  and  the  examination  and  classification  of  patients  were  completely  and 
accurately  accomplished.  Prior  to  January  1,  1919,  no  overseas  arrivals 
required  more  than  24  hours  for  admission,  bathing,  delousing,  examination, 
and  classification.  When  speed  was  essential  the  above  routine  was  accom- 
plished on  the  day  of  admission. 

The  method  of  handling  overseas  patients  debarking  at  the  port  was  in 
detail  as  follows:  Overseas  patients  were  transported,  in  ambulances,  from 
the  port  to  the  receiving  office  of  the  hospital,  and  were  assigned  to  wards 
by  the  medical  officer.  On  reaching  the  ward  they  were  examined  for  con- 
tagious disease  and  vermin,  given  a bath,  dressed  in  hospital  clothes  and 
assigned  to  beds.  As  soon  as  practicable  the  ward  surgeon  made  his  examina- 
tion and  filled  out  a classification  sheet,  giving  the  following  data:  Name, 
rank,  organization;  a concise  diagnosis,  and  the  classification  according  to 
specific  instructions  from  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office;  whether  the  patient 
was  ambulatory  or  a litter  patient;  his  home  district;  number  of  ward  and  the 
name  of  the  examining  surgeon.  These  classification  sheets  were  collected 
and  sent  to  the  chiefs  of  the  services  for  their  approval.  They  were  often 
passed  on  to  the  evacuation  officer  whose  duty  it  was  to  distribute  the  patients 
to  the  hospital  nearest  their  homes  for  treatment,  reconstruction,  vocational 
training,  or  discharge. 

These  interior  hospitals  to  which  overseas  patients  were  sent  at  first 
were  all  general  hospitals  with  the  exception  of  one,  the  base  hospital  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  and  very  explicit  instructions  were  given  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment to  have  men  with  certain  diseases  or  injuries  sent  to  hospitals  which 
made  a specialty  of  treating  these  conditions.  If  possible  the  men  were  sent 
to  the  hospital  nearest  then-  home. 

As  the  hospital  rapidly  filled  and  more  beds  were  required,  orders  were 
issued  to  send  patients  to  the  base  hospitals  in  National  Army  cantonments 
and  in  National  Guard  camps,  but  no  special  instructions  were  given  as  to  the 
nature  of  the  cases  to  be  sent  to  those  hospitals.  Thereafter,  the  policy  was 
adopted  of  sending  the  convalescents  and  medical  and  surgical  patients  not 
requiring  special  treatment  to  the  base  hospitals. 

On  January  22,  1919,  specific  orders  were  sent  out  from  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office,  designating  the  exact  nature  of  the  cases  to  be  sent  to  the 
various  hospitals,  general  and  base.  These  instructions  did  not  make  any 


468 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


material  change  in  the  distribution  of  patients,  but  soldiers  could  not  be  dis- 
charged from  either  a demobilizing  camp  hospital  or  from  a general  hospital. 
Therefore,  men  who  were  convalescent  or  suffering  from  minor  medical  or 
surgical  complaints  were  sent  to  the  base  hospital  nearest  their  homes  in- 
stead of  to  a general  hospital. 

After  the  distribution  of  the  patients  to  the  various  wards  was  completed, 
the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  was  communicated  with  by  telephone  and  advised 
as  to  the  number  of  patients  on  hand  for  each  hospital,  as  well  as  the  number 
in  each  class  of  cases.  The  classification  sheet  was  then  arranged  according 
to  rank  of  the  patients  and  a nominal  list  was  made.  Several  copies  of  the 
nominal  list  were  made  and  sent  to  the  port  surgeon,  with  request  for  trans- 
portation. 

In  the  course  of  48  hours  the  schedule  of  the  train  provided  was  sent  by 
the  port  surgeon,  to  the  embarkation  hospital  with  information  as  to  the 
time  and  place  of  entrainment.  When  the  time  came  for  their  departure  from 
the  hospital,  the  patients  were  fed  and  taken  to  the  train  in  ambulances. 
Each  group  of  men  was  put  in  charge  of  a medical  officer,  and  was  accompanied 
by  several  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department,  the  number  varying  with 
the  total  number  of  patients,  the  number  of  litter  cases  and  the  number  of 
mental  cases  requiring  special  attendants.  The  above  description  of  the 
handling  of  patients  applied  not  only  to  enlisted  men  but  to  officers. 
Officers  who  were  well  enough  to  travel  unattended  were  classified  and  dis- 
tributed to  the  hospitals  nearest  their  homes,  their  disposition  being  confirmed 
by  the  War  Department  within  a few  hours  after  their  entrance  to  the  hospital. 
A separate  letter  was  written  to  the  surgeon  of  the  port  for  special  orders  for 
this  class  of  patients.  As  soon  as  the  orders  were  received  the  officers  were 
furnished  free  transportation  by  the  quartermaster  and  departed. 

Of  33,676  admissions,  15,695  were  medical  cases  and  17,981  surgical. 
This  may  be  accounted  for  largely  by  the  fact  that  the  average  length  of  time 
a surgical  patient  remained  in  the  hospital  was  much  more  than  that  for  the 
medical  patient.  Again,  the  minor  infectious  diseases  and  the  influenza  epi- 
demic, made  up  a great  part  of  the  medical  cases,  as  is  illustrated  by  the  follow- 
ing list : 


Mumps 3,  225 

Measles 1, 251 

Pneumonia 1,  364 

Pneumococcus  meningitis 5 

Pulmonary  tuberculosis 1, 047 

Tuberculous  meningitis 6 


Cerebrospinal  meningitis 93 

Scarlet  fever 71 

Diphtheria SO 

Anthrax 4 


Total 7,146 


Those  suffering  with  mumps  began  to  be  admitted  to  the  hospital  in  large 
numbers  the  1st  of  January,  1918,  after  which  date  there  was  an  average  of 
170  cases  present  at  all  times. 

The  majority  of  measles  cases  also  appeared  during  the  winter  months  as 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  of  the  total  of  1,251  cases  admitted  513,  or  approxi- 
mately 41  per  cent,  occurred  before  the  1st  of  March,  191S.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  first  patient  admitted  to  the  hospital  suffered  from  measles. 
No  accurate  data  are  available  as  to  the  total  number  of  cases  of  pneumonia 
which  followed  an  attack  of  measles,  but  from  the  period  March  1.  1918,  to 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


469 


January  1,  1919,  out  of  the  322  deaths  due  to  pneumonia,  in  four  cases  pneu- 
monia appeared  as  a complication  of  measles.  So  soon  as  the  laboratory  per- 
mitted, bacteriological  examinations  were  made  of  the  throat  of  every  patient 
entering  the  measles  ward,  detected  streptococcus  carriers  being  segregated. 
All  cases  were  separated  by  means  of  the  cubicle  system  which  was  accomplished 
by  hanging  sheets  between  the  beds  to  reduce  opportunities  for  cross  infection. 
Patients  developing  pneumonia  were  at  once  moved  into  a separate  ward. 
One  case  of  hemorrhagic  measles,  with  recovery,  occurred. 

Beginning  April  1,  1918,  all  cases  of  pneumonia  were  typed  and  serum 
treatment  was  instituted  in  all  types  of  cases  where  the  laboratory  returns 
were  received  prior  to  the  crisis.  Separate  wards  in  which  there  was  the  cubicle 
system,  as  employed  in  the  measles  ward,  were  maintained  for  the  use  of 
penumonia  convalescents. 

Influenza  became  epidemic  at  this  hospital  about  the  middle  of  September, 
1918.  During  the  height  of  the  epidemic,  September  20,  to  October  20,  2,523 
cases  were  treated,  which,  together  with  those  cared  for  after  these  dates, 
brought  the  total  up  to  about  3,000.  Many  other  cases  were  cared  for  in  the 
temporary  hospitals,  only  the  more  serious  cases  being  sent  to  the  embarkation 
hospital.  Between  the  dates  above  noted,  623  cases  of  pneumonia  came  under 
the  care  of  the  hospital.  The  mortality  record  of  pneumonia  of  all  types 
before,  during,  and  after  the  influenza  epidemic  was  very  good;  14  per  cent 
preceding  the  epidemic;  25  per  cent  during  the  epidemic  when  650  cases  were 
treated;  and  only  about  4 per  cent  for  80  cases  during  November  and  Decem- 
ber, 1918. 

Of  the  many  complications  to  be  expected  and  which  appeared,  empyema 
was  noted  for  its  small  incidence,  only  3 cases  appearing  out  of  the  623 
pneumonias. 

The  Pfeiffer  bacillus  was  found  in  only  1.8  per  cent  out  of  a total  of  1,148 
examinations  made,  and  was  apparently  not  an  etiological  factor  in  this 
epidemic. 

Of  the  secondary  infections  the  streptococcus  hemolyticus  showed  only 
a 6 per  cent  incidence,  and  to  its  absence  was  attributed  the  low  empyema  rate. 

For  the  care  of  patients  of  whom  a diagnosis  of  pulmonary  tuberculosis 
had  been  made  a large  two-story  building,  originally  constructed  for  housing 
members  of  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  was  used.  Covered  porches 
for  both  floors  extended  the  entire  length  of  this  building  and  permitted  of  the 
proper  fresh-air  treatment  so  necessary  for  this  class  of  patients.  Except  for 
bed-ridden  patients,  this  ward  served  simply  as  a clearing  station,  as  all  tuber- 
culosis patients,  as  soon  as  a positive  diagnosis  was  made,  were  sent  to  one  of 
the  general  hospitals  where  there  were  special  facilities  for  their  care.  Of  the 
441  deaths  in  the  hospital,  34  were  due  to  pulmonary  tuberculosis. 

Ninety-three  cases  of  cerebrospinal  meningitis  were  treated.  The  majority 
of  these  occurred  during  the  months  of  December,  1917,  and  January,  1918, 
at  which  time  the  disease  may  be  said  to  have  been  epidemic  among  the  colored 
labor  organizations  stationed  at  Camp  Hill  and  Alexander.  After  that  date 
there  were  the  usual  sporadic  cases  found  among  large  bodies  of  troops.  Prob- 
ably because  the  majority  of  cases  were  negroes,  the  mortality  was  high,  about 
38  per  cent.  Meningitis  patients  were  kept  in  strict  isolation  and  received  the 
usual  serum  treatment  administered  by  means  of  spinal  puncture. 


470 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Four  cases  of  cross  infection  developed  in  the  hospital.  Each  of  the  four 
patients  had  been  in  the  hospital  longer  than  one  month  at  the  time  of  infec- 
tion. Two  of  them  were  convalescent  from  diphtheria,  one  from  meningitis, 
and  one  from  whooping  cough. 

As  the  cold  weather  of  the  winter  of  1917-18  and  the  variable  weather  of 
the  early  spring  of  19 IS  subsided,  a very  interesting  change  in  the  type  of  in- 
fections became  noticeable.  The  respiratory  diseases  almost  disappeared, 
while  malaria  and  diseases  of  the  dysentery  type  began  to  develop.  The 
number  of  malaria  cases  up  to  January,  1919,  was  141,  135  of  them  being 
tertian  in  type  and  six  estivoautumnal.  Many  of  these  cases  were  received 
from  organizations  not  stationed  at  the  port. 

Many  interesting  cases  were  found  among  men  prevented  from  departing 
overseas  as  a result  of  diseases  and  injuries  discovered  at  the  preembarkation 
physical  examination.  Of  these,  the  cardiovascular  conditions  were  easily  of 
first  importance.  There  were  738  of  these  cases  that  were  carefully  classified; 
and  if  recovery  could  be  secured  in  short  time,  they  were  kept  under  observation. 
This  applied  particularly  to  the  postinfectious  pericardial,  endocardial,  and 
myocardial  conditions.  Cases  giving  promise  of  recovery  or  improvement  under 
more  or  less  prolonged  treatment,  were  sent  to  a general  hospital  affording 
special  attention  to  cardiovascular  conditions.  Those  who  had  reached  the 
limit  of  improvement  were  either  recommended  for  domestic  service  or  dis- 
charge from  the  Army. 

All  sick  prisoners  of  the  port  were  treated  at  the  embarkation  hospital,  the 
guard  being  furnished  by  the  provost  marshal. 

The  cases  returned  from  overseas  proved  a source  of  much  interest  to  the 
medical  staff  as  indicating  which  type  of  constitution  was  the  most  likely  to 
fall  under  the  stress  and  strain  of  modern  warfare.  It  was  found  that  pul- 
monary tuberculosis,  cardiovascular,  and  neuropsychiatric  diseases,  in  the 
order  named,  are  to  be  expected  in  this  class  of  soldiers.  Nephritis,  diabetes, 
asthma,  bronchitis,  and  laryngitis  following  gas  poisoning,  goiter  and  occa- 
sional gastroenteric  conditions  also  were  found. 

Neuropsychiatric  Service. 

The  neuropsychiatric  ward  of  the  hospital  was  opened  April  15,  191S. 
Previous  to  that  time  all  mental  and  nervous  cases  were  housed  and  treated  in 
ward  13,  a general  medical  ward.  The  service  showed  a steady  increase  in  the 
cases  from  the  local  camps,  being  augmented  by  the  return  of  overseas  patients. 
On  July  7,  1918,  upon  request  to  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  11  enlisted  men, 
including  a graduate  nurse,  all  of  whom  had  received  training  in  the  handling 
of  this  type  of  patient,  were  sent  from  St.  Elizabeths  Hospital,  Washington. 

At  first,  the  neuropsychiatric  service  had  almost  entirely  the  function  of  a 
clearing  station:  patients  were  kept  only  so  long  as  was  necessary  to  make  a 
professional  diagnosis  and  to  recommend  action  as  to  what  disposition  should 
be  made  of  them,  after  which  they  were  either  discharged  on  certificate  of  dis- 
ability, assigned  to  domestic  service  only,  sent  to  general  hospitals  for  further 
observation,  or,  in  rare  instances,  returned  to  duty. 

Frequent  clinics  and  classes  of  instruction  for  the  staff  of  the  medical 
service  were  held  and  efforts  were  made  to  establish  uniform  and  thorough 


TYPKri  OF  HOSPITALS — EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL.  47l 

methods  as  to  diagnosis  and  treatment,  so  that  each  patient  might  have  every 
advantage  tending  to  early  recovery  and  return  to  active  duty. 

SURGICAL  SERVICE. 

The  surgical  service  at  the  embarkation  hospital  was  subdivided  in  accord- 
ance with  the  following  grouping:  General  surgical  cases;  venereal  diseases; 
eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  diseases;  dermatological  diseases;  dental  service; 
and  X-ray  service. 

During  the  time  the  hospital  occupied  temporary  structures,  the  surgical 
service  was  comparatively  small  and  the  facilities  for  operative  work  were 
limited.  The  operation  room  was  located  on  the  second  floor  of  the  barracks 
building  with  no  provision  for  heating  except  an  ordinary  stove.  As  no 
nurses  had  been  assigned  to  the  hospital,  enlisted  men  were  the  only  available 
help  in  the  preparation  of  surgical  dressings  and  other  materials  necessary  in 
an  operating  room.  Sterilization  of  all  material  was  accomplished  either  by 
boiling  over  a small  alcohol  stove  or  by  the  use  of  antiseptic  solutions.  With 
only  such  crude  facilities  on  hand,  operative  surgery  represented  more  a game 
of  chance  than  technical  skill;  however,  the  first  operation  performed,  an 
appendectomy,  was  entirely  successful.  With  the  opening  of  the  hospital 
proper,  all  this  was  changed  and  a complete  operating  pavilion  was  supplied 
in  which  up  to  January  1,  1919,  1,797  operations  were  performed. 

Venereal  Service. 

The  management  of  venereal  diseases  was  always  a difficult  problem  in  the 
port  and  as  the  majority  of  cases  usually  found  their  way  to  the  embarkation 
hospital,  the  largest  share  of  the  burden  was  thrown  upon  that  institution. 
The  presence  of  large  numbers  of  colored  troops,  and  the  fact  that  no  soldier 
with  venereal  disease  was  allowed  to  embark  for  overseas  service,  were  the 
two  facts  which  created  the  problem.  It  was  soon  recognized  that  to  turn 
over  the  wards  to  the  treatment  of  these  diseases  would  leave  little  room  for 
anything  else.  Moreover,  the  majority  of  these  patients  were  not  bedridden. 
Consequently,  two  wards  in  the  surgical  service  were  set  aside  for  the  treat- 
ment of  such  cases  in  which  bed  treatment  was  necessary.  For  the  remainder, 
authority  was  obtained  to  institute  a tent  hospital;  accordingly,  on  April  28, 
1918,  23  pyramidal  tents  were  set  up  in  the  open  on  a plot  of  ground  near 
block  18  of  Camp  Stuart.  Later,  these  tents  were  transformed  into  huts, 
and  a barrack  building,  contiguous  to  this  block,  was  assigned  as  admin- 
istrative headquarters  in  which  treatment  was  given.  By  evening  of  the 
same  day  practically  all  of  the  tents  were  filled,  and  from  this  beginning  the 
camp  increased  rapidly  in  size  until  there  were  103  huts  and  the  daily  reports 
of  patients  averaged  between  400  and  500.  On  May  20,  1918,  work  was 
started  to  place  the  venereal  disease  section  upon  a more  permanent  basis. 
Frames  were  erected  for  each  tent,  a wooden  floor  was  provided,  and  the  sides 
and  door  screened.  A large  mess  hall  and  kitchen  were  built  and  a special 
building  designed  in  which  treatments  were  given.  This  construction  was 
completed  June  21,  1918.  Tents  were  arranged  in  rows,  each  row  being  let- 
tered and  the  tents  in  each  row  numbered.  Each  tent  furnished  sleeping 
quarters  for  six  men.  Each  row  of  tents  was  in  charge  of  a medical  officer 


472 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


who  acted  in  the  capacity  of  ward  surgeon  of  his  row.  In  the  treatment 
building  were  special  rooms  for  each  row  of  tents  and  each  room  was  lettered 
to  correspond  with  the  row.  Each  room  had  hot  and  cold  water  and  the 
proper  equipment  for  giving  treatment.  Here  also  were  filed  the  clinical 
records  for  patients.  There  were  also  rooms  for  administering  prophylaxis 
for  members  of  the  enlisted  personnel,  a separate  room  equipped  for  dark 
field  examinations,  and  a small  operating  room  fully  equipped  for  minor  surgery. 
One  end  of  the  building  was  given  over  to  offices  for  the  medical  officer  in 
charge,  store  rooms  for  medical  supplies,  post  office,  and  rooms  for  holding 
sick  call. 

In  the  rear  of  the  camp  was  an  empty  space  used  as  exercise  and  play 
grounds.  Here  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  erected  a large  tent 
equipped  with  a stage,  benches,  and  writing  tables.  Some  form  of  entertainment 
was  furnished  twice  weekly  and  these  played  an  important  part  in  the  mainte- 
nance of  contentment  and  discipline.  As  the  camp  increased  in  size  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  confining  patients  to  the  vicinity  of  the  camp;  therefore,  a 
strong  wire  barricade  was  built  to  inclose  the  whole  area;  and  a camp  guard 
composed  of  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department  was  organized.  There 
were  nine  medical  officers  on  duty  at  the  venereal  camp  hospital,  all  of  whom 
had  been  especially  trained  in  the  treatment  of  genitourinary  diseases.  Fifty 
enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department  were  also  assigned  to  duty  there. 
As  the  patients  were  all  ambulatory,  it  was  the  policy  to  have  the  light  work 
about  the  camp,  such  as  policing,  making  beds,  and  mess  hall  duty,  per- 
formed by  the  patients  themselves. 

FromMay  3, 1918,  to  January  1, 1919,  2,809  cases  were  admitted  to  venereal 
camps  Nos.  1 and  2.  Of  these,  1,354  cases  were  returned  to  duty,  457  were 
discharged  on  surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability,  and  99S  remained  under 
treatment. 

Eye,  Ear,  Nose,  and  Throat  Department. 

The  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department  was  organized  as  a branch  of 
the  surgical  service  at  the  time  when  the  hospital  was  opened;  but  prior  to 
February  1,  1918,  such  work  as  arose  was  taken  care  of  by  a resident  physician 
at  Newport  News,  Va.,  employed  as  a contract  surgeon.  On  February  1, 
however,  a specialist  in  these  diseases  was  assigned  to  the  hospital  and  a ward 
was  set  aside  for  the  care  of  this  type  of  cases,  operative  work  being  done, 
when  occasion  arose,  in  the  general  operating  room.  Ihe  service  rapidly 
increased  and  plans  were  soon  made  for  the  establishment  of  a separate  build- 
ing. For  this  purpose  one-half  of  store  room  No.  1 was  chosen  and  the  neces- 
sary remodeling  was  finished  on  July  14,  191S,  and  the  department  equipped 
with  its  own  operating  room,  treatment  rooms,  and  dark  rooms.  Besides 
the  care  of  patients  in  t he  wards  of  the  hospital,  a clime  was  held  daily  between 
hours  of  9 and  12  a.  m.,  where  all  such  patients  came  from  outside  points 
within  the  port  of  embarkation.  This  side  of  the  work  increased  so  that 
20  to  30  such  patients  were  treated  each  day. 

A 30-bed  ward  was  then  set  aside  for  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  service, 
to  which  an  equally  large  ward  was  added,  giving  in  all  accommodations  for 
60  bed  patients  to  this  service.  Ultimately,  the  wards  of  the  service  were 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


473 


moved  to  a building  of  tile  construction  which  had  100  beds  in  four  wards, 
an  office,  diet,  treatment,  and  isolation  wards. 

The  out-patient  clinic  was  at  first  held  in  the  ward.  This  was  soon  trans- 
ferred to  a small  room  in  the  operating  pavilion,  refractions  being  done  in 
the  corridor.  On  July  14,  1918,  a new  building,  25  by  75  feet,  was  opened, 
containing  waiting,  operating,  treatment,  and  dark  rooms,  all  fairly  well 
equipped  for  most  of  the  ordinary  work. 

The  total  number  of  treatments  in  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  depart- 
ment was  2,270  and  the  operations  numbered  481.  The  eye  service  admitted 
to  its  ward  587,  furnished  7,414  treatments  in  the  clinic  to  1,608  patients, 
and  treated  in  the  clinic  and  hospital  3,367  patients  prior  to  January  1,  1919. 
There  were  987  patients  refracted,  for  which  the  Medical  Department  issued 
449  pairs  of  glasses,  and  104  pairs  were  otherwise  supplied  to  those  not  entitled 
to  a gratuitous  issue.  Numerous  daily  examinations  were  made  in  the  wards 
of  patients  unable  to  come  to  the  clinic. 

The  very  large  amount  of  interesting  material  in  this  service  was  a source 
of  satisfaction  to  the  personnel,  all  of  whom  showed  much  interest  in  the 
work.  No  special  courses  were  given,  but  general  instruction  was  constantly 
given  to  the  less  experienced  officers. 

Dermatological  Department. 

The  dermatological  department  was  established  as  a separate  department 
of  the  surgical  service  on  January  15,  1918.  No  separate  ward  was  set  aside 
for  the  treatment  of  skin  cases  except  those  of  a contagious  character,  and  in 
this  case  a group  of  tents  known  as  ward  B was  used.  The  tents  were  of  the 
same  size  and  contained  the  same  equipment  as  those  of  the  venereal  camp 
hospital,  separate  toilet  and  bathing  facilities  being  provided. 

By  far  the  largest  number  of  patients  treated  suffered  from  scabies.  Since 
soldiers  suffering  from  this  condition  were  not  allowed  to  embark  for  overseas, 
and  as  the  organization  from  which  they  came  remained  at  the  port  only  a 
short  time,  it  was  of  great  importance  that  they  receive  prompt  and  speedy 
treatment.  This  treatment  consisted  of  two  parts,  the  actual  medical  and 
the  prophylactic.  The  afflicted  person  began  his  treatment  the  first  night, 
consisting  of  a vigorous  scrubbing  with  soap  under  the  shower  bath,  instruc- 
tions having  been  given  him  to  get  the  tops  off  as  many  lesions  as  possible. 
Thoroughness  in  this  part  of  the  treatment  was  stimulated  by  informing  the 
man  that  the  better  his  part  was  performed  the  sooner  would  he  be  discharged 
from  the  hospital.  Following  the  bath  each  man  rubbed  in  the  ointment 
over  the  body  below  the  chin.  The  ointment  used  was  the  official  sulphur 
ointment,  sometimes  used  alone  and  occasionally  with  an  added  balsam  of 
Peru,  4.8  grams  to  30  grams  of  the  ointment.  The  ointment  remained  on 
throughout  the  day.  The  preventive  part  of  the  treatment  was  undertaken 
with  a view  to  preventing  reinfection  in  the  individual  and  a spread  of  the 
disease  to  others.  In  the  first  place,  the  clothes  of  each  man,  after  being 
checked,  were  sent  to  the  hospital  sterilizer  and  then  to  the  laundry.  All 
blankets,  as  well  as  bed  linens  and  towels,  were  sterilized  upon  the  discharge  of 
the  patient  from  the  ward.  Every  case  of  scabies  was  reported  promptly 


474 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  the  organization  commander  in  order  that  the  infected  person’s  clothing 
and  blankets  might  be  sterilized  before  his  return  to  his  company,  and  to  prevent 
their  use  by  others  until  sterilization  had  been  effected.  That  the  above  system 
was  successful  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  only  3 cases  of  the  102  treated 
were  readmitted  to  the  scabies  ward. 

Dental  Department. 

The  dental  department  of  the  hospital  at  its  opening  consisted  of  two 
operating  dental  surgeons,  a sergeant,  and  two  enlisted  assistants.  The 
equipment  at  that  time  comprised  one  base  and  one  portable  outfit,  and  was 
located  in  a barrack  building.  The  number  of  dental  surgeons  was  increased 
in  January,  1918,  to  eight,  but  equipment  for  that  number  of  men  did  not 
arrive  until  some  time  later,  and  unfortunately,  after  its  arrival,  lack  of  space 
prevented  its  installation.  Adequate  space  was  finally  provided  in  storeroom 
No.  1 of  the  hospital  group,  and  patients  were  cared  for  in  this  building  until 
it  was  necessary  to  transfer  this  organization  to  a part  of  the  ward  in  order 
that  the  building  could  be  remodeled  and  made  suitable  for  an  eye,  ear,  nose, 
and  throat,  and  dental  dispensary.  The  remodeled  building  was  completed 
and  occupied  on  July  15,  1918.  The  dental  department  occupied  2,200  square 
feet  of  floor  space,  which  was  divided  into  10  operating  rooms,  offices,  and 
laboratory,  and  was  provided  with  complete  white  enamel  operating  equip- 
ment. The  dental  personnel  consisted  of  nine  operating  dental  surgeons,  a 
sergeant,  and  nine  enlisted  assistants.  The  character  of  the  work  accomplished 
comprised  minor  oral  surgery,  operative  and  prosthetic  dentistry,  and  porcelain 
crown  work,  but  gold  crown  and  bridge  work  could  be  successfully  accomplished 
when  materials  were  supplied.  There  were  10,807  patients  given  16,904 
sittings  in  the  clinic. 

X-ray  Department. 

Owing  to  the  delays  in  transportation  incident  to  wartime  traffic,  the 
roentgenological  laboratory  at  this  hospital  was  not  installed  until  April,  1918, 
and  was  made  ready  for  use  the  15th  of  that  month.  Situated  in  a building 
between  the  administration  building  and  the  operating  pavilion,  and  connected 
by  closed  corridors  with  all  wards,  its  location  was  advantageous  for  both 
hospital  and  out-patient  work.  While  the  laboratory  was  primarily  a part  of 
the  embarkation  hospital,  being  in  reality  a port  laboratory,  all  the  X-ray 
work  for  the  entire  port  of  embarkation  was  done  here.  The  naval  transport 
service  likewise  made  use  of  the  laboratory  for  ambulatory  cases  rather  than 
have  them  make  the  long  trip  to  the  Naval  Hospital  at  Norfolk. 

The  equipment  was  a standard  base  hospital  type  in  use  in  nearly  all  Army 
hospitals  and  comprised  a high-tension  transformer,  a Kelly-Koett  table  with 
fluoroscopic  attachment,  an  upright  roentgenoscope,  a Kelly-Koett  plate 
changing  device,  a Wheatstone  stereoscope,  a Kelly-Koett  tube  stand,  and 
all  the  necessary  accessories  for  radiographic  and  fluoroscopic  work.  The 
Coolidge  tube  was  used  exclusively.  A United  States  Army  bedside  unit 
was  used  for  ward  work. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS — EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


475 


Ward  surgeons,  attending  surgeons,  regimental  surgeons,  and  medical 
officers  on  duty  at  camp  infirmaries  were  instructed  to  send  their  patients 
with  Form  55Z,  Medical  Department,  properly  filled  out  in  duplicate.  The 
patient’s  name,  rank,  organization,  and  the  portion  of  his  body  radiographed 
were  then  entered  serially  in  a hook  provided  for  that  purpose.  He  was  given 
a number  and  the  plates  were  marked  with  corresponding  lead  numbers  at 
the  time  of  exposure.  The  same  information,  with  the  additional  data  of  the 
disposition  of  the  plate,  was  then  entered  in  another  book  with  names  arranged 
alphabetically.  The  plates  were  filed  according  to  size  in  a specially  constructed 
filing  case  which  contained  numbered  and  lettered  compartments.  The  X-ray 
findings  were  typewritten  in  duplicate  and  both  slips  were  sent  by  messenger 
to  the  ward  surgeon  or  other  medical  officer  concerned.  The  surgeon  retained 
one  slip  and  initialed  the  other,  which  was  returned  to  the  X-ray  laboratory 
and  retained  as  a receipt.  All  reports  for  out-patients  were  sent  through  the 
adjutant’s  office. 

Unless  the  emergency  recpiired  an  immediate  report,  all  plates  exposed 
during  a day’s  work  were  interpreted  during  the  first  hours  of  the  following 
morning,  the  reports  thereon  being  sent  out  as  soon  as  written.  Cases  were 
received  at  the  laboratory  between  9 a.  m.  and  5 p.  m.  without  previous 
appointment  save  in  cases  that  demanded  a special  preparation,  such  as  gastro- 
intestinal, urinary  tract,  or  gall-bladder. 

With  some  variations  the  standard  Army  technique  of  40  milliamperes, 
5-inch  gap,  and  20-inch  distance  was  used,  the  only  departure  being  in  gastro- 
intestinal, pulmonary,  and  cardiovascular  cases. 

Nearly  all  pulmonary  patients  were  fluoroscoped  and  all  were  radiographed 
stereoscopically  and  in  the  standing  position,  if  practicable.  The  milliamperage 
was  raised  to  100,  the  tube  plate  distance  was  increased  to  28  inches,  and  the 
time  shortened  to  one  second,  the  patient  being  instructed  to  hold  a moderate 
inspiration  until  both  exposures  were  made.  Gastrointestinal  patients  were  first 
fluoroscoped  and  then  a series  of  immediate  plates  made,  both  in  the  erect  and 
prone  positions.  Plates  were  made  also  at  1 hour,  6 hours,  and  24  hours. 
The  milliamperage  used  was  100,  the  spark  gap  5 inches,  the  distance  24  inches, 
and  the  time  one-third  second.  Intensifying  screens  were  used.  Cardio- 
vascular cases  were  X-rayed  in  an  erect  position.  The  tube-plate  distance 
was  72  inches,  the  milliamperage  100,  the  spark  gap  6 inches,  and  the  time 
one-half  second  with  the  intensifying  screen.  In  the  urologicol  patients  both 
kidneys,  both  ureters,  and  the  bladder  were  X-rayed,  using  40  milliamperage, 
5-inch  gap,  and  making  compression  with  an  inflated  rubber  ball.  The  time 
varied  according  to  the  size  and  weight  of  the  patient.  In  mastoid  cases  both 
sides  were  taken  on  a single  plate,  the  technique  being  25  milliamperes,  5-inch 
gap,  and  10  seconds.  All  bones  were  radiographed  in  two  views.  Hips  and 
shoulders  were  stereoscoped.  In  suspected  joint  disease  the  corresponding 
joint  was  rayed  for  comparison. 

The  dark  room  was  equipped  for  tank  development.  The  developing 
solution  was  compounded  for  a developing  time  of  8 minutes  at  a temperature 
of  65°  F.  All  plates  were  allowed  to  fix  for  15  minutes  and  were  washed  in 
running  water  for  1 hour. 


476 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  first  case  on  record  in  the  laboratory  was  X-rayed  April  16,  1918; 
and  from  this  date  to  August  22,  1919,  the  total  number  of  patients  examined 
in  the  laboratory  was  3,392.  A large  number  of  patients  examined  was  not 
admitted  to  the  hospital,  so  that  only  about  7 per  cent  of  that  number  were 
X-rayed. 

LABORATORY. 

A specially  designed  laboratory,  completely  equipped,  was  occupied  January 
1,  1919,  and  though  it  was  the  port  laboratory,  it  was  located  in  the  hospital 
grounds.  Prior  to  November,  1918,  the  highest  number  of  cases  examined  in  a 
single  month  was  177,  a daily  average  of  5.9  In  November  the  cases  jumped  to 
233,  with  a daily  average  of  7.5,  and  from  that  time  the  increase  was  steadv, 
until  in  March,  1919,  the  number  of  cases  advanced  to  312,  with  a daily  average 
of  10.06. 

STERILIZATION  AND  DISINFECTION. 

Sterilization  and  disinfection  were  accomplished  by  steam,  boiling  in  water, 
by  chemicals,  sunlight,  soap  and  water,  and  incineration.  Clothing,  excepting 
hat,  shoes,  and  raincoat,  of  each  patient  having  or  suspected  of  having  an 
infectious  or  contagious  disease,  was  put  into  a barrack  bag  and  sterilized  in  a 
steam  autoclave  for  15  minutes.  In  the  autoclave  a vacuum  was  first  produced, 
followed  by  a steam  pressure  of  15  pounds  for  20  minutes.  Before  the  auto- 
clave was  again  opened  a slight  vacuum  was  used  to  hasten  the  drying  of  clothes, 
and  the  clothes  were  then  stored  until  the  patient  was  ready  to  leave  the 
hospital. 

Drinking  cups,  eating  utensils,  etc.,  were  collected  each  meal  and  placed 
on  a butler’s  tray.  This  tray,  with  its  contents,  was  placed  directly  in  a galvan- 
ized iron  lined  box.  The  box  had  a tight-fitting  lid,  an  inlet  for  steam  and 
outlet  for  the  water  of  condensation.  After  sterilization  for  10  minutes  the 
tray  and  dishes  were  taken  into  the  kitchen,  washed,  dried,  and  put  away. 

All  soiled  articles  were  made  into  bundles,  around  which  was  wrapped  a 
clean  sheet.  Before  these  bundles  were  taken  to  the  laundry  they  were  steri- 
lized in  the  steam  autoclave  in  the  same  manner  as  the  clothing  of  patients 
was  sterilized. 

Immediately  on  discharge  or  other  departure  of  a patient,  the  used  mattress, 
blankets,  and  pillow,  except  in  cases  of  measles  or  mumps,  were  sterilized  in 
the  steam  autoclave. 

Surgical  dressings,  sponges,  towels,  etc.,  were  made  by  attendants  or 
patients  in  the  contagious  wards  and  were  put  in  a barrack  bag  and  sterilized  in 
the  steam  autoclave.  In  order  that  a sufficient  supply  of  operating  gowns 
should  be  on  hand  at  all  times,  gowns  used  once,  or  not  soiled,  were  placed 
in  a barrack  bag,  sterilized  in  the  steam  autoclave  and  returned  to  the  proper 
ward,  to  be  used  again.  Medicine  glasses,  surgical  instruments,  syringes, 
lumbar  puncture  needles,  rubber  tubing,  and  catheters,  were  sterilized  in  boiling 
water  for  at  least  10  minutes,  on  a gas  range  or  electric  plate.  Face  masks 
were  sterilized  by  boiling  in  water  for  10  minutes.  Thermometers,  when  not 
in  use,  were  kept  in  1-1000  bichloride  solution  or  liquor  cresolis  compositus.  for 
one  hour.  Sputum  cups,  irrigating  cans,  bed  pans,  urinals,  rubber  blankets. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION"  HOSPITAL. 


477 


rubber  rings,  hot  water  bags,  and  ice  caps,  were  sterilized  in  a 10  to  25  per  cent 
liquor  cresolis  compositus  solution  for  one  hour.  A 10  per  cent  solution  of  liquor 
cresolis  compositus  was  used  with  which  to  wash  the  bedsteads,  bedside  tables, 
chairs,  radiators,  walls,  doors,  and  doorknobs.  The  hands  of  attendants  were 
disinfected  by  washing  them  in  a 5 per  cent  solution  of  liquor  cresolis  com- 
positus, and  followed  by  hot  water  and  soap. 

Personal  articles  belonging  to  patients,  such  as  foreign  stamps,  helmets, 
and  razors,  were  sterilized  with  70  per  cent  alcohol.  Seventy  per  cent  alcohol 
was  likewise  used  to  disinfect  the  hands. 

The  mattresses,  pillows,  and  blankets  used  by  patients  having  measles  or 
mumps,  were  sterilized  by  placing  them  in  the  sunlight  for  one  day. 

Soiled  dressings,  swabs,  tongue  depressors,  etc.,  were  burned  daily.  All 
books,  journals,  and  papers  were  burned  upon  a patient’s  discharge  or  other 
departure. 

All  clothing  infested  with  vermin  or  suspected  of  harboring  vermin,  was 
placed  in  a small  autoclave  and  subjected  to  15  pounds  pressure  of  steam  for 
30  minutes.  This  process  was  repeated  if  any  live  vermin  were  found  after 
the  first  treatment.  Patients  having  vermin  were  shaved,  and  given  a bath 
with  a 1-500  bichloride  solution.  All  patients  returning  from  overseas  were 
examined  for  vermin  on  the  day  of  arrival,  examined  again  three  days  before 
departure  and  on  the  day  of  departure. 

NURSING  SERVICE. 

The  nursing  service  at  the  Embarkation  Hospital,  Camp  Stuart,  was 
inaugurated  in  January,  1918,  when  the  chief  nurse  and  10  nurses  reported  and 
went  immediately  on  duty.  Eight-hour  duty  of  three  periods  a day  was  begun 
and  proved  very  satisfactory  until  April,  191S,  when,  due  to  the  increased 
amount  of  work,  it  was  found  more  practicable  to  have  a night  tour  of  duty 
consist  of  12  hours  and  a day  tour  of  7 hours. 

As  the  wards  were  completed  and  opened,  more  nurses  were  assigned  to 
duty,  and  by  March  31,  1918,  65  nurses  were  present.  One  was  assigned 
as  night  supervisor,  one  as  housekeeper,  and  one  as  assistant  to  the  chief  nurse. 
The  night  supervisor  was  changed  monthly,  as  were  all  other  night  nurses. 

From  May  26,  1918,  there  were  constant  changes  in  the  nursing  personnel. 
After  September,  1918,  the  number  of  nurses  on  duty  averaged  150. 

The  nursing  work  was  much  the  same  as  in  any  Army  hospital  with 
perhaps  a little  more  paper  work,  due  to  the  constant  evacuation  of  patients 
returning  from  overseas.  The  surgical  service,  from  the  nursing  point  of  view, 
was  extremely  heavy  at  times,  as  every  surgical  patient  returned  from  overseas, 
and  the  majority  of  them  were  surgical,  required  one  or  more  dressings.  In 
wards  of  100  patients,  each  one  having  to  be  dressed  daily,  the  work  of  doing 
these  dressings  and  keeping  up  supplies  was  no  small  task. 

The  ward  for  sick  nurses  was  completed  in  August,  1918.  It  had  a capacity 
of  35  beds,  including  the  isolation  department.  Nurses  returning  from  overseas 
were  admitted  to  this  ward,  which  was  run  exactly  like  other  wards.  The 
first  nurses  returning  from  overseas  were  admitted  during  August,  and  from 
that  time  until  May  1,  1919,  there  was  a total  of  115  nurses  returned  through 


478 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


the  embarkation  hospital.  Of  this  group  95  were  patients  and  were  trans- 
ferred to  general  hospitals  for  further  observation  and  treatment,  and  20  were 
casuals,  some  of  whom  were  discharged  and  others  transferred  to  other  hospitals 
for  duty. 


Fig.  163. — Nurses’  wards,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va. 


AMBULANCE  SERVICE. 

The  ambulance  service  was  originally  under  the  control  of  the  medical 
supply  officer  so  far  as  equipment  was  concerned.  It  continued  to  be  so 
administered  until  February  1,  1919,  when  all  ambulances  and  their  accessories 
at  the  hospital  were  transferred  to  the  Motor  Transport  Corps.  Truck  and 
wagon  transportation  was  obtained  from  Camp  Hill  truck  and  wagon  com- 
panies, and  later  from  the  Motor  Transport  Corps.  On  the  whole  the  trans- 
portation was  adequate  although  at  times  difficulty  was  experienced  hi 
obtaining  the  requisite  number  of  wagons  and  trucks. 

MAINTENANCE  OF  GROUNDS  AND  BUILDINGS. 

The  maintenance  of  grounds  and  buildings  of  the  hospital  was  carried  on 
by  the  supply  department  until  November  1,  1918,  when  the  maintenance  of 
buildings  was  turned  over  to  the  detachment  port  utilities;  and  the  maintenance 
of  grounds  and  gardens  was  transferred  to  the  control  of  the  executive  officer 
of  the  hospital. 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL. 


479 


HOSPITAL  ANNEXES. 


There  was  no  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  connected  with 
the  embarkation  hospital;  hence  a building  was  constructed  by  that  association 
on  Chestnut  Avenue,  in  close  proximity  to  the  detachment  buildings.  It 
afforded  a place  of  recreation  for  the  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department 
and  was  conveniently  located.  A Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  tent  was 
also  maintained  for  the  patients  of  the  venereal  camp  hospital,  and  the  main 
Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  hut  of  Camp  Stuart  was  located  just  a 
few  hundred  feet  from  the  administration  building  of  the  hospital.  While 
tins  hut  was  open  to  patients  it  was  a prominent  gathering  place  for  the  enlisted 
personnel. 

For  the  patients  of  the  hospital,  the  American  Red  Cross  had  provided  two 
separate  buildings  of  the  usual  recreation  type,  known  as  the  convalescent 


Fig.  164. — Red  Cross  Convalescent  House,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va. 


patients’  house  and  the  convalescent  patients’  theater.  The  latter  building 
was  originally  constructed  as  a recreation  house  for  colored  troops,  but  was 
later  converted  into  a theater.  Both  were  large  frame  buildings  fashioned  in 
the  form  of  a St.  George  cross,  built  upon  piles  and  extending  directly  over  the 
water  of  Hampton  Roads  in  front  of  wards  8 and  9.  This  house  was  a recrea- 
tional house  for  such  patients  as  were  able  to  use  it.  A large  central  room  with 
brick  fire  place  on  either  side  served  as  main  assembly  hall  for  entertainment 
and  recreation  purposes.  Small  rooms  to  either  side  were  used  as  library, 
offices,  baths,  etc.  Other  rooms  were  set  aside  for  the  accommodation  of 
relatives  of  very  sick  patients  who  desired  to  stay  near  the  hospital.  The 
theater  was  used  for  moving  picture  shows  and  other  entertainments. 

Eight  officers  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  who  devoted  their  entire  time  to 
the  welfare  of  patients,  were  assigned  to  the  hospital.  Besides  the  work  carried 


480 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


on  in  the  convalescent  house  the  activities  of  the  Red  Cross  covered  a wide  field 
and  consisted  of  the  filling  of  requisitions  from  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
hospital  for  materials  needed  quickly,  or  not  regularly  supplied  by  the  War 
Department,  hut  which,  nevertheless,  were  necessary  for  the  comfort  and 
health  of  patients.  Officials  of  the  Red  Cross  visited  the  wards,  collected  and 
mailed  letters,  sold  stamps,  and  stamped  them  free  of  charge  where  the  patients 
were  without  money.  They  wrote  letters,  sent  telegrams,  and  cashed  checks, 
postal  and  telegraph  money  orders  for  the  patients.  Delayed  payments  of 
allotments  were  hastened  by  them  and  information  regarding  allotments  and 
insurance  was  given.  Relief  was  also  furnished  families  of  patients  in  financial 
trouble,  and  board  and  rooms  were  found  for  visiting  relatives  or  friends  of 
patients. 

The  embarkation  hospital  organized  a school  for  illiterates  in  April,  1918, 
the  purpose  of  which  was  the  education  of  the  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical 
Department.  The  chaplain  exercised  supervision  over  the  school  but  the  actual 
work  of  teaching  was  performed  by  a representative  of  the  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association.  All  that  was  attempted  in  the  way  of  education  was 
to  teach  the  men  to  sign  the  pay  roll  and  read  simple  orders.  Attendance  was 
an  ordered  duty,  the  school  hours  being  credited  as  part  of  the  working  day. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital,  Camp  Stuart,  Newport  News,  Va., 
from  November  13,  1917 , to  September  13,  1919,  inclusive.  “ 

SICK  AND  WOIINDED.Ii 


last 

Admissions. 

Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from 
month. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1917. 

13 

315 

1 

December 

272 

28 

514 

45 

1918. 

January 

27S 

76 

779 

3 

February 

508 

58 

1, 191 

19 

March 

874 

41 

2,251 

2S 

April 

1,321 

49 

1,899 

7 

May 

1,234 

58 

2,051 

15 

June 

1,632 

42 

1 , 833 

46 

1 , 378 

52 

1,782 

12 

August 

1,244 

53 

1,949 

17 

September 

1,402 

104 

2,914 

38 

October 

3,111 

291 

2,091 

69 

November 

1 , 60S 

54 

1,200 

33 

December 

848 

153 

1,315 

28 

1919. 

January 

616 

149 

1,776 

22 

February 

988 

142 

1 , 481 

44 

March 

965 

92 

1,175 

23 

April 

634 

68 

742 

19 

May 

561 

30 

S88 

27 

June 

438 

32 

2,534 

22 

July 

498 

38 

1,310 

38 

August 

512 

21 

795 

19 

September 

232 

3 

52 

1 

1,463 


1,347 

28S 


Completed  cases. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

42 

2 

4 

2 

7 

434 

2(d 

37 

61 

23 

507 

30 

4 

82 

668 

17 

29 

179 

9 

882 

33 

17 

910 

31 

968 

47 

48 

4 

95S 

17 

1,019 

17 

72 

3 

572 

43 

1 523 

13 

93 

4 

487 

1,225 

15 

S6 

i 

s 

619 

26 

1,343 

12 

116 

i 

2 

362 

25 

1 000 

12 

193 

97 

3S 

1,357 

204 

195 

3 

3 

2,107 

S5 

1,001 

14 

239 

748 

45 

67S 

13 

353 

663 

21 

1,030 

22 

265 

99S 

25 

1,217 

21 

113 

i 

310 

2S 

1 26S 

21 

2 

301 

29 

713 

11 

70 

2 

91 

808 

12 

37 

3 

191 

17 

2, 180 

9 

24 

2 

291 

22 

1,145 

175 

42 

950 

3 

is 

2 

123 

19 

86 

49 

145 

s 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

272 

2,426 

27S 

S.1S2 

50S 

10.613 

874 

1,321 

1.234 

18.512 

32,657 

1,632 

44.498 

1.378 

44,998  . 

1.244 

43.144 

1,402 

40.774 

3,111 

47,299 

1,608 

S4S 

63,923 

41,429  

616 

25.93S  

9SS 

27,666  . 

965 

634 

29,955  

26,107  

561 

16. 199  

438 

14,852 

49S 

20.031  

512 

16.572  

232 

12.99S  

2.058  

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  521  to  theOffice  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section',  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  theOffice  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held 
in  hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to 
commanding  generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  hinted 
States.  A.  G.  0.,  “E.  E.,”  Misc.  Div.) 


TYPES  OF  HOSPITALS EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL, 


481 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital.  Camp  Stuart,  Newport  News,  Va., 
from  November  13,  1917 , to  September  13,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  TIIE  COMMAND. 


July 

August 

September. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen . 

Children. 

Total. 

1919. 

48 

17 

65 

57 

9 

66 

57 

9 

66 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total . 

1917. 

December 

12 

12 

149 

149 

1918. 

January 

16 

16 

224 

224 

32 

32 

266 

266 

76 

76 

356 

356 

April 

79 

79 

548 

548 

May 

80 

80 

544 

544 

93 

1 

94 

693 

24 

717 

July 

99 

1 

100 

683 

37 

720 

103 

94 

1 

95 

774 

36 

810 

116 

110 

1 

in 

977 

23 

1,000 

146 

October 

124 

6 

4 

134 

940 

17 

957 

145 

N ovember 

119 

6 

5 

1.30 

776 

17 

79.3 

142 

117 

5 

4 

126 

1,206 

20 

1,226 

1919. 

January 

111 

6 

3 

120 

1,382 

29 

1,411 

102 

6 

2 

110 

1 \ 1 55 

44 

l'  199 

103 

5 

2 

110 

1*033 

36 

1 ' 069 

April 

74 

3 

3 

so 

998 

998 

May 

68 

4 

3 

7.5 

863 

863 

June 

62 

5 

4 

71 

698 

698 

July 

77 

9 

4 

90 

574 

574 

48 

10 

2 

60 

391 

391 

September 

2 

7 

9 

53 

53 

45269°— 23 31 


SECTION  V. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

ARMY  AND  NAVY  GENERAL  HOSPITAL;  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  FORT 
BAYARD;  LETTERMAN  GENERAL  HOSPITAL;  GENERAL  HOSPITALS, 
NOS.  1,  4,  5,  6,  7,  AND  8. 

ARMY  AND  NAVY  GENERAL  HOSPITAL.  HOT  SPRINGS,  ARK. 

Under  the  pressure  of  war  this  hospital  was  expanded  to  268  beds;1  no 
new  buildings,  however,  were  added.  Suitable  space  for  augmenting  the 
capacity  of  the  hospital  was  not  available  and  for  this  reason  no  attempt  was 
made  to  make  much  use  of  it.  The  purchase  of  the  Eastman  Hotel,  across  the 
street  from  the  hospital,  was  contemplated  at  one  time  as  a possible  means 
of  material  enlargement,  but  was  not  consummated.2  The  requisition  of  unim- 
proved property,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  hospital,  as  well  as  at  a 
distance,  was  also  considered  only  to  be  given  up.2 

The  institution  continued  to  function,  throughout  the  years  1917,  1918, 
and  1919,  much  in  the  same  manner  as  it  did  for  many  years  preceding  the  war. 
Patients  of  the  same  type  were  admitted  as  formerly,  comprising  those  sent 
to  the  hospital  for  treatment  of  conditions  for  which  the  Hot  Springs  of  Arkansas 
had  an  established  reputation  for  being  beneficial. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  records  to  show  that  this  hospital  participated  in 
any  of  the  activities  incident  to  the  war  until  the  spring  of  1919,  when  cer- 
tain venereal  and  other  cases  from  overseas  were  admitted  to  the  hospital  to 
the  number  of  approximately  200, 3 none  of  which  could  he  the  subject  of  any 
special  remark. 

Though  considerably  smaller  than  any  of  the  temporary  general  hospitals, 
the  Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital  outstripped  many  of  them  in  numbers 
treated,  due  primarily  to  the  fact  of  its  continuous  operation  throughout  the 
whole  war  period. 


484 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fig.  165. — Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS, 


485 


Statistical  data , Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital , Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  from  April,  1917,  to  December, 

1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

1 Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Agggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

1 Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

92 

8 

14 

33 

147 

25 

1 

7 

14 

99 

1 

2,790 

30 

100 

6 

18 

29 

153 

18 

7 

26 

101 

1 

3^  233 

31 

102 

4 

8 

42 

1.56 

10 

1 

31 

114 

3,  399 

25 

114 

4 

5 

20 

143 

7 

1 

32 

88 

3 219 

88 

4 

8 

25 

125 

6 

1 

3 

22 

93 

2,  598 

3 

93 

2 

5 

20 

120 

11 

8 

25 

76 

2,449 

76 

2 

5 

35 

118 

8 

4 

23 

83 

1,403 

83 

10 

9 

34 

136 

12 

1 

2 

19 

102 

2,  021 

6 

102 

36 

7 

145 

27 

1 

117 

3, 469 

1918. 

117 

9 

14 

37 

177 

12 

1 

2 

32 

130 

4,061 

130 

14 

17 

10 

171 

20 

6 

36 

109 

3,228 

109 

12 

18 

18 

157 

21 

2 

4 

38 

92 

2 , 700 

92 

9 

33 

19 

153 

13 

2 

9 

21 

108 

3 096 

108 

8 

22 

17 

26 

1 

2 

20 

106 

3,  586 

106 

5 

35 

7 

153 

26 

3 

7 

13 

104 

3, 146 

July  

104 

2 

94 

5 

205 

11 

1 

3 

7 

183 

3, 320 

183 

9 

20 

8 

220 

34 

3 

9 

13 

161 

4,  840 

161 

4 

23 

10 

198 

20 

1 

12 

4 

161 

3,  973 

161 

50 

2 

228 

53 

6 

3 

10 

154 

2 

5, 138 

156 

10 

30 

8 

204 

30 

9 

2 

161 

2 

4,676 

163 

6 

26 

17 

212 

39 

19 

2 

7 

145 

7, 182 

1919. 

145 

10 

28 

12 

195 

26 

10 

14 

145 

4,385 

145 

14 

46 

21 

226 

28 

13 

1 

169 

169 

10 

13 

250 

51 

10 

33 

156 

5 220 

156 

11 

42 

29 

238 

54 

1 

4 

1 

46 

132 

4,  853 

132 

11 

69 

33 

245 

36 

15 

2 

6 

13 

173 

4,  222 

173 

5 

165 

41 

384 

97 

1 

9 

10 

1 

1 

207 

6 , 707 

207 

8 

29 

50 

294 

72 

16 

11 

3 

52 

140 

o',  026 

140 

4 

160 

38 

342 

57 

1 

32 

6 

6 

36 

204 

5,  925 

204 

6 

68 

32 

310 

130 

13 

5 

34 

128 

4,  918 

128 

2 

37 

38 

205 

61 

1 

6 

1 

8 

1 

24 

103 

103 

4 

23 

36 

166 

28 

1 

6 

19 

112 

3,  843 

112 

2 

83 

212 

5 

13 

6 

2 

41 

145 

4, 050 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

April 

0 

24 

7 

31 

May 

0 

24 

7 

31 

lime 

0 

24 

7 

31 

July 

0 

24 

7 

31 

August 

0 

24 

7 

31 

September 

0 

24 

7 

31 

October 

0 

24 

7 

31 

November 

0 

24 

7 

31 

December 

0 

24 

7 

31 

1918 

January 

0 

24 

7 

31 

February 

0 

24 

7 

31 

March 

0 

24 

7 

31 

April 

0 

24 

7 

31 

May 

0 

24 

7 

31 

June 

0 

24 

7 

31 

July 

0 

24 

8 

32 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

August 

0 

24 

s 

32 

September 

0 

24 

S 

32 

October 

0 

24 

8 

32 

November 

0 

24 

8 

32 

December 

0 

24 

8 

32 

1919. 

January 

0 

24 

8 

32 

F ebruarv 

0 

24 

8 

32 

March 

12 

14 

8 

34 

April 

12 

14 

8 

34 

May 

12 

14 

8 

34 

June 

12 

14 

8 

34 

July 

12 

14 

6 

32 

August 

12 

14 

6 

32 

September 

12 

14 

6 

32 

October 

12 

14 

6 

32 

November 

12 

14 

6 

32 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


486 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  from  April,  1917,  to  December, 

1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Y ear  and  month . 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

9 

9 

75 

11 

86 

12 

May 

7 

7 

11 

86 

13 

7 

7 

72 

11 

83 

10 

July 

7 

7 

73 

11 

84 

12 

8 

8 

69 

11 

80 

12 

8 

8 

71 

10 

81 

11 

8 

8 

70 

12 

82 

10 

8 

8 

68 

12 

80 

10 

8 

8 

71 

12 

83 

12 

1918. 

January 

8 

8 

85 

12 

97 

12 

February 

8 

8 

86 

12 

98 

13 

March 

8 

1 

9 

83 

12 

13 

April 

1 

8 

83 

12 

13 

May 

1 

8 

S5 

12 

97 

13 

7 

1 

8 

85 

12 

97 

15 

July 

8 

1 

9 

86 

12 

98 

14 

August 

10 

1 

1 

12 

S4 

10 

94 

16 

September 

11 

1 

1 

13 

83 

10 

93 

15 

October 

11 

1 

l 

13 

SO 

10 

90 

16 

November 

10 

1 

1 

12 

79 

11 

90 

17 

11 

11 

78 

11 

89 

17 

1919. 

10 

1 

11 

97 

11 

108 

9 

13 

1 

14 

95 

10 

105 

9 

March . 

12 

1 

1 

14 

95 

10 

105 

9 

April 

10 

1 

1 

12 

96 

10 

106 

9 

May 

9 

1 

1 

11 

91 

11 

102 

10 

June 

11 

1 

1 

13 

S7 

12 

99 

10 

Inly 

9 

1 

1 

11 

S7 

13 

100 

13 

August 

8 

1 

1 

10 

93 

14 

107 

14 

September 

7 

1 

1 

9 

S2 

13 

95 

14 

October 

S 

1 

1 

10 

87 

12 

99 

13 

November 

s 

1 

2 

11 

89 

12 

101 

12 

December 

8 

1 

2 

11 

92 

11 

103 

12 

UNITED  STATES  ARMY  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  FORT  BAYARD,  N.  MEX. 

Fort  Bayard  was  situated  in  the  southwestern  part  of  New  Mexico,  9 miles 
distant  from  Silver  City  and  3 miles  from  Bayard  Station,  both  of  which  points 
were  reached  by  branches  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  & Santa  Fe  Railway.4 

Hie  area  of  the  reservation  of  Fort  Bayard  was  approximately  19  square 
miles.  On  the  north  the  land  rises  rapidly,  reaching  the  height  of  9,000  feet 
at  Black  Peak,  and  to  the  south  of  the  post  breaks  away  rapidly  to  the  treeless 
plains.  The  elevation  of  the  post  proper  was  about  6,000  feet.4 

Fort  Bayard  was  first  established  in  1866.  After  the  close  of  the  war  with 
Spain  it  was  turned  over  to  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Army  as  a United 
States  Army  General  Hospital  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  tuberculous  officers 
and  soldiers.4 

The  feature  which  constitutes  the  peculiar  excellence  of  the  climate  of 
Fort  Bayard,  and  distinguishes  it  from  other  parts  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
plateau,  is  its  relative  equability.  It  is  warmer  in  winter  than  is  Colorado,  and 
it  is  cooler  in  summer  than  is  Arizona,  and  outdoor  life  is  pleasant  throughout 
the  year.  Two  factors  contribute  to  secure  this  result — the  altitude  and  the 
geographical  position.  The  altitude,  6,165  feet,  prevents  excessive  heat;  the 
hot  plains  of  a lower  elevation,  which  surround  on  all  sides  the  mountainous 
region  in  which  Fort  Bayard  was  situated,  temper  the  cold  winds  of  winter  and 
prevent  excessive  cold.5  While  a temperature  of  20°  F.  is  not  rarely  met  with 
in  Colorado  and  is  not  unknown  in  northern  New  Mexico,  the  lowest  tempera- 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


487 


Fig.  166. 


488 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ture  of  record  at  Fort  Bayard  was  3°  F.,  and  this  temperature  was  recorded  but 
once  in  37  years.  During  the  period  of  the  Army  occupancy  of  the  hospital 
the  days  were  usually  clear  in  the  winter;  wraps  were  rarely  required  during 
exercise,  and,  in  fact,  the  sun  shone  with  such  power  that  some  patients  could 
not  long  endure  to  sit  exposed  to  its  rays  even  in  midwinter.  The  nights  were 
relatively  cold,  the  temperature  usually  falling  below  the  freezing  point,  yet 
the  cold  portion  of  the  night  was  so  brief — the  minimum  temperature  being 
usually  reached  near  morning,  when  the  dissipation  of  heat  had  continued  for 
some  hours — that  the  frost  rarely  remained  after  10  a.  m.  in  ground  which  was 
exposed  to  the  sun. 

Upon  the  declaration  of  war  with  Germany  there  were  approximately  300 
patients*  at  Fort  Bayard.0  Anticipating  that  there  would  be  an  enormous 
increment  of  patients  with  the  increase  in  the  size  of  the  Army,  steps  were 
taken  for  the  enlargement  of  the  hospital  at  once;  but  the  first  of  the  new  wards 
was  not  opened  for  occupation  until  the  middle  of  February,  1918,  followed 
in  March  by  the  opening  of  three  more  wards  for  bed  patients.7  On  January 
1,  1918,  there  were  467  patients  at  this  hospital,6  and  the  overcrowded  condi- 
tion was  commencing  to  be  acute.  By  February  1, 1918,  the  number  of  patients 
had  increased  to  505.6  This  situation  was  partially  relieved  by  the  opening, 
in  March,  of  the  three  new  wards  mentioned  above;  but  by  this  time  the  number 
of  patients  had  increased  to  about  600,6  and  12  hospital  ward  tents  were 
erected  for  ambulant  patients.  On  July  1,  eight  more  wards  and  a new  mess 
were  placed  in  operation,  these  being  known  as  the  open-air  wards.  At  this  time 
the  number  of  patients  at  the  hospital  was  991,  and  the  hospital  was  still  over- 
crowded. Six  N-2  barracks  for  the  enlisted  personnel  were  opened  on  August 
15,  thus  releasing  the  old  detachment  quarters,  which  were  then  converted  into 
a receiving  ward  with  a bed  capacity  of  90.  At  approximately  the  same  time 
four  sets  of  cantonment  officers’  quarters  and  nine  sets  of  noncommissioned 
officers’  quarters  were  opened.8  An  officers’  dormitory  for  patient  officers  was 
opened  in  October,  and  at  about  the  same  time  20  framed  and  floored  single 
tents  for  officers  were  placed  in  operation.  During  August  two  condemned 
wooden  wards  were  repaired  and  remodeled  and  used  for  ambulant  patients. 
Between  October  and  December  24  hospital  tents  were  erected  and  occupied. 
On  December  1 there  were  1,536  patients  in  the  hospital.6 

The  necessity  for  the  various  increments  in  the  bed  space  at  this  hospital, 
as  in  other  tuberculosis  hospitals,  was  largely  determined  by  the  tuberculosis 
section  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  The  requirements  indicated  by  this 
section,  with  certain  modifications,  formed  the  basis  of  construction  projects  for 
tuberculosis  hospitals.  The  design  of  these  buildings  was  fixed  by  the  War 
Department,  but  the  location  and  grouping  of  the  buildings  were  determined 
by  local  authority.  They  were  distributed  partly  among  the  buildings  already 
there  and  partly  grouped  in  the  southwest  section  of  the  hospital,  to  form  a 
temporary  hospital  group  more  or  less  complete,  with  its  own  kitchen,  mess, 
barracks,  etc. 

Considerable  sums  of  money  were  required  not  only  for  new  construction 
but  for  improvements  in  the  interior  of  existing  buildings,  making  the  water 
supply  more  adequate,  for  other  utilities,  and  for  miscellaneous  work.  The 
total  cost  amounted  to  approximately  8900, 000. 9 


* Figures  for  patients,  as  given  in  this  paragraph,  include  those  on  a civilian  status. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS, 


489 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital,  Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex.,  from  April,  1917,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

O 

C3 

a 

1917. 

184 

18 

10 

227 

25 

1 

2 

29 

169 

1 

5,189 

55 

170 

15 

25 

17 

227 

26 

2 

25 

9 

162 

3 

4j  921 

34 

165 

13 

28 

7 

213 

16 

1 

2 

10 

179 

5 

5;  022 

94 

July - 

184 

10 

24 

7 

225 

17 

17 

6 

179 

1 

5,551 

86 

180 

16 

52 

9 

257 

17 

1 

5 

6 

227 

1 

6,016 

31 

228 

13 

48 

5 

294 

19 

4 

15 

1 

7 

245 

3 

6, 428 

44 

248 

13 

57 

5 

323 

20 

1 

13 

2 

284 

3 

8,341 

49 

287 

24 

33 

15 

359 

21 

8 

9 

6 

315 

9.002 

19 

315 

24 

40 

7 

3S6 

33 

2 

12 

9 

329 

1 

9,046 

31 

1918. 

330 

24 

61 

12 

427 

31 

7 

20 

8 

361 

11,496 

31 

361 

26 

74 

4 

465 

26 

5 

15 

5 

413 

1 

10, 845 

28 

414 

61 

102 

1 

578 

50 

7 

6 

12 

503 

13,921 

503 

63 

128 

694 

so 

16 

24 

11 

563 

15,984 

30 

563 

64 

162 

789 

94 

8 

28 

23 

636 

18,033 

25 

636 

48 

307 

7 

998 

37 

4 

36 

14 

907 

5,857 

8 

July 

907 

43 

170 

13 

1,133 

44 

7 

44 

1 

13 

1,024 

28,822 

1,024 

82 

197 

3 

1,306 

77 

3 

52 

3 

13 

1,158 

.36,047 

l'  158 

54 

146 

8 

1,366 

94 

3 

21 

7 

1,241 

38, 466 

1,241 

164 

216 

14 

1,635 

2S1 

11 

2 

1 

10 

1,330 

45, 195 

7 

1,330 

77 

177 

1,584 

80 

4 

47 

1 

3 

9! 

1,447 

47, 160 

30 

l'  447 

141 

149 

9 

1,746 

16S 

22 

2 

1 

183 

1,363 

43,998 

1919. 

1,363 

154 

40 

1 

1 . 558 

292 

17 

29 

1 

1 

250 

13 

35,525 

18 

65 

67 

2 

1,089 

124 

10 

61 

1 

250 

1 

642 

20,496 

36 

642 

64 

79 

20 

'805 

62 

10 

48 

2 

38 

1 

19,612 

14 

646 

38 

13 

138 

835 

81 

6 

146 

25 

35 

541 

1 

17,861 

91 

542 

42 

684 

3.8 

14 

53 

34 

77 

468 

15, 500 

28 

468 

29 

280 

58 

835 

31 

16 

53 

1 

7 

66 

658 

18, 275 

3 

July  

658 

36 

176 

91 

961 

33 

19 

3 

2 

4 

30 

23,176 

4 

31 

24 

5 

915 

34 

6 

14 

3 

13 

51 

794 

13,191 

63 

794 

106 

53 

968 

28 

8 

26 

2 

9 

1 

8 

71 

815 

2 i, 066 

123 

815 

37 

21 

61 

934 

41 

14 

27 

2 

20 

11 

68 

751 

23',  736 

23 

751 

44 

31 

47 

873 

44 

6 

43 

10 

4 

53 

703 

10 

21,796 

332 

December 

713 

24 

5 

41 

783 

32 

5 

106 

1 

8 

5 

45 

580 

1 

21,656 

62 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

April 

69 

39 

37 

145 

May 

69 

39 

37 

145 

June 

69 

39 

37 

145 

July 

69 

39 

17 

155 

August 

69 

39 

47 

155 

September 

69 

39 

47 

155 

October 

69 

39 

48 

156 

N ovember 

68 

10 

50 

158 

December 

68 

42 

51 

161 

1918. 

January 

68 

45 

52 

165 

February 

68 

45 

52 

165 

March 

70 

56 

72 

198 

April 

70 

60 

72 

202 

May 

70 

60 

72 

202 

June 

70 

60 

72 

202 

July 

73 

61 

72 

206 

August 

75 

55 

72 

202 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

September 

75 

60 

72 

207 

October 

81 

63 

73 

217 

November 

83 

63 

73 

219 

December 

SO 

65 

70 

215 

1919. 

January 

80 

65 

70 

215 

February 

81 

71 

72 

224 

March 

122 

81 

74 

277 

April 

124 

61 

75 

260 

May 

32 

113 

85 

230 

June 

32 

113 

85 

230 

July 

28 

111 

84 

223 

August 

26 

109 

79 

214 

September 

25 

110 

83 

218 

( letober 

25 

107 

79 

211 

November 

31 

101 

83 

215 

December 

31 

102 

84 

217 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


490 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital,  Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex.,from  April,  1917,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive— Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

14 

1 

15 

42 

187 

23 

14 

1 

144 

42 

186 

22 

11 

1 

12 

145 

41 

186 

22 

12 

1 

13 

162 

48 

210 

22 

12 

1 

13 

44 

229 

22 

13 

1 

14 

182 

236 

23 

15 

1 

16 

173 

51 

224 

22 

14 

1 

166 

921 

22 

14 

1 

165 

220 

22 

1918. 

15 

1 

16 

166 

221 

22 

16 

1 

17 

189 

58 

247 

41 

20 

2 

22 

215 

73 

288 

42 

20 

2 

22 

227 

72 

299 

42 

20 

3 

23 

278 

66 

344 

44 

24 

3 

27 

281 

346 

4S 

24 

6 

30 

3S2 

70 

452 

52 

27 

7 

34 

334 

96 

430 

53 

28 

6 

34 

404 

95 

499 

October 

26 

2 

8 

36 

403 

95 

49S 

57 

N ovember 

31 

6 

8 

45 

501 

no 

611 

73 

December 

31 

8 

8 

47 

604 

144 

74S 

86 

1919. 

.1  anuary 

35 

9 

10 

54 

573 

154 

727 

77 

February 

35 

10 

12 

57 

512 

157 

669 

S9 

March - - 

30 

11 

16 

57 

495 

142 

637 

85 

April 

28 

11 

16 

00 

509 

134 

643 

73 

May 

30 

11 

17 

58 

448 

113 

561 

70 

June 

30 

12 

17 

59 

353 

5S 

411 

6/ 

July 

29 

10 

19 

5S 

312 

4S 

360 

72 

August 

27 

7 

20 

54 

300 

61 

361 

71 

September 

24 

5 

17 

46 

294 

58 

352 

68 

October 

19 

3 

8 

30 

358 

50 

408 

69 

November 

19 

5 

8 

32 

313 

50 

363 

69 

December 

18 

6 

8 

32 

311 

49 

360 

66 

LETTERMAN  GENERAL  HOSPITAL,  PRESIDIO  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CALIF. 

In  1898,  when  the  Eighth  Army  Corps  assembled  at  San  Francisco,  and  dur- 
ing the  period  of  its  organization,  the  hospital  service  for  the  troops  was  per- 
formed under  canvas,  but  the  climate  proving  unfavorable  for  this  method  of 
accommodation,  the  new  brick  barracks  at  the  Presidio  were  assigned  for  use 
pending  suitable  construction  for  hospital  purposes.  A general  hospital  was  or- 
ganized on  December  l,10  1898,  in  these  buildings,  and  steps  were  at  once  taken 
for  the  construction  of  a hospital.  The  plan  most  suited  to  the  purpose  was  that 
of  an  architect  of  San  Francisco,  said  to  be  based  on  that  of  the  Lariboisiere, 
Paris,  and  was  adapted  to  the  military  service.  The  general  plan  of  the  hos- 
pital can  best  he  described  as  a quadrangle  formed  by  a veranda,  onto  which 
abutted  all  the  buildings,  except  the  administration  building  which  occupied 
a greater  part  of  the  front,  with  quarters  on  either  side  the  buildings  for  male 
and  female  nurses.10 

The  primary  purpose  of  the  hospital  was  the  care  of  sick  and  wounded 
invalided  home  from  the  Philippine  Islands.  This  was  later  made  to  include 
those  requiring  hospitalization  from  the  Hawaiian  Islands  and  Alaska,  as  well 
as  from  the  troops  in  the  vicinity  of  the  hospital. 

Originally  known  as  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  General  Order 
No.  152,  War  Department,  November  23,  1911,  caused  a change  in  its  designa- 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


491 


Fig.  167. 


492 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tion  to  Letterman  General  Hospital,  in  honor  of  Jonathan  Letterman,  who 
served  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  as  medical  director,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Located  directly  on  the  reservation  of  the  Presidio  of  San  Francisco,  its 
surroundings  were  highly  attractive  and  constantly  maintained  in  excellent 
condition. 

At  the  time  the  United  States  entered  the  World  War  the  Letterman 
General  Hospital  was  a well-organized  and  smoothly  functioning  institution 
of  400  beds  capacity,11  in  view  of  which  fact  no  difficult  problems  of  organiza- 
tion arose,  it  being  necessary  only  to  expand. 

Twenty-six  new  buildings,  mostly  wards,  were  added  during  the  war. 
Unlike  the  general  hospital  at  Fort  Bayard,  the  major  portion  of  the  temporary 
buildings  were  installed  en  bloc,12  and  early  in  the  war.  The  added  buildings 
were  of  temporary  construction  with  but  one  exception:  special  representa- 
tions were  made  by  the  Surgeon  General  to  secure  a permanently  constructed 
psychiatric  ward,  and  this  was  approved.13  Practically  all  of  the  new  construc- 
tion was  put  up  as  a detached  group  comprising  wards,  kitchen,  mess,  barracks, 
facilities  for  recreation,  etc.  By  January,  1918,  the  hospital  was  reporting  a 
capacity  of  1,100  beds.11  Its  maximum  emergency  capacity  of  2,200  beds 
was  reached  in  July,  1919,  when  the  sick  numbered  1,800,®  those  in  excess  of 
1,200  occupying  emergency  expansive  space.11 

From  April,  1917,  to  May,  1918,  inclusive,  the  activities  of  the  hospital 
were  not  greatly  in  excess  of  those  of  normal  peace  time.11  Patients  from 
France  began  to  arrive  about  August,  1918,  and  the  number  in  hospital  con- 
tinued to  increase  until  August,  1919,  afterwards  gradually  decreasing  and 
approximating  a pre-war  number  at  the  end  of  19 19. 11 

Statistical  data,  Letterman  General  Hospital,  Presidio  of  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  from  April,  1917,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive.b 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  he  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

Prom  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

X 

c. 

G* 

1917. 

338 

23 

296 

75 

732 

291 

5 

37 

1 

6 

374 

IS 

11,434 

470 

May 

392 

31 

513 

57 

996 

3-i4 

9 

58 

2 

14 

98 

461 

10 

13. 6>7 

405 

June 

471 

46 

557 

70 

1,144 

403 

11 

66 

1 

22 

119 

497 

10 

14, 698 

246 

July 

507 

42 

497 

91 

1,137 

378 

4 

44 

1 

1 

127 

1 

15. S71 

306 

575 

40 

853 

130 

1,598 

696 

6 

122 

6 

13 

136 

619 

17,415 

126 

619 

27 

807 

113 

1,566 

681 

6 

66 

8 

101 

699 

5 

19,408 

181 

October 

704 

32 

817 

126 

1,679 

630 

7 

151 

2 

8 

6 

123 

746 

6 

25’ 238 

244 

November 

752 

54 

590 

125 

1,521 

7 

113 

2 

3 

104 

730 

4 

22,491 

140 

December 

734 

42 

704 

144 

1,624 

496 

8 

152 

1 

15 

3 

105 

S3S 

6 

19;  060 

151 

1918. 

January 

844 

50 

776 

109 

1,779 

745 

14 

140 

3 

90 

10 

10, 185 

17 

February 

787 

30 

567 

81 

1,465 

525 

7 

94 

4 

7S 

9. 

21,317 

205 

March.." 

757 

54 

580 

125 

1,  516 

522 

2 

94 

3 

114 

773 

8 

22, 344 

351 

April 

781 

41 

715 

128 

1,665 

614 

13 

92 

1 

1 

3 

120 

810 

11 

25, 143 

259 

May 

821 

29 

571 

133 

500 

2 

59 

4 

12S 

6 

26, 540 

297 

June 

861 

26 

953 

124 

1,964 

699 

4 

37 

2 

101 

1,108 

13 

5.183 

289 

July 

1,121 

40 

873 

158 

2, 192 

851 

9 

47 

4 

149 

1,124 

8 

36, 114 

213 

August 

1,132 

34 

146 

1,879 

630 

7 

3 

138 

1,042 

14 

227 

September 

1,056 

21 

327 

103 

1 , 507 

565 

6 

57 

1 

2 

96 

17 

297 

October 

'775 

120 

1,009 

176 

2, 080 

716 

44 

42 

1 

135 

1,114 

18 

421 

November 

1, 132 

54 

470 

108 

1,764 

729 

33 

43 

168 

770 

16 

26. 101 

415 

December 

' 7S6 

64 

920 

173 

1,943 

619 

19 

132 

6 

276 

886 

5 

27.7S2 

449 

a Including  patients  on  a civilian  status. 

l>  Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Porm  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,'  Adjutant  General's  O ffiee:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS 


493 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  General  Hospital,  Presidio  of  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  from  April, 
1917,  to  December,  1919 , inclusive — Continued. 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for . 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1919. 

891 

91 

943 

232 

2,157 

744 

19 

82 

16 

260 

1,001 

35 

31,842 

899 

1,036 

53 

629 

202 

1 , 920 

520 

16 

89 

1 

224 

l]026 

44 

28'  305 

1,161 

1,070 

52 

659 

211 

1,  992 

433 

5 

84 

1 

16 

249 

1, 143 

61 

33 '83 7 

l]  502 

1,204 

50 

655 

244 

2, 153 

414 

<n 

156 

1 

11 

274 

1,217 

71 

36'  903 

2, 361 

1,288 

54 

242 

2,270 

412 

8 

164 

1 

16 

284 

1,302 

83 

40,  780 

2,149 

1,385 

40 

802 

218 

2, 445 

529 

9 

191 

1 

10 

294 

1 , 332 

79 

40, 901 

4,039 

1,411 

52 

941 

316 

2, 720 

603 

12 

203 

1 

16 

397 

1,390 

98 

45, 097 

2,518 

1 ’ 48S 

63 

890 

310 

2]  751 

688 

7 

179 

2 

5 

277 

l]  493 

100 

46] 604 

1,578 

1,593 

58 

410 

222 

2, 283 

518 

6 

166 

10 

193 

1,296 

94 

44, 147 

1, 184 

1,390 

60 

594 

186 

2/230 

474 

5 

187 

2 

13 

220 

1,301 

28 

70 ] 451 

3,  774 

1,329 

71 

375 

185 

1,960 

461 

8 

160 

2 

1 

22 

133 

1, 144 

29 

61. 198 

2,946 

December 

1,173 

67 

377 

153 

R770 

366 

4 

80 

1 

10 

276 

982 

51 

33,252 

1,433 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 
Depart- 
ment . 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1917. 

23 

1 

24 

178 

12 

190 

48 

28 

28 

177 

16 

193 

53 

June 

24 

24 

280 

17 

297 

57 

July 

22 

22 

290 

17 

307 

68 

30 

2 

32 

302 

18 

320 

67 

September 

24 

1 

25 

305 

27 

332 

59 

27 

1 

28 

302 

26 

328 

66 

28 

1 

29 

307 

31 

338 

72 

December 

26 

1 

1 

28 

330 

32 

362 

74 

1918. 

27 

1 

28 

321 

31 

352 

84 

32 

1 

33 

350 

32 

382 

104 

March . 

35 

1 

36 

356 

36 

392 

100 

35 

2 

37 

340 

37 

377 

103 

35 

2 

37 

341 

39 

380 

104 

June 

34 

2 

36 

386 

38 

424 

123 

July 

41 

1 

3 

45 

405 

42 

447 

136 

August 

48 

3 

4 

55 

415 

45 

460 

150 

September 

44 

4 

8 

56 

412 

48 

460 

133 

October 

45 

6 

2 

53 

411 

49 

460 

149 

November 

48 

6 

3 

57 

371 

78 

449 

231 

December 

47 

10 

4 

61 

533 

125 

658 

182 

1919. 

January 

48 

11 

2 

61 

509 

119 

628 

141 

February 

54 

11 

10 

75 

480 

118 

598 

130 

March 

59 

11 

10 

80 

636 

101 

737 

127 

April 

61 

14 

13 

88 

576 

92 

668 

107 

May 

52 

12 

14 

78 

529 

91 

620 

77 

June 

51 

11 

15 

77 

517 

87 

604 

81 

July 

60 

10 

9 

79 

515 

79 

594 

98 

August 

59 

11 

10 

80 

514 

94 

608 

104 

September 

57 

13 

10 

80 

549 

100 

649 

117 

October 

56 

7 

9 

72 

523 

112 

635 

126 

November 

64 

8 

11 

83 

568 

118 

686 

118 

December 

59 

9 

12 

80 

461 

113 

574 

113 

494 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  1,  WILLIAMSBRIDGE,  NEW  YORK  CITY. 

A unique  feature  of  General  Hospital  No.  1 was  its  origin  in  Columbia 
War  Hospital  with  its  inception  antedating  the  declaration  of  war.  On  Thurs- 
day, March  29,  1917,  a tentative  plan  for  Columbia  University  to  aid  the 
medical  and  surgical  defense  of  New  York  was  conceived,  and  on  April  6,  1917, 
was  published  in  the  New  York  Times,  coincidentally  with  the  President’s 
proclamation  of  war.14 

On  April  2,  1917,  authority  was  given  by  the  trustees  of  the  university  to 
erect  an  emergency  war  hospital  on  the  so-called  Williamsbridge,  or  Gun  Hill 
Road,  property,  belonging  to  the  University,  provided  the  funds  necessary  for 
the  purpose  could  be  raised  by  gift.  The  necessary  funds,  amounting  to  nearly 
$300,000,  were  obtained  by  subscription  in  a very  short  time,  and  on  May  30, 
1917,  the  first  unit  of  the  hospital  was  ready  for  service.15 

Tins  hospital  comprised  a number  of  separately  located  buildings  or  con- 
geries of  buildings.  The  “main  hospital,”  as  it  was  locally  called,  consisted  of 


Fig.  168. — General  Hospital  No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  New  York  City. 


the  series  of  temporary  structures  at  the  northeastern  corner  of  Gun  Hill  Road 
and  Bainbridge  Avenue,  Borough  of  the  Bronx.  It  was  about  12  miles  from 
Washington  Square  and  was  accessible  to  trolley,  elevated  railway,  subway, 
and  the  railroad.  Its  location  was  such,  however,  that  it  was  without  the 
boundaries  of  the  congested  portion  of  the  metropolis,  thus  making  for  a most 
ideal  place  for  a hospital  in  greater  New  1 ork.  Opposite  the  main  hospital, 
on  Gun  Hill  Road,  was  the  Montifiore  Private  Pavilion,  a modern  brick  struc- 
ture, which  was  used  for  the  care  of  officer  patients.  Three  miles  distant  from 
the  hospital  was  the  Messiah  Home,  located  at  One  hundred  and  seventy- 
seventh  Street  and  University  Avenue,  New  York  City,  used  as  a special  ward. 
In  the  Bloomingdale  Hospital  for  mental  cases,  in  White  Plains,  N.  1.,  at  a 
distance  of  18  miles  from  the  hospital,  50  beds  were  reserved.  A home  at 
Riverd ale-on- the-Hudson  was  maintained  for  the  care  of  convalescent  nurses. 
Thus,  it  will  be  seen  there  were  five  geographically  separate  parts  of  General 
Hospital  No.  I.15 


other  general  hospitals. 


495 


THE  MAIN  HOSPITAL. 

The  principal  buildings  of  this  group  were  located  on  fairly  high  ground 
and  spread  over  an  area  of  about  10  acres.  The  original  buildings  were  erected 
by  private  donations  and  were  composed  of  sections  so  assembled  as  to  be 
readily  taken  apart  for  assembling  elsewhere.  The  work  on  these  buildings 
began  early  in  June,  1917,  the  original  structures  comprising  26  single-story 
wards,  a kitchen,  and  mess  hall,  and  eight  other  buildings,  the  bed  capacity 
of  the  hospital  being  rated  as  500. 15 

On  June  15,  1917,  Columbia  University  tendered  the  War  Department 
the  use  of  the  Columbia  War  Hospital.16  This  offer  was  accepted  by  the  War 
Department  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Surgeon  General; 17  a nominal 
lease  was  secured,  and  the  hospital  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  I.18 

Because  of  the  necessity  for  increasing  hospital  accommodations  in  the 
United  States,  it  was  decided  to  enlarge  this  hospital  to  1,000  beds,  and  plans 
were  prepared  for  a rapid  expansion.  There  was  an  immediate  and  imperative 
need  for  additional  ground  and  it  was  necessary  to  trespass  upon  the  property 
of  the  Woodlawn  Cemetery,  adjoining  the  hospital  grounds  on  the  north. 
Permission  had  been  requested  from  the  cemetery  authorities  to  use  a portion 
of  their  unimproved  land  for  the  erection  of  temporary  wards  for  the  war 
period,  but  this  request  was  met  by  a refusal  and  peremptory  demand  to  quit 
the  property.  However,  there  was  reason  to  feel  that  this  action  on  their  part 
was  not  in  keeping  with  their  sympathies;  that  it  was  prompted  by  the  pro- 
visions of  their  charter;  and,  pressed  by  the  necessity  to  enlarge  this  hospital 
to  more  useful  and  efficient  proportions,  the  Medical  Department  proceeded, 
after  informal  agreement,  with  the  erection  of  temporary  wards  upon  their 
property.15 

In  March,  1918,  the  War  Department  began  the  construction  of  18  single- 
story wards  and  a one-story  frame  barracks  for  the  detachment,  Medical 
Department.  In  the  meantime  the  construction  of  large  steam  heating  plants 
had  been  started,  and  was  completed  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1918.  A 
year  later  the  War  Department  constructed  2 two-story  stuccoed,  hollow-tile 
barracks.15 

The  physical  property  of  the  hospital  consisted  of  a group  of  43  one-story 
frame  wards;  1 two-story  frame  barracks;  2 two-story  stuccoed,  hollow-tile 
barracks;  2 one-story  frame  barracks;  20  one-story  frame  buildings  for  the 
various  activities  of  the  hospitals,  such  as  the  operating  pavilion,  receiving 
room,  kitchens,  mess  halls,  laundry,  post  exchange,  warehouses,  etc. ; one  con- 
crete heating  plant,  and  2 two-story  frame  buildings,  one  used  as  headquarters 
and  the  others  as  the  officers’  club.15 

The  following  buildings  were  of  portable  framework:  Wards  13  to  25, 
inclusive;  wards  31  to  41,  inclusive;  the  office  of  the  detachment,  Medical 
Department;  the  sick  and  wounded  officers;  the  supply  and  finance  officers; 
two  barracks  for  the  enlisted  personnel;  and  the  two  mess  halls.  The  quarter- 
master storehouse,  the  laundry,  the  main  kitchen,  the  operating  room,  and 
the  garage  were  of  portable  steel  construction.  Wards  26  to  30  and  42  to  54, 
1 two-story  frame  barracks,  2 two-story  hollow-tile  barracks,  the  personnel 
office,  and  the  steam  heating  plant  and  system  were  constructed  by  the  War 
Department.15 


496 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


MONTIFIORE  PRIVATE  PAVILION.15 

The  Montifiore  Home,  of  New  York  City,  generously  preferred  the  Gov- 
ernment the  use  of  its  private  pavilion  for  the  care  of  officer  patients.  It 
was  taken  over  by  the  War  Department  on  September  1,  1918,  at  the  nominal 
rent  of  .'ll  per  month.  This  building  was  located  just  across  the  street  from 
the  hospital  and  was  a most  comfortable,  five-story  brick  structure,  with  ample 
accommodations  for  110  patients.  It  comprised  private  rooms,  or  suites  of 
two  rooms  with  baths.  Each  floor  had  a modern  kitchenette,  with  gas  range, 
ice  box,  dumb  waiter,  etc.  On  the  main  floor  there  were  a spacious  dining 
room  and  kitchen,  and  a large  lobby,  wherein  convalescent  patients  and  their 
visitors  could  sit,  and  entertainments  could  be  given.  In  the  basement  there 
were  a laboratory,  an  occupational  department,  a very  costly  and  modern  hydro- 
therapy equipment,  as  well  as  storerooms.  The  Montifiore  Home  proved  to 
be  a most  valuable  asset  to  the  hospital,  in  which  were  cared  for  hundreds  of 
officer  patients. 

MESSIAH  HOME.15 

The  Messiah  Home  was  located  at  the  southwestern  corner  of  University 
and  Tremont  Avenues,  and  was  operated  as  ward  55  of  the  hospital.  Like 
the  Montifiore  Home  it  was  obtained  at  a nominal  rental  of  $1  per  month,  and 
was  turned  over  to  the  Government  by  the  Catholic  War  Council.  The  build- 
ing was  of  brick  and  granite,  was  four  storied,  and  had  accommodations  for 
200  patients.  It  Avas  remodeled  to  provide  A\rards  AA*ith  kitchenettes,  mess 
hall,  receiving  and  entertainment  rooms,  etc.,  and  was  used  as  the  psychi- 
atric department  of  the  hospital.  It  served,  in  addition,  as  a clearing  hos- 
pital for  special  neuropsychiatric  patients  returning  from  overseas.  Opening 
on  November  22,  1918,  it  subsequently  cared  for  approximately  3,000  neuro- 
psychiatric  patients  debarked  from  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

CAMP  ESTATE.15 

Adjoining  the  Messiah  Home  Avas  the  Camp  Estate,  AA’hich  was  also  leased 
from  the  Catholic  War  Council.  The  tAvo  residences  on  this  estate  were  used 
for  quarters  for  the  nurses  and  enlisted  men  on  duty  at  the  Messiah  Home. 

BLOOMINGDALE  HOSPITAL.15 

Almost  from  the  incipiency  of  the  hospital  it  was  apparent  that  some 
special  place  would  have  to  be  procured  in  the  port  of  NeAv  York  in  which 
officer  patients  Avith  acute  mental  condition  could  be  adequately  cared  for. 
Accordingly,  the  Surgeon  General  made  arrangements  at  the  Bloomingdale 
Hospital,  White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  for  the  care  of  as  many  as  50  mental  cases  at 
this  hospital.  This  foresighted  arrangement  proved  very  satisfactory,  for  the 
hospital  Avas  exceedingly  Avell  arranged,  beautifully  situated,  and  surrounded 
by  large  Avell-kept  grounds,  AAhere  the  patients  were  excellently  cared  for. 
The  first  patient  Avas  admitted  May  2,  1918,  and  the  total  number  of  admis- 
sions Avas  approximately  90.  The  patients  were  cared  for  partly  by  the  phy- 
sicians in  charge  of  the  institution  and  partly  by  medical  officers  assigned  to 
General  Hospital  No.  1.  Charges  for  the  patients  were  at  the  rate  of  S35  a 
Aveek. 

RIVERDALE-ON-THE-HUDSON.15 

Through  the  generosity  of  its  OAvner,  Riverdale-on-the-Hudson,  a sump- 
tuous home,  was  tendered  the  Government  for  use  in  the  care  of  convalescent 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


497 


nurses.  The  house  was  given  rent  free,  and  subsistence  for  the  nurses  was 
furnished  at  the  expense  of  the  owner.  The  residence  was  a stone  structure,  beau- 
tifully located  on  the  hanks  of  the  Hudson,  and  had  accommodations  for  24. 

While  in  the  home,  the  nurses  were  under  the  professional  and  adminis- 
trative care  of  General  Hospital  No.  1. 

Owing  to  the  great  need  of  beds  in  New  York  City  for  debarking  sick  and 
wounded,  General  Hospital  No.  1 operated  for  the  greater  part  of  the  period 
of  its  existence  as  a debarkation  hospital  under  the  control  of  the  commanding 
general,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J.15 

General  Hospital  No.  1 was  especially  equipped  to  care  for  drug  addicts, 
epileptics,  insane  officers,  mental  defectives,  those  with  organic  diseases  of  the 
nervous  system,  orthopedic  patients,  and  patients  with  peripheral  nerve,  brain, 
and  spinal-cord  injuries.15 

The  principal  structural  defect  of  the  hospital  was  that  the  portable  build- 
ings, originally  built  for  the  Columbia  War  Hospital,  were  stove  heated,  and  were 
not  only  bad  fire  risks  but  were  too  loosely  put  together  to  permit  the  success- 
ful installation  of  a steam  heating  system.  Considerable  expenditures  were 
required  to  keep  the  buildings  from  falling  apart.15 

Statistical  data , United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  1 , Columbia  TFar  Hospital,  Williams- 
bridge,  New  York  City,  N.  Y.,from  July,  1917 , to  October  15,  1919,  inclusive .a 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED,  b 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

7 

7 

7 

12 

10 

63 

3 

76 

18 

3 

55 

425 

2 

7 

329 

49 

440 

38 

1 

3 

3 

395 

5, 344 

395 

17 

503 

29 

944 

139 

1 

31 

1 

265 

498 

2 

11,189 

20 

500 

37 

312 

111 

960 

330 

1 

35 

3 

4 

51 

12 

523 

1 

15, 739 

75 

1918. 

524 

27 

100 

185 

836 

237 

38 

6 

5 

203 

18 

324 

10,  760 

2 

324 

46 

699 

57 

1, 126 

223 

2 

40 

3 

31 

312 

18 

14,  759 

21 

March. 

525 

7 

92S 

157 

1,617 

799. 

11 

64 

7 

46 

53 

712 

2 

22, 985 

69 

April 

714 

67 

442 

146 

1 , 369 

430 

11 

76 

6 

31 

31 

784 

22'  059 

101 

May 

7S4 

238 

127 

1,205 

438 

84 

8 

38 

62 

569 

1 

20, 103 

24 

June 

570 

34 

254 

188 

1,046 

249 

4 

57 

1 

16 

87 

631 

1 

17, 375 

33 

July 

632 

62 

346 

266 

1,306 

428 

1 

64 

33 

107 

671 

2 

19,910 

5S 

August 

673 

68 

360 

351 

1,452 

468 

4 

81 

1 

53 

129 

716 

716 

81 

302 

476 

512 

6 

62 

40 

897 

1 

21,822 

31 

898 

161 

384 

746 

2, 189 

1, 197 

61 

38 

2 

60 

755 

11 

28  210 

November  ...... 

766 

43 

232 

505 

1,546 

561 

11 

1 

84 

116 

687 

30 

13  091 

287 

December 

717 

77 

257 

993 

2, 044 

2 

94 

75 

271 

861 

26 

25, 837 

791 

1919. 

J anuary 

887 

109 

284 

552 

1,832 

607 

17 

63 

4 

116 

84 

917 

24 

27,603 

1 125 

February 

911 

63 

248 

460 

1,712 

466 

5 

63 

2 

137 

74 

943 

22 

25,  470 

*646 

March . 

965 

79 

272 

495 

1,811 

497 

8 

37 

5 

95 

121 

1,027 

21 

30  458 

April 

1,048 

51 

150 

397 

li646 

371 

3 

77 

111 

168 

903 

13 

28  703 

413 

May 

916 

34 

279 

261 

1,490 

322 

6 

69 

1 

245 

142 

698 

7 

26, 550 

J line 

705 

33 

119 

245 

l\ 102 

213 

3 

58 

1 

65 

101 

644 

17 

21  577 

597 

July 

661 

28 

216 

210 

1, 115 

150 

6 

36 

127 

169 

627 

7 064 

61 

August - 

627 

37 

167 

'926 

152 

4 

60 

1 

75 

157 

477 

17, 146 

September 

477 

39 

86 

229 

831 

157 

2 

46 

91 

476 

16  005 

80 

October 

476 

11 

28 

515 

102 

2 

58 

328 

25 

3^642 

20 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns,  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held  in 
hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  com- 
manding generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States. 
A.  G.  O.,  “E.  E.”  Misc.  Div.) 


45269°—  23 32 


498 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  1,  Columbia  War  Hospital,  Williams- 
bridge,  New  York  City,  N.  Y.,from  July,  1917,  to  October  15,  1919,  inclusive— ^ Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

1919. 

92 

26 

118 

August 

20 

61 

81 

92 

26 

118 

59 

94 

July 

18 

59 

77 

69 

43 

112 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

July 

2 

2 

27 

27 

5 

39 

39 

September 

7 

1 

1 

9 

69 

9 

78 

7 

< >ctober 

11 

1 

2 

14 

110 

10 

120 

20 

N ovember 

14 

1 

1 

16 

163 

12 

175 

25 

December 

27 

2 

1 

30 

191 

24 

215 

34 

1918. 

January 

22 

2 

1 

25 

189 

23 

212 

41 

February 

32 

2 

1 

35 

239 

44 

2,83 

48 

March 

51 

3 

3 

57 

291 

90 

381 

71 

April 

56 

3 

3 

62 

436 

99 

535 

102 

May 

58 

4 

3 

65 

393 

93 

486 

130 

June 

58 

2 

3 

63 

378 

92 

470 

134 

July 

62 

3 

2 

67 

369 

94 

463 

133 

August 

62 

5 

2 

69 

465 

95 

560 

112 

September 

70 

5 

2 

77 

417 

95 

512 

150 

October 

59 

6 

3 

68 

431 

72 

503 

145 

N ovember 

67 

8 

4 

79 

467 

70 

537 

153 

December 

74 

10 

4 

88 

498 

93 

591 

128 

1919. 

January 

73 

9 

5 

87 

000 

107 

662 

107 

February 

79 

s 

5 

92 

491 

111 

602 

112 

March 

81 

9 

5 

95 

522 

102 

624 

113 

April 

79 

9 

3 

91 

481 

S3 

.564 

126 

May 

72 

8 

3 

83 

45S 

62 

520 

124 

June - 

58 

10 

5 

73 

437 

29 

466 

131 

July 

45 

12 

4 

61 

427 

1 

42S 

13S 

51 

3 

54 

409 

5 

414 

145 

32 

32 

363 

6 

369 

104 

4 

4 

1 

1 

1 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  4.  FORT  PORTER.  BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 


General  Hospital  No.  4 was  located  at  Fort  Porter,  N.  Y.,  in  the  city  of 
Buffalo,  between  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  Streets,  on  the  north  and 
south,  and  Front  Street  and  Niagara  River  on  the  east  and  west.  Being 
situated  on  a 60-foot  bluff  at  the  northeast  end  of  Lake  Erie,  where  the  lake 
opens  into  its  outlet,  the  Niagara  River,  the  site  commanded  an  excellent  view 
of  Lake  Erie,  Niagara  River,  and  the  Canadian  shore.  The  reservation  covered 
about  28^  acres  and  was  practically  a continuation  of  the  north  end  of  one  of 
Buffalo’s  parks,  “The  Front.” 

Fort  Porter  had  been  an  Infantry  garrison,  and  there  were  about  40  post 
buildings  comprising  20  sets  of  quarters  for  officers  and  noncommissioned 
officers,  four  barracks,  a hospital,  several  storehouses  and  magazines,  a head- 
quarters building,  a bakery,  stables,  sheds,  etc.  These  buildings  faced  either 
outwardly  upon  the  surrounding  city  streets,  or  inwardly  upon  two  open 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


499 


areas — the  drill  ground  and  the  parade  ground.  The  post  used  the  light, 
sewerage,  and  water  systems  of  the  city  of  Buffalo,  and  the  buildings  were 
heated,  for  the  most  part,  by  separate  steam-heating  plants.19 

The  hospital  site  was  exposed  to  much  high  wind,  principally  winds  from 
the  southwest  and  west.  The  winters  were  severe,  with  sudden  changes  in 
temperature,  but  the  summers  were  delightfully  cool.  The  average  tempera- 
ture for  the  entire  year  was  48°. 

On  October  16,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  requested  the  use  of  Fort  Porter 
for  general  hospital  purposes.20  This  request  was  approved  by  the  Secretary 
of  War  10  days  later,  and  on  November  10  the  post  was  named  General  Hospital 
No.  4,  and  as  such  was  opened  at  once.21  Some  renovation,  repair,  alterations, 
and  additions  had  already  been  instituted  by  the  Surgeon  General,  but  con- 
siderably more  was  necessary.  No  great  expansion  was  contemplated  because 
of  the  limited  area  available,  and  plans  for  remodeling  were  left  to  the  local 
commander. 

In  the  spring  of  1918  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  furnished  the 
Surgeon  General  a plan  of  development,  which  plan  was  approved  by  the  War 
Department  only  in  part,  and  construction  based  on  the  modified  plan  was 
requested.  As  it  was  impossible  to  economically  make  a large  hospital  at  the 
place,  it  was  decided  to  develop  only  the  existing  buildings  and  use  the  hospital 
for  the  special  treatment  of  the  insane.22  Meanwhile,  improvements  and 
alterations  were  being  accomplished.  Compared  with  other  general  hospitals, 
relatively  little  construction  work  was  done  here,  and  the  most  of  it  was  accom- 
plished in  the  later  months  of  1917  and  the  early  months  of  1918.  During  this 
time  the  hospital  had  been  fully  operating  as  a general  hospital;  and  subsequent 
to  November  10,  it  had  been  caring  for  the  sick  except  during  a period  of  two 
weeks  in  January,  1918,  when  it  was  closed  for  repairs.  At  first,  general 
medical  and  surgical  cases  of  a minor  character  were  sent  to  this  hospital  for 
treatment  ; later,  its  activities  were  restricted  to  the  care  of  mental  cases  only, 
the  first  patients  of  this  class  being  admitted  in  February,  1918. 23  Later  still, 
after  better  facilities  for  the  treatment  of  the  insane  had  been  provided  at 
General  Hospital  No.  43,  Flampton,  Va.,  all  mental  cases  were  transferred  from 
General  Hospital  No.  4 to  that  hospital,  and  the  treatment  of  neuroses  only 
was  continued  at  General  Hospital  No.  4,  until  the  date  of  its  closure,  November 
9,  1919.24 


500 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  N.  Y.,from  November, 

1917 , to  October,  1919,  inclusive .a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

v: 

C3 

1917. 

November 

13 

12 

25 

8 

10 

y 

204 

December 

7 

17 

20 

44 

26 

5 

13 

485 

1918. 

January 

13 

9 

11 

33 

25 

1 

3 

1 

3 

246 

13 

February 

3 

5 

27 

6 

41 

6 

1 

31 

3 

19 

March 

34 

17 

28 

3 

82 

24 

5 

1 

52 

1,930 

April 

52 

35 

38 

5 

130 

60 

2 

30 

1 

36 

1 

1 340 

15 

May 

37 

9 

97 

2 

145 

27 

27 

2 

89 

1 944 

3 

J une 

89 

7 

69 

7 

172 

16 

1 

26 

2 

1 

126 

3,223 

July 

126 

95 

16 

237 

18 

1 

4 

i 

168 

4,  736 

August 

168 

20 

125 

9 

322 

42 

1 

55 

13 

3 

206 

2 

5 949 

28 

September .. 

208 

30 

112 

11 

361 

46 

35 

2 

228 

6 . 598 

85 

October 

233 

71 

173 

17 

494 

160 

9 

50 

1 

15 

2 

250 

9 385 

353 

November 

257 

23 

249 

14 

543 

52 

5 

57 

141 

6 

280 

2 

144 

December 

282 

17 

242 

7 

548 

38 

37 

3 

30 

204 

1 

234 

1 

6,354 

38 

1919. 

January 

235 

46 

54 

6 

341 

55 

2 

40 

1 

1 

4 

4 

228 

6 

6 767 

161 

February 

234 

35 

90 

3 

362 

94 

1 

43 

5 

36 

2 

1S1 

1. 069 

March 

181 

48 

82 

7 

318 

34 

2 

10 

2 

4 

2 

261 

3 

8, 275 

149 

April 

264 

70 

43 

4 

381 

74 

2 

22 

2 

11 

3 

263 

4 

176 

May 

267 

51 

91 

7 

416 

53 

2 

22 

10 

1 

320 

s 

8. 038 

96 

June 

328 

27 

79 

4 

438 

1 

73 

1 

119 

193 

1 

7,871 

101 

July 

194 

34 

174 

8 

410 

119 

81 

193 

2 

6,546 
5,  660 

53 

August 

195 

23 

100 

2 

320 

93 

69 

1 

10 

145 

September 

147 

22 

42 

2 

213 

30 

57 

118 

1 

6,446 

76 

October 

119 

10 

5 

2 

136 

20 

1 

59 

2 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

1 

34 

12 

47 

1 

50 

6 

1 

34 

12 

47 

February 

1 

49 

32 

16 

48 

1 

33 

16 

49 

April 

1 

60 

34 

16 

50 

May 

40 

50 

97 

July 

33 

14 

47 

13 

64 

4 

81 

35 

15 

50 

July 

6 

49 

4 

59 

1 

30 

17 

48 

13 

64 

4 

81 

47 

62 

September 

13 

64 

4 

SI 

50 

15 

65 

0 

0 

0 

0 

December 

54 

6 

60 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns,  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


501 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  4.  Fort  Porter,  N.  Y.,from  November, 
1917 , to  October,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

4 

4 

22 

35 

57 

5 

1 

1 

7 

22 

32 

54 

1918. 

January 

6 

2 

1 

9 

37 

28 

February 

5 

2 

1 

8 

51 

33 

84 

12 

March 

8 

2 

1 

11 

114 

39 

153 

12 

April 

10 

2 

2 

14 

127 

46 

173 

11 

May 

10 

2 

2 

14 

148 

45 

193 

15 

.1  une 

11 

2 

2 

15 

172 

45 

217 

15 

July 

13 

2 

2 

17 

151 

55 

206 

14 

August 

10 

4 

3 

17 

144 

54 

198 

15 

September 

10 

4 

3 

17 

142 

56 

198 

15 

October 

12 

4 

2 

18 

170 

48 

218 

15 

November 

11 

5 

2 

IS 

165 

55 

220 

41 

December 

12 

5 

3 

20 

168 

65 

233 

34 

1919. 

January 

11 

5 

3 

19 

193 

72 

265 

33 

February 

19 

5 

3 

27 

195 

72 

267 

31 

March 

17 

5 

4 

26 

262 

60 

322 

29 

April 

18 

5 

5 

28 

254 

54 

308 

37 

May 

19 

5 

5 

29 

246 

39 

285 

32 

June 

19 

3 

5 

27 

235 

27 

262 

37 

July 

21 

3 

3 

27 

233 

14 

247 

34 

August 

20 

3 

3 

26 

200 

26 

226 

30 

September 

16 

2 

4 

22 

177 

35 

212 

28 

October 

6 

2 

1 

9 

36 

37 

73 

27 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  5.  FORT  ONTARIO,  N.  Y. 

Fort  Ontario  is  located  in  the  city  of  Oswego,  county  of  Oswego,  New 
York  State,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswego  River.  The  Oswego  River,  the  south- 
western boundary  of  the  reservation,  empties  into  Lake  Ontario.  The  lake 
is  the  north  and  northwestern  boundary  of  the  reservation,  and  the  city  of 
Oswego,  on  the  south,  is  the  southeastern  boundary.25 

The  tract  owned  by  the  Government  at  Fort  Ontario  comprises  55  acres. 
It  is  about  275  feet  above  sea  level  and  was  graded  and  filled  to  a depth  of 
about  6 feet.  The  contour  of  the  land  is  such,  ranging  in  elevation  from  50 
feet  above  the  level  of  Lake  Ontario,  at  the  northwest  corner,  to  18  to  20 
feet  above  the  lake  level  along  the  eastern  boundary,  that  it  has  a natural 
drainage.25 

Fort  Ontario  was  built  by  the  English  under  Governor  Shirley,  in  1755, 
captured  and  destroyed  by  the  French  under  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  in  1756, 
rebuilt  by  the  English  under  Lord  Amherst,  in  1759,  destroyed  by  the  Ameri- 
cans about  1788,  and  again  rebuilt  by  the  English  in  1792  and  surrendered 
by  them  to  the  Americans  in  1796,  it  being  the  last  military  post  to  be  evac- 
uated by  the  English  in  the  United  States  after  the  War  of  the  Revolution.25 

Ever  since  the  year  1796  Fort  Ontario  has  been  a United  States  military 
post,  garrisoned  by  United  States  troops,  and  the  site  upon  which  it  was 
located  has  been  owned  by  the  United  States  Government.  During  the  year 
1814  it  was  captured  and  destroyed  by  an  English  fleet  under  Admiral  Yeo, 
and  was  rebuilt  of  earth  and  timber  construction  by  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment in  the  year  1839.  It  was  again  rebuilt  of  stone  and  concrete  con- 
struction about  1863.  As  constructed  in  1839  and  reconstructed  in  1863,  the 
post  occupied  only  a small  part  of  the  tract  of  land  owned  by  the  Government, 


502 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  that  part  which  was  utilized  was  situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
reservation  and  was  referred  to  as  the  "Old  Fort.”  In  1903  the  reservation 
property  was  again  improved;  the  "Old  Fort”  was  abandoned  and  practically 
all  that  part  of  the  land  which  had  previously  been  used  was  filled  and  regraded 
and  utilized  either  as  building  sites,  for  roads,  or  for  the  parade  ground.  New 
buildings  of  brick  structure  were  erected,  water  lines  and  sewage  systems 
were  installed,  and  the  capacity  of  the  post  was  increased  to  accommodate 
a battalion  of  Infantry.25 

Being  located  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario  in  rather  an  exposed  position, 
Fort  Ontario  was  subjected  to  high  winds  from  off  the  lake;  in  winter  it  was 
usually  quite  cold,  with  considerable  snow,  though  in  summer  a moderate 
temperature  obtained. 

The  country  surrounding  the  fort  was  of  the  rolling,  partially  wooded 
type,  and  was  principally  farm  land. 


Tig.  169— Portion  of  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Port  Ontario,  N.  Y. 

The  soil  was  a mixture  of  gravel  and  lime,  of  rather  a clay  type,  and  there 

was  very  little  dust  in  dry  weather  or  mud  in  rainy  weather.  The  grounds  of 

the  reservation  were  cultivated  and  covered  with  a good  variety  of  grass. 

The  roads  of  the  reservation  were  macadam,  a crushed  stone  base  with  an 

oil  binder,  and  were  well  kept.  Those  of  the  city  were  brick,  concrete,  macadam, 

or  good  dirt  roads.  There  was  but  one  main  stream  in  the  vicinity,  the 
© 

Oswego  River. 

The  parade  ground,  located  in  the  center  of  the  post,  was  about  600  feet 
wide  and  extended  from  a point  about  800  feet  from  the  southwest  corner 
to  a point  about  800  feet  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  post. 

The  post  of  Fort  Ontario  made  a desirable  place  for  hospital  purposes: 
and  on  July  3,  1917,  the  Secretary  of  War,  upon  request  of  the  Surgeon  General, 
authorized  the  use  of  "such  barracks  as  may  be  necessary  for  base  or  general 
hospital  purposes.”26  On  the  day  of  the  approval  of  his  request  the  Surgeon 
General  wired  the  surgeon,  Eastern  Department,  to  direct  the  post  surgeon, 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


503 


Fort  Ontario,  to  plan  a base  hospital  and  to  make  telegraphic  request  for 
necessary  additional  buildings.  In  the  late  summer  work  on  remodeling  and 
improving  the  existing  buildings  was  begun.  In  the  fall  some  common  wards, 
X-ray  facilities,  additional  barracks,  and  a heating  plant  were  authorized.27 

On  March  1,  1918,  a fairly  comprehensive  schedule  of  construction  was 
called  for,  consisting  of  a receiving  building,  a laboratory,  an  operating  pavilion, 
a mess  and  kitchen,  an  officers’  ward,  barracks  and  wards  planned  to  add 
280  beds  to  the  hospital  capacity.  This  request  came  from  the  field  and  was 
estimated  to  cost  $131,922.  Twelve  days  later  the  cantonment  division  of 
the  Quartermaster  General’s  Office  informed  the  Surgeon  General  that  $145,300 
would  be  required.  The  expenditure  of  this  amount  was  approved.  On 
April  23,  due  to  a change  in  the  wording  of  the  appropriation,  it  was  necessary 
to  return  the  approved  request  to  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  for  the  approval 
of  a still  greater  sum.  By  this  time  10  per  cent  had  to  be  added  to  the  esti- 
mated cost,  due  to  an  increase  in  prices  since  the  project  was  initiated  March  1, 
increasing  the  total  to  $192,910.  This  sum  was  approved  by  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office  and  the  request  returned  for  construction  May  3, 28  and  on 
June  10  actual  construction  work  began.  In  August  additional  construction, 
buildings,  corridors,  the  installation  of  equipment,  etc.,  caused  the  total 
expenditures  to  be  $281, 550.29 

In  all,  30  new  buildings  of  frame  material  were  constructed.  They  were 
located  by  local  authority  and  so  placed  about,  and  at  the  rear  of,  existing 
buildings  that  the  parade  ground  remained  free  for  recreation  purposes,  and 
the  whole  was  connectible  by  closed  corridors. 

The  permanent  barracks  buildings  and  other  post  buddings  were  of  stone 
foundation,  brick  buddings  with  slate  roofs.  The  buddings  put  up  as  addi- 
tional for  hospital  use  were  of  the  standard  temporary  construction  used  in 
all  camps.  The  operating  pavilion  was  located  on  the  first  floor  of  one  of  the 
permanent  barracks  buildings  and  consisted  of  three  operating  rooms,  anesthet- 
izing rooms,  sterilizing  room,  instrument  room,  scrub-up  rooms  for  officers  and 
one  for  nurses,  linen  closets,  and  a recovery  ward,  completed  September  1, 
1918.30  All  the  construction  authorized  was  completed  by  January  22,  1919. 

The  water  used  at  Fort  Ontario  was  purchased  from  the  water  department 
of  the  city  of  Oswego  and  supplied  from  water  mains  extended  from  the  city 
mains.  The  water  was  obtained  from  Lake  Ontario,  the  intake  pipe  being 
about  1 mile  from  the  shore,  from  which  place  it  was  pumped  to  the  pumping 
station,  where  it  was  oxygenated  by  spraying  into  a reservoir  and  chemically 
treated  by  the  chlorination  method.31  This  water  was  piped  to  all  wards. 
Water  lines  were  extended  to  supply  the  newly  constructed  buildings  and  to 
furnish  a greater  supply  of  water  to  the  hydrants  for  fire  protection. 

The  sewerage  system  in  existence  was  extended  so  that  all  newly  constructed 
buildings  were  properly  provided  for.  The  mam  sewer  was  sufficient  in  size 
to  take  care  of  the  extensions  and  additions  to  the  system.32 

In  the  beginning,  before  the  mess  halls  and  kitchens  had  been  erected,  the 
detachment  and  patients’  messes  were  separate,  one  barracks  building  being 
used  as  a mess  and  kitchen  for  the  detachment,  while  one  ward  in  the  perma- 
nent barracks  building,  which  was  supplied  with  stoves,  was  used  as  the 
patients’  kitchen  and  mess  hall.33  Later  a large  building  was  completed,  which 
contained  a kitchen,  diet  kitchen,  and  mess  hall,  with  accommodations  for 


504 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


about  700  persons  at  one  time.  The  detachment  and  patients  then  messed 
in  the  same  hall  and  the  menu  only  was  different.  Bed  patients  confined  to 
wards  were  fed  also  from  the  main  mess  hall.34  The  carriers  used  were  larse 
containers  built  on  the  thermos  principle  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  food  hot 
or  cold  as  the  case  might  be.  Mess  for  all  patients  was  under  the  observation 
of  the  ward  surgeon  and  all  messes  were  under  the  direction  of  the  mess  officer. 

The  officers’  quarters  comprised  seven  brick  buildings,  six  of  which  were 
double  houses,  and  a single  house  used  by  the  commanding  officer.  Under 
ordinary  circumstances  these  quarters  were  used  for  13  officers  and  their 
families;  however,  with  the  large  number  of  officers  at  this  post  they  were 
divided  up  so  that  a few  married  officers  with  their  families  were  assigned 
two  or  more  rooms  and  single  officers  one  room. 

At  first  the  nurses  were  quartered  in  two  of  the  officers’  quarters33  but  sub- 
sequently nurses’  quarters  were  erected,30  which  in  addition  to  one  of  the  officers’ 
quarters  caused  only  one  or  two  nurses,  rarely  more,  to  occupy  one  room. 

The  detachment,  enlisted  personnel,  was  quartered  at  first  in  the  perma- 
nent barracks,  and  later,  when  these  were  required  for  wards,  the  new  tem- 
porary barracks  were  used,33  each  having  a capacity  of  46  men.  At  one  time 
it  was  necessary  to  establish  a camp  for  the  use  of  the  detachment  and  the 
men  were  then  quartered  in  tents. 

This  hospital  functioned  as  a general  hospital  for  the  treatment  of  medical, 
surgical,  and  venereal  cases,35  and  as  a reconstruction  hospital.  On  September 
1,  1919,  it  ceased  to  exist  as  a general  hospital. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y.,from  November, 

1917 , to  September  3,  1919,  inclusive.a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

B 

1917. 

November 

170 

67 

89 

1 

327 

156 

60 

1 

1 

5 

1 

101 

3, 72S 

144 

103 

46 

26 

6 

181 

92 

22 

67 

2,617 

48 

1918. 

B7 

54 

172 

293 

69 

2 

11 

1 

210 

210 

210 

67 

5 

282 

99 

1 

21 

i 

158 

2 

5,118 

S 

100 

38 

9 

4 

211 

59 

1 

61 

90 

3,  567 

Vnril  

90 

33 

10 

133 

53 

37 

2 

41 

1, 7S3 

Mo  v 

41 

35 

11 

45 

3 

37 

2 

1, 105 

s 

Ii]nu 

39 

49 

56 

144 

43 

2 

1 

98 

2,293 

1 

July 

98 

49 

233 

70 

1 

162 

3,  801 

1 02 

43 

798 

1,003 

129 

2 

2 

S70 

13, 761 

.870 

158 

030 

l'  664 

468 

23 

3 

1 

1,169 



2S,  270 

1 1 0Q 

115 

38 

1,322 

61 

4 

3 

5 

593 

30,  376 

*593 

43 

253 

889 

195 

ii 

2 

10 

671 

19,  695 

s 

671 

48 

194 

1 

914 

2 

2 

1 

35 

2 

327 

16,  957 

1919. 

327 

69 

179 

1 

134 

1 

IS 

1 

1 

1 

105 

16 

299 

6, 019 

2QQ 

180 

1 

84 

1 

3 

1 

1 

53 

11 

407 

3,864 

407 

1 1 1 

500 

61 

1, 145 

169 

4 

4 

6 

360 

602 

18,501 

002 

99 

316 

1,  182 

149 

1 

23 

111 

363 

21,994 

May 

035 

66 

571 

190 

1,  362 

113 

2 

16 

10 

402 

S19 

18,  264 

81  Q 

60 

688 

l,  822 

297 

2 

616 

885 

25,  242 

July 

39 

270 

1 65  9 

289 

3 

3 

19 

719 

626 

27, 487 

020 

28 

9 

123 

779 

149 

16 

270 

315 

2S 

i 

14,  582 

28 

1 

2 

31 

8 

16 

13 

16 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General  s Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


505 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y.,  from  November, 
1917,  to  September  3 , 1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

November 

2 

45 

17 

64 

December 

2 

43 

17 

62 

1918. 

January 

1 

37 

14 

52 

February 

1 

30 

14 

51 

March 

1 

39 

1.5 

55 

April 

1 

11 

12 

24 

May 

1 

11 

12 

24 

1 

11 

12 

24 

July 

1 

11 

12 

24 

August 

1 

11 

12 

24 

September 

1 

11 

12 

24 

October 

2 

11 

12 

25 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

November 

2 

9 

12 

23 

December 

2 

11 

n 

24 

1919. 

January 

2 

14 

8 

24 

February 

2 

14 

8 

24 

March 

3 

35 

12 

50 

April 

2 

22 

10 

34 

May 

2 

32 

10 

44 

J urie 

35 

36 

10 

81 

July 

73 

34 

10 

117 

August 

66 

16 

10 

92 

September 

66 

4 

10 

80 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total . 

Nurses. 

1917. 

November 

19 

1 

20 

155 

24 

179 

24 

20 

1 

21 

172 

21 

193 

12 

1918. 

19 

1 

20 

185 

21 

22 

206 

17 

February 

20 

1 

21 

191 

213 

25 

21 

1 

22 

22 

195 

24 

219 

25 

21 

1 

196 

26 

222 

27 

21 

1 

22 

201 

27 

228 

22 

20 

1 

21 

208 

25 

233 

18 

July... 

19 

1 

20 

228 

25 

253 

16 

20 

4 

1 

25 

214 

27 

241 

33 

26 

4 

1 

31 

307 

35 

342 

56 

25 

5 

1 

31 

534 

53 

587 

105 

27 

4 

3 

34 

433 

486 

96 

28 

4 

1 

33 

568 

53 

621 

91 

1919. 

23 

7 

1 

31 

581 

54 

635 

75 

25 

7 

2 

34 

596 

54 

650 

71 

34 

6 

2 

42 

798 

32 

S30 

71 

30 

6 

2 

38 

761 

31 

792 

60 

31 

6 

2 

39 

45 

731 

19 

750 

63 

38 

5 

2 

715 

16 

731 

61 

July 

30 

5 

3 

38 

516 

17 

533 

71 

26 

2 

4 

32 

345 

15 

360 

50 

2 

2 

12 

12 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  6,  FORT  McPHERSON,  GA. 


Fort  McPherson,  4 miles  to  the  southeast  of  Atlanta,  was  named  in  honor 
of  Gen.  J.  B.  McPherson,  commander  of  a corps  of  Sherman’s  army. 

The  terrain  is  hilly  and  heavily  wooded  with  red  oak  and  pine.  The 
soil  is  a sandy  red  clay,  sticky  when  wet  and  easily  carried,  but  the  excellent 
condition  of  the  grounds  obviated  this.  The  roads  of  the  post  were  well 
watered  and  oiled,  which  prevented  dust  from  scattering  in  dry  weather. 

The  climate,  during  the  period  covered  by  the  history  of  the  hospital, 
offered  no  extremes  in  seasons,  the  summers  being  warm  but  not  oppressively 
so.  During  summer  the  days  were  hot,  but  the  nights  were  cool,  and  the 


506 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL 
NO.  6 

FORT  MCPHERSON 

GEORGIA 

H PERMANENT  BUILDINGS. 
WWft  TEMPORARY  >1 
WELFARE  .■» 


Fig.  170. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


507 


humidity  was  seldom  high.  The  winter  cold  rarely  started  before  January. 
There  was  little  snow,  but  considerable  sleet  and  ice,  which  was  more  in  the 
nature  of  frozen  mist.  The  winds  were  frequently  high  in  wintry  weather, 
sometimes  extending  into  early  spring. 

The  roads  consisted  of  macadam,  asphalt,  and  tarvia.  The  Dixie  High- 
way passed  the  eastern  side  of  the  post.  While  the  road  construction  was 
good,  the  maintenance  was  very  poor,  the  condition  of  the  main  highway 
leading  to  the  hospital  being  at  times  dangerous  to  traffic. 

The  first  important  step  in  the  establishment  of  the  hospital  was  taken 
on  June  23,  19 17, 38  when  the  Secretary  of  War,  through  The  Adjutant  General 
of  the  Army,  directed  “ that  the  permanent  barracks  of  Fort  McPherson  * * * 

be  made  available  for  general  or  base  hospital  use.  ’ ’ A little  over  a month  later, 
on  July  31,  the  commanding  officer  of  Fort  McPherson  was  directed  to  "get 
in  touch  with  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  to  be  established  at 
Fort  McPherson,  and  endeavor  to  arrange  a complete  transfer  of  administra- 
tion to  the  hospital  authorities”  simultaneously  with  the  withdrawal  of  his 
troops.36  Within  a few  weeks — on  August  20 — the  transfer  was  effected,36  the 
post  being  turned  over  to  the  senior  medical  officer,  by  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  Seventeenth  Infantry,  on  the  departure  of  that  regiment — and  thus 
began  the  base  hospital  at  Fort  McPherson. 

On  December  2,  1917,  it  was  directed  by  telegraphic  information  that  the 
base  hospital  at  Fort  McPherson  be  designated  General  Hospital  No.  6,  this 
being  confirmed  a few  days  later  by  receipt  of  General  Orders,  No.  150,  War 
Department,  November  29,  1917. 

The  permanent  buildings  consisted  of  a guardhouse,  a two-story  head- 
quarters building,  a two-story  officers’  clubhouse,  and  18  two-story  houses  (for 
officers)  extending  along  the  northern  side  of  the  parade  ground.  Fourteen  of 
these  houses  were  double,  being  designated  east  and  west.  There  was  also  a 
row  of  two-story  brick  barracks  extending  along  the  southern  side  of  the  parade- 
ground,  which  had  verandas  on  both  floors  and  a northern  and  southern  expo- 
sure, and  2 two-story  double  machine-gun  barracks,  one  facing  north  and  the 
other  facing  west.  Along  the  southeastern  margin  of  the  post,  skirting  the 
Dixie  Highway,  were  the  various  quartermaster  buildings.37  In  addition  to 
these  brick  buildings,  there  was  a number  of  frame  buildings  located  in  differ- 
ent portions  of  the  post  and  used  for  storehouses  by  the  Quartermaster  Depart- 
ment, which  were  frame  buildings  originally  erected  on  the  parade  ground  for 
the  reception  of  patients  during  the  Spanish  American  War. 

General  Hospital  No.  6 had  its  beginning  in  the  post  hospital,  a two-story 
brick  building,  with  2 one-story  wings,  one  running  south  and  the  other  run- 
ning north.  This  was  the  original  post  hospital,  the  central  two-story  portion 
serving  as  the  administrative  offices  of  the  hospital,  and  the  wings  as  medical 
and  surgical  wards,  each  accommodating  about  20  patients. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1917  the  Surgeon  General  sent  plans  for  the  build- 
ing of  certain  wards  and  storehouses  to  be  used  as  a base  hospital,  and  it  was 
directed  by  The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army  that  the  commanding  officer, 
the  surgeon,  and  the  quartermaster  should  constitute  a board  of  officers  to 
locate  these  buildings.  They  were  a receiving  ward,  female  nurses’  home,  en- 
listed men’s  barracks,  two  isolation  wards,  two  single  sets  of  wards,  two  double 


508 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


sets  of  wards,  operating  pavilion,  two  psychiatric  wards,  a medical  storehouse 
and  a morgue. 

On  August  20,  1917,  on  the  departure  of  headquarters  and  the  six  com- 
panies of  the  Seventeenth  Infantry,  the  post  was  turned  over  to  the  ranking 
medical  officer,  in  accordance  with  instructions  of  The  Adjutant  General 
referred  to  above.  Later  in  the  fall  of  1917  a battalion  of  the  Seventeenth 
Infantry  returned  to  Fort  McPherson  for  guard  duty  in  the  city  of  Atlanta  and 
occupied  barracks  in  the  training  camp  buildings.  After  the  officer  who  com- 
manded this  battalion  left,  a junior  officer  of  Infantry  was  left  in  command, 
and,  with  the  approval  of  the  department  commander,  assumed  command  of 
the  whole  post,36  under  the  provisions  of  the  One  hundred  and  twentieth  Arti- 
cle of  War,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  last  clause  of  the  One  hundred 
and  twentieth  Article  of  War  clearly  states  that  “unless  otherwise  directed 
by  the  President”.  After  considerable  correspondence  with  The  Adjutant 
General  through  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  this  situation  was  rectified  and 
about  December  2,  1917,  the  hospital  became  a general  hospital,  and  about 
March  5,  1918,  the  Medical  Department’s  jurisdiction  was  clearly  defined. 

The  water  supply  of  the  hospital  was  obtained  from  deep  wells,  supple- 
mented by  Atlanta  water,  piped  from  the  Chattahoochee  River.38  The  inde- 
pendent water  supply  was  of  great  service  in  1918,  when  the  Atlanta  water  sup- 
ply was  found  to  he  contaminated,  causing  a small  epidemic  of  typhoid  and 
paratyphoid  fever  in  the  city  of  Atlanta  and  in  neighboring  commands.  Only 
temporary  gastrointestinal  disturbance  was  experienced  among  the  inhabitants 
of  the  post  and  this  was  carefully  investigated  by  a special  detail  of  officers. 
Until  the  condition  of  the  Atlanta  water  supply  was  pronounced  good  by  the 
hospital  laboratory,  water  wagons  delivered  water,  drawn  from  the  wells,  to 
the  wards  and  mess  hall.38  It  is  believed  that  more  serious  illness  was  averted 
by  this  precaution. 

Incineration  of  the  sewage  was  practiced  until  recent  years.  To  meet  the 
demands  of  the  increased  population,  a large  modern  sewage-disposal  plant 
was  built  on  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  post,39  part  of  the  land  lying  out- 
side the  post  boundary.  Two  large  stone  filtration  beds  received  the  effluent 
in  alternating  automatic  sprays  through  which  it  filtered  into  a small  streamlet, 
the  spring  of  the  recipient  water  shed  having  been  filled  in  to  prevent  drinking. 

There  were  no  latrines  in  use  at  the  hospital,  flush  closets  and  urinals, 
with  modern  plumbing,  being  used  throughout. 

Connected  with  the  permanent  barracks  were  toilets,  tubs,  and  shower 
baths,  either  in  the  basement  of  the  main  building  or  in  the  basement  of  adjoin- 
ing: buildings.  In  order  to  make  these  barracks  available  for  wards  for  the 
care  of  bed  patients,  it  was  necessary  to  introduce  in  or  near  the  ward  running 
water  with  wash  basins  and  slop  sinks.  This  was  accomplished  by  screening  off 
a portion  of  each  ward.  There  was  erected  a small  frame  building  with  toilets, 
basins,  and  shower  baths,  originally  designed  for  the  use  of  the  Medical  Corps, 
who  were  to  have  been  housed  in  a building  immediately  adjoining  this. 
Owing  to  the  growth  of  the  hospital,  it  was  found  more  practical  to  assign  these 
buildings  for  the  use  of  colored  patients. 

The  heating  of  the  hospital  buildings  was  accomplished  by  two  heating  plants 
(steam).  The  first  of  these  was  authorized  October  12.  191 7, 40  and  completed 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


509 


December  9,  1917.  This  plant  heated  some  of  the  permanent  hospital  buildings 
and  the  newly  constructed  frame  wards.  The  nurses’  and  officers’  quarters, 
consisting  of  a clubhouse,  and  20  separate  buildings  (houses)  as  well  as  some 
permanent  barrack  buildings,  were  heated  by  individual  furnaces  and  open 
fireplaces.  To  heat  these  buildings  and  the  nurses’  Red  Cross  Building,  and 
additional  living  quarters,  mess  hall  and  kitchen,  and  infirmary  for  nurses,  a 
second  steam  heating  plant  was  authorized  September  19,  1 9 1 8.41 

In  this  connection  it  is  of  interest  to  mention  that  the  authorization  for 
the  first  heating  plant  came  so  late  (Oct.  12,  1917)  that  completion  in  time 
to  meet  the  winter  cold  would  have  been  impossible.  The  commanding 
officer,  foreseeing  this,  ordered  the  construction  of  the  heating  plant  without 
authorization  and  later  was  commended  by  The  Adjutant  General  for  his 
action. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity,  the  power  being  supplied  by  the 
Georgia  Railway  & Power  Co.,  Atlanta. 

In  August,  1917,  the  mess  of  the  hospital  at  Fort  McPherson  comprised 
three  kitchens,  two  of  which  were  for  patients  and  the  other  for  the  enlisted 
personnel  of  the  hospital.  At  that  time  about  400  patients  and  Medical  De- 
partment enlisted  men  were  being  cared  for  in  these  three  kitchens,  the  equip- 
ment of  which  consisted  of  regular  garrison  equipment  but  no  modern  labor- 
saving  devices.  When  the  barrack  buildings,  vacated  by  the  Seventeenth  In- 
fantry, were  remodeled  and  made  into  wards,  a kitchen  was  opened  for  each 
building  in  which  there  were  two  wards.  When  the  new  buildings  to  be  used 
as  surgical  wards  were  completed,  they  were  connected  with  the  large  gynasium 
and  post  exchange  building  by  a runway.  The  stage  of  the  gymnasium  was 
remodeled  and  made  into  a large  kitchen  for  these  surgical  wards;  and  the  gym- 
nasium proper  was  converted  into  a large  mess  hall  for  the  convalescent  patients 
from  the  adjoining  wards  and  for  the  men  of  the  detachment,  Medical  Depart- 
ment. The  equipment  was  meager  at  first,  but  was  soon  replaced  by  up-to- 
date  appliances. 

This  large  institution,  in  addition  to  being  a hospital,  soon  assumed  the 
nature  of  an  Army  medical  school,  for  both  scientific  and  military  training. 
The  officer  personnel  was  divided  into  a permanent  staff  of  headquarters,  medi- 
cal, sanitary,  and  quartermaster  officers,  and  comprised  the  commanding  officer, 
the  chief  of  the  surgical  service  and  40  ward  surgeons,  the  chief  of  the  medical 
service  and  25  assistants,  the  chief  of  the  laboratory  service  with  laboratory 
technicians,  and  the  quartermaster  with  nine  assistants.  It  continued  in 
existence  as  a general  hospital  until  December,  1919,  when  it  reverted  to  the 
status  of  a post  hospital. 


510 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.,from  December, 

1917 , to  December,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

d 

d 

O 

o 

a 

o 

t-4 

From  other 
sources. 

>*> 

d 

d 

0 

d 

a 

3 

© 

d 

© 

S 

'•3 

0 . 

r d -*-» 
© ^3 

u-- 
g c3 
0 

s 

d 

© 

© 

Q 

x g 
© £ 
© 

d H 

d 0 

— 

%d 

5 “ 

° P 

^ 5 

d — 

© >> 

J3  % 

2 w 

B 

c 

'd 

d rk 
t 2 
«2  T 

£ 0 
EH 

*5 

© 

0 

3 

d . 

t-  •— 
4-i  ^ 

'% 

s 

o 

*c3 

O 

a 

© 

cJ 

O 

| 

1917. 

December 

400 

118 

831 

15 

1,424 

663 

14 

11 

1 

11 

724 

- 

19,968 

24 

1918. 

January 

724 

142 

744 

H 

1,621 

617 

13 

42 

8 

941 

25  999 

February 

941 

106 

578 

16 

1,  641 

734 

4 

39 

3 

2 

1 

2 

12 

8-14 

March 

844 

177 

385 

16 

1,422 

668 

2 

79 

6 

2 

3 

36 

626 

90  ry>n 

April 

626 

195 

828 

16 

869 

17 

21 

4 

481 

706 

24^  42.5 

May 

706 

175 

822 

15 

1,718 

731 

5 

34 

2 

1 

72 

873 

26  872 

June 

873 

115 

561 

28 

1,577 

5.56 

3 

46 

33 

1 

71 

867 

9a'  398 

July 

867 

74 

725 

107 

1,  773 

450 

2 

97 

21 

1 

140 

1 062 

.21  1Q1 

August 

1, 002 

45 

367 

129 

1 , 603 

366 

4 

140 

3 

135 

31* 448 

September 

955 

72 

352 

133 

1,512 

239 

2 

173 

1 

3 

171 

923 

October 

923 

238 

625 

244 

2, 030 

388 

20 

124 

31 

8 

124 

1,335 

47*  733 

November 

1,335 

101 

629 

157 

2,  222 

452 

5 

211 

3 

126 

1 425 

42*  465 

December 

1,425 

126 

843 

331 

2,  725 

389 

10 

276 

8 

39 

457 

341 

1,205 

43;  262 

1919. 

January 

1,205 

168 

1,158 

376 

2,907 

251 

2 

202 

20 

48 

539 

291 

52  125 

February 

1,554 

100 

797 

268 

2,  719 

666 

3 

150 

23 

257 

1,605 

39*  972 

March 

1,605 

92 

990 

292 

2,  979 

723 

10 

196 

9 

1 

10 

292 

1 738 

52  692 

- 

April 

1,738 

70 

531 

311 

2, 650 

514 

3 

219 

6 

18 

357 

1 533 

47*  253 

May 

1,533 

64 

887 

304 

2',  788 

526 

6 

226 

16 

320 

1 694 

.50*  544 

J une 

1,694 

52 

1,976 

248 

3;  970 

1,127 

243 

18 

17 

280 

2 278 

64^  038 

10 

July 

2,  278 

75 

835 

333 

3^  521 

914 

20 

87 

39 

1 

22 

240 

2, 198 

74*  604 

August 

2, 198 

89 

567 

312 

3, 166 

9 

354 

29 

11 

330 

l’  968 

62  248 

September 

1,968 

60 

228 

331 

2, 587 

552 

10 

270 

25 

48 

376 

1,306 

October 

1,306 

92 

588 

333 

2,  319 

237 

8 

228 

20 

1 

203 

1,622 

42  619 

November 

1,622 

82 

388 

203 

2,  295 

601 

212 

15 

4 

202 

l’  256 

43  565 

December 

1, 256 

84 

68 

190 

1,598 

301 

195 

18 

15 

407 

655 

27,339 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1919. 

23 

20 

24 

67 

11 

66 

132 

February 

17 

73 

53 

143 

1918. 

March 

17 

77 

54 

148 

23 

20 

24 

67 

April 

17 

148 

60 

40 

14 

114 

May 

IS 

149 

43 

39 

14 

96 

IS 

149 

57 

39 

14 

110 

IS 

149 

57 

39 

14 

110 

18 

149 

105 

69 

53 

227 

September 

IS 

77 

54 

149 

July 

6 

73 

61 

140 

October 

18 

149 

69 

128 

November 

IS 

14S 

66 

126 

December 

IS 

76 

14S 

October 

5 

66 

55 

126 

N 0 vember 

8 

71 

00 

134 

December 

6 

66 

55 

127 

o Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


511 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.,from  December , 
1917,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and 
month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

N urses . 

Aides 

and 

workers . 

Other 

civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

29 

1 

30 

307 

307 

1918. 

January 

33 

1 

1 

35 

344 

344 

59 

February 

36 

1 

1 

38 

394 

394 

59 

March 

45 

1 

6 

52 

401 

179 

580 

77 

April 

56 

1 

7 

64 

516 

193 

709 

88 

May 

48 

2 

7 

57 

506 

198 

704 

83 

64 

3 

6 

73 

521 

205 

726 

90 

75 

9 

89 

459 

244 

703 

98 

66 

7 

9 

82 

444 

240 

684 

98 

8 

6 

65 

231 

986 

105 

October 

56 

o 

8 

73 

737 

29.2 

959 

129 

November 

62 

8 

8 

78 

742 

244 

9S6 

112 

66 

14 

December 

88 

8 

8 

104 

728 

336 

1,064 

136 

87 

15 

1919. 

January 

76 

9 

10 

95 

842 

329 

1, 171 

129 

111 

15 

February 

79 

8 

10 

97 

886 

345 

1,231 

184 

80 

14 

March 

85 

8 

8 

101 

983 

434 

1,417 

178 

86 

14 

April 

85 

8 

S 

101 

902 

300 

1,202 

177 

85 

15 

May 

60 

8 

9 

77 

8S1 

262 

1, 143 

164 

91 

17 

June 

62 

7 

3 

72 

894 

200 

1,094 

170 

119 

19 

July 

63 

6 

10 

79 

S66 

163 

1,029 

190 

127 

17 

August 

60 

6 

10 

76 

S06 

173 

979 

179 

137 

16 

September 

50 

6 

21 

77 

743 

191 

934 

176 

135 

15 

< ictober 

34 

6 

15 

DO 

646 

199 

845 

193 

130 

12 

November 

38 

6 

15 

59 

603 

226 

829 

161 

December 

40 

8 

14 

62 

539 

225 

764 

147 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  7.  BALTIMORE,  MD. 

The  Garrett  Estate,  located  in  the  northern  suburban  portion  of  Baltimore, 
was  in  the  early  fall  of  1917  generously  tendered  the  Government  by  its  owner 
for  use  as  a hospital  for  the  blind.42  The  estate  comprised  50  acres  of  land, 
beautifully  landscaped  and  wooded,  on  which  were  located  several  sumptuous 
dwellings,  separately  known  as  Evergreen,  Evergreen,  Junior,  and  The  Wilson 
Home.  These  structures  were  adequate  to  house  50  patients  and  the  necessary 
personnel  and  supplies. 

Adjacent  to  the  Garrett  Estate  was  a tract  of  land,  consisting  of  2 acres, 
which  was  also  offered  the  Government,  and  this  and  the  offer  of  the  Garrett 
Estate  were  accepted  by  the  War  Department  at  the  nominal  rental  of  $1  per 
year.43 

Much  study  was  devoted  to  the  incidence  of  blindness,  both  total  and 
partial,  in  the  armies  of  the  allies.  Varying  reports  were  received  in  the 
Surgeon  General’s  Office;  conflicting  statistics  were  analyzed,  and  direct  per- 
sonal reports  were  secured.  The  application  of  this  experience  to  our  own 
forces  was  a difficult  matter  and  required  considerable  care,  lest  wrong  conclu- 
sions be  reached.  Even  with  the  care  exercised,  the  estimated  number  of  the 
blinded,  to  be  expected  in  our  forces,  varied  widely,  dependent  on  the  point 
of  view  of  the  one  making  the  estimate,  as  well  as  upon  the  grounds  used  for 
his  calculations.  In  consequence,  many  studies  were  made,  and  data  from  all 
quarters  were  considered  in  evolving  plans  for  the  necessary  additional  build- 
ings at  this  hospital.  It  was  desired  to  provide  facilities  to  teach  advanced 
vocational  subjects  to  the  blind;  but  there  were  no  known  institutions  in  the 


512 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


United  States  giving  instruction  of  this  sort;  and  considerable  difficulty  and 
delay  were  encountered  while  sufficiently  definite  building  plans  were  being 
prepared.  Some  of  these  plans  were  developed  at  the  hospital  and  some  were 
prepared  in  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General.  Three  main  construction  items, 
initiated  in  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  were  consolidated  into  two,  and 
their  execution  was  begun  in  April,  1918,  and  January,  1919,  respectively,  and 
completed  in  November,  1918,  and  March,  1919. 

The  hospital,  however,  was  organized  as  General  Hospital  No.  7 on  Novem- 
ber 27,  1917,  with  the  primary  purpose  of  physical,  mental,  and  vocational 
reconstruction  of  economically  blinded  soldiers,  sailors,  marines,  and  civilians 
in  the  Government  service.44 

When  completed,  this  institution,  which  was  virtually  a school,  consisted 
of  two  school  buildings,  two  manual  training  buildings,  one  recreation  building, 


Fig-.  171. — Swimming  pool  in  gymnasium,  General  Hospital  No.  7,  Baltimore. 

one  physical  recreation  building,  five  barracks,  and  the  necessary  utility  struc- 
tures in  addition  to  the  buildings  originally  on  the  estate.  The  ultimate 
capacity  of  the  hospital  was  300,  and  the  cost  of  its  construction  was  8300,000. 

In  addition  to  teaching  Braille,  various  trades  suitable  for  the  blind  were 
taught.  Certain  of  the  men  were  also  given  intensive  training  in  vocations 
with  which  they  had  become  identified  prior  to  their  entrance  into  the  service. 

The  physical  recreation  building  at  the  hospital  was  found  to  be  of  a decided 
advantage;  its  swimming  pool,  especially,  engendered  self-reliance  and  lent 
poise  to  the  patients.  It  was  learned  that  after  a blind  man  became  able  to 
calmly  dive  from  an  elevated  spring  board  into  the  pool  he  had  gone  a long  way 
in  overcoming  that  physical  timidity  which  is  so  common.  Strangely  enough, 
the  bowling  alleys  were  put  to  good  use,  and  the  benefit  in  developing  a sense 
of  direction  was  often  remarked. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


513 


Soldiers  who  had  received  injury  to  the  eyes  were  cared  for  in  General 
Hospital  No.  2,  Baltimore,  so  long  as  medical  or  surgical  attention  was  required, 
after  which  they  were  sent  to  General  Hospital  No.  7.  While  these  soldiers 
were  in  General  Hospital  No.  2,  however,  it  was  the  practice  to  begin  reeducation 
of  them  so  that  no  time  would  be  lost. 

In  April,  1919,  following  a visit  of  Sir  Arthur  Pearson,  who  told  of  the 
methods  and  success  of  St.  Dustan’s  in  England,  which  he,  a blinded  man,  had 
founded  and  was  operating,  it  was  decided  to  demilitarize  General  Hospital 
No.  7.  All  the  blind  soldier  inmates  were  discharged  from  the  service  ; and  as  a 
result  of  their  civilian  status,  with  total  disability,  they  were  drawing  a com- 
pensation greater  in  amount  than  their  active  pay  had  been.  This  increased 
their  morale  markedly.  Such  was  not  the  case  with  the  officer  patients,  how- 
ever; but  they  were  few  in  number.  In  order  to  continue  the  work  at  this 
institution  the  Medical  Department  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the  Ameri- 
can National  Red  Cross  whereby  the  Medical  Department  held  the  property 
on  lease,  but  turned  over  the  buildings  to  the  Red  Cross  on  a revocable  license 
so  that  that  organization,  in  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational 
Training,  could  carry  on  the  instruction  of  the  blind. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  7,  Baltimore,  Md.,from  December,  1917,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive .« 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  fcr. 

Completed  cases. 

ining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

rd 

a 

cS 

O 

o 

B 

o 

(h 

From  other 
sources. 

h 

o 

rd 

05 

Sh 

d 

05 

P 

"d 

s 

*3 

o . 

3 ~cs 
& 
o 

S 

■3 

05 

C 

05 

05 

ft 

Pi  • 

x a 
© S 
~ © 
'rStZ 

05  O 
C3  O 

ft  ’rt 
©ri 
ft  S-i 

P 

° s 

^3  ft 
O'  >> 

gs 

“ a 

C3  ^ 

G 1/1 
EH 

o 

-*-<  . 
"3 

T3  ft 
© o 

£ft 

OT  3 
Pft 

ss 

’B 

o 

05 

ft  05 
o 

ft 

O 

Rome 

d 

c3  . 

+=•  ^ 
5>> 

P 

a3 

S 

05 

A 

O 

"3 

ft 

o 

M 

u. 

_Q5 

3 

3 

O' 

Is 

ft 

o 

M 

05 

03 

3 

O’ 

1917. 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1918. 

January 

18 

18 

15 

3 

28 

8 

8 

6 

2 

2 

5 

7 

6 

1 

1 

5 

3 

9 

5 

4 

36 

1 

May 

4 

5 

i 

i 

11 

4 

1 

6 

115 

Julie 

6 

1 

5 

12 

2 

3 

7 

185 

July 

7 

2 

2 

11 

1 

1 

1 

8 

269 

August 

8 

3 

1 

i 

13 

2 

1 

10 

269 

September 

10 

8 

11 

i 

30 

7 

23 

544 

October 

23 

14 

3 

1 

41 

12 

3 

25 

1 

796 

November 

26 

8 

7 

1 

42 

8 

2 

31 

1 

892 

7 

December 

32 

13 

45 

3 

93 

13 

1 

16 

63 

1,636 

14 

1919. 

January 

63 

21 

28 

73 

185 

18 

7 

69 

89 

2 

3,765 

7 

February 

91 

28 

3 

36 

158 

23 

8 

1 

44 

82 

2, 752 

30 

March.L 

82 

11 

3 

131 

227 

5 

4 

77 

141 

996 

7 

April 

141 

11 

6 

33 

191 

13 

8 

1 

103 

615 

3 

May 

103 

4 

7 

114 

2 

73 

25 

9 

5 

2, 020 

June 

5 

3 

6 

14 

2 

7 

2 

1 

2 

34 

5 

July 

2 

5 

7 

5 

2 

66 

August 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2 

45 

September 

2 

2 

4 

2 

2 

60 

October 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2 

62 

November 

2 

2 

2 

60 

December 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

45269°— 23 33 


514 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  7,  Baltimore,  Md.,  from  December,  1917, 
to  December,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

1919. 

2 

12 

14 

1 

1 

2 

February 

2 

14 

16 

August 

1 

1 

2 

March.  /_ 

2 

10 

12 

September 

1 

1 

April 

2 

10 

12 

October 

1 

1 

2 

10 

12 

November 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

December 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1917. 

1 

1 

1 

3 

11 

3 

14 

1918. 

1 

2 

1 

4 

49 

8 

57 

February 

1 

2 

1 

4 

50 

8 

58 

2 

2 

1 

5 

52 

10 

62 

April 

2 

2 

1 

5 

52 

12 

64 

2 

2 

1 

5 

17 

92 

2 

2 

1 

5 

74 

16 

90 

July 

1 

2 

1 

4 

16 

SI 

3 

1 

2 

1 

4 

61 

15 

76 

3 

2 

1 

1 

4 

62 

16 

78 

3 

3 

2 

1 

6 

62 

16 

7S 

3 

2 

2 

11 

62 

IS 

so 

3 

7 

2 

2 

11 

70 

32 

102 

6 

1919. 

6 

2 

2 

10 

95 

33 

128 

6 

8 

2 

3 

13 

89 

45 

134 

10 

9 

2 

3 

14 

91 

43 

134 

10 

6 

2 

3 

11 

90 

37 

127 

5 

5 

2 

2 

9 

59 

5 

64 

5 

3 

2 

1 

6 

49 

5 

54 

July. 

2 

2 

1 

5 

35 

5 

40 

1 

1 

1 

3 

27 

3 

30 

1 

1 

1 

3 

21 

3 

24 

1 

1 

1 

3 

17 

3 

20 

1 

1 

2 

n 

3 

14 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  8,  OTISYILLE,  N.  Y. 

This  hospital  had  its  inception  in  a conference  at  Otisville,  in  the  fall  of 
1917,  between  representatives  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  the  New  York 
City  Sanatorium  for  Tuberculosis,  and  the  office  of  the  commissioner  of  health, 
New  York  City.  As  a result  of  this  conference,  the  city  of  New  York,  on 
December  10,  1917,  granted  to  the  War  Department  the  exclusive  temporary 
occupancy  of  about  40  acres  of  unimproved  land  adjoining  the  New  Tork  City 
Sanatorium  for  Tuberculosis  in  the  outskirts  of  Otisville,  N.  4 . The  property 
acquired  was  on  the  rather  steep  southern  slope  of  Shawangunk  Mountain, 
overlooking  the  town  on  the  north.  Three  additional  small  tracts  of  land  were 
obtained  in  order  to  secure  an  avenue  of  entrance,  a heating  plant,  and  reser- 
voirs for  the  water  supply.  Later,  and  after  the  hospital  was  in  operation,  it 
was  necessary  to  lease  three  additional  properties:  for  farming  purposes, 
recreational  and  occupational  features,  and  quarters  for  officers  and  recon- 
struction aides. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


515 


On  September  9,  1917,  in  a letter  to  The  Adjutant  General’s  Office  the 
Surgeon  General  requested  authority  to  have  constructed  a 500-bed  hospital 
for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis.45  This  authority  being  received,  the  Surgeon 
General  on  October  24  sent  plans  to  the  Construction  Division  and  requested 
the  erection  of  a 300-bed  hospital.46  This  was  to  be  the  first  hospital  for  the 
treatment  of  the  tuberculous.  Much  time  was  now  given  to  the  study  of  the 
wards  to  be  used.  Although  preliminary  plans  for  the  hospital  had  been 
transmitted  to  the  Construction  Division,  study  was  continued  on  the  design 
of  various  types  of  wards  to  be  adopted  and  upon  the  various  classes  of  wards 
for  the  varying  clinical  conditions  of  the  sick.  This  premature  request  for 
construction  served  its  purpose,  as  the  Construction  Division  utilized  the  time 
in  estimating  materials  and  starting  them  to  the  site,  in  securing  authority  for 
the  expenditure  of  the  necessary  funds,  in  surveying,  and  in  organizing  for  the 
project.  Meanwhile,  opinions  from  the  best  authorities  available  were  con- 


Fig.  172. — General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y. 


sidered  and  decisions  made  from  time  to  time,  as  a result  of  which  substitutions 
in  the  original  request  were  made.  Negotiations,  for  the  lease  of  the  land, 
which  as  yet  had  not  been  secured,  were  going  forward.  During  this  period, 
however,  there  was  evidence  of  much  misunderstanding  of  the  purpose  of  the 
Surgeon  General,  as  his  office  received  letters  charging  that  he  was  providing 
accommodations  for  the  tuberculous  identical  with  those  in  the  large  military 
camps  then  being  completed.  Before  construction  was  begun,  the  erection  of 
six  more  special  wards  was  added  to  the  request.  Construction  began  on  this 
(now  a 500-bed  hospital)  early  in  February,  1918,  and  by  July,  1918,  it  was 
finished.48 

In  the  summer  of  1918,  the  necessity  for  more  space  for  the  tuberculous 
was  evident,  and  eight  open-air  wards,  four  infirmary  wards,  one  barracks, 
additions  to  the  laboratory,  nurses’  quarters,  and  head  surgery  building  and 
other  miscellaneous  construction  items,  were  called  for.49  The  water  being 
unsatisfactory,  an  ultraviolet  ray  sterilizer  was  installed  and  some  months 
later  filtration  and  sewage  disposal  plants  were  installed.50  Great  difficulties 


516 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


in  construction  were  experienced,  especially  in  the  winter  and  spring,  but  the 
work  was  prosecuted  with  energy  and  dispatch. 

The  land  was  situated  near  the  tracks  of  the  Erie  Railroad.  It  was  not 
possible  to  run  a spur  up  the  mountain  into  the  hospital;  so  to  save  hauling 
coal  the  heating  plant  was  built  down  by  the  tracks;  and  the  sick,  arriving  as 
they  did  by  train,  were  carried  the  short  distance  from  the  station  to  the  hospital 
by  ambulance. 

Construction  work  ceased  early  in  1919  with  a total  normal  capacity  of 
1,000  beds.  In  the  main,  the  wards  were  built  for  three  clinical  classes:  Bed 
cases,  ambulatory  cases,  and  a class  midway  between  these  two.  For  the  first 
class,  infirmary  wards  were  built,  for  the  second  class,  ambulatory  wards,  and 
for  the  middle  group,  semi-infirmary  wards.51  The  cost  was  approximately 
one  and  one-half  million  dollars,  or  $1,500  a bed. 

The  hospital  was  opened  in  June,  1918,  and  within  a month  over  500  sick 
were  constantly  under  treatment.52  The  number  remained  at  about  600  until 
March,  1919,  when  it  began  to  increase,  and  by  April  it  had  reached  800,  where 
it  remained  until  September,  when  a rapid  decline  began.52  This  decline  was 
furthered  by  the  decision  to  close  the  hospital  on  November  15.53  This 
decision  was  approved  and  carried  out;  and  the  remaining  patients  requiring 
further  treatment  were  transferred  to  other  tuberculosis  hospitals,  namely, 
General  Hospitals,  Nos.  19,  20,  and  21. 54 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y.,  from  May,  1918,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive .a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

I Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
' fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

w 

t- 

© 

u 

1918. 

2 

2 

2 

15 

7 

153 

160 

2 

922 

3 

July 

158 

12 

502 

672 

11 

3 

2 

1 

655 

12,000 

655 

24 

96 

1 

18 

9 

11 

737 

1 

21.  812 

738 

15 

41 

794 

42 

3 

6 

2 

7-11 

22,099 

s 

741 

51 

20 

812 

32 

15 

33 

732 

23,076 

14 

732 

26 

72 

830 

56 

15 

3S 

156 

564 

1 

17,851 

565 

16 

57 

638 

36 

51 

3 

53S 

16, 679 

6 

1919. 

538 

92 

91 

5 

726 

135 

13 

17 

4 

551 

1 

35 

552 

28 

133 

1 

714 

57 

89 

11 

4 

14, 521 

546 

53 

246 

102 

41 

3 

685 

17^622 

685 

29 

251 

1 

966 

11 

70 

1 

15 

20, 687 

805 

38 

130 

973 

63 

14 

67 

2 

1 

36 

2 

7SS 

22',  316 

20 

788 

33 

281 

1, 102 

59 

15 

161 

9 

3 

855 

24.394 

10 

July 

855 

9 

144 

2 

1,010 

5S 

14 

139 

1 

12 

2 

7S4 

25,799 

784 

10 

189 

3 

986 

17 

14 

91 

3 

16 

845 

25, 0S3 

845 

22 

36 

1 

904 

19 

168 

251 

1 

45S 

19,961 

458 

16 

18 

2 

494 

11 

4 

135 

1 

19 

3 

319 

2 

11,559 

68 

321 

12 

1 

1 

335 

9 

2 

35 

279 

9 

1 

1,  too 

1 

1 

1 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


517 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y.,from  Hay,  1918,  to 

December,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

5 

7 

12 

1919. 

April 

12 

5 

7 

12 

May 

5 

7 

12 

5 

7 

12 

June 

5 

7 

12 

5 

7 

12 

J uly 

5 

7 

12 

August 

5 

7 

12 

1919. 

September 

20 

19 

39 

5 

7 

12 

October 

20 

19 

39 

5 

7 

12 

N ovember 

12 

57 

5 

7 

12 

December 

46 

46 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

14 

3 

1 

18 

71 

12 

83 

16 

4 

1 

21 

225 

23 

248 

n 

23 

5 

2 

30 

237 

23 

260 

34 

27 

7 

2 

36 

314 

27 

341 

44 

28 

7 

2 

37 

316 

35 

351 

43 

29 

7 

4 

40 

314 

52 

366 

64 

31 

7 

5 

43 

306 

52 

61 

32 

10 

4 

46 

415 

68 

483 

1919. 

29 

10 

3 

42 

371 

67 

438 

50 

37 

11 

3 

51 

399 

94 

493 

75 

March 

46 

12 

5 

63 

376 

81 

64 

39 

12 

5 

56 

379 

57 

436 

61 

37 

12 

6 

352 

35 

387 

62 

37 

12 

5 

54 

387 

11 

398 

60 

July 

33 

13 

6 

52 

257 

5 

262 

79 

25 

9 

41 

227 

34 

261 

81 

27 

8 

6 

41 

226 

34 

260 

64 

October 

14 

4 

3 

21 

203 

33 

236 

50 

2 

2 

1 

5 

48 

32 

80 

REFERENCES. 


(1)  Report  of  Sanitary  Inspection  of  Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  on 

December  23,  1918,  by  Lieut.  Col.  H.  B.  McIntyre,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
721  (Army  and  Navy  Gen.  Hosp.)  K. 

(2)  Correspondence  relative  to  land  and  buildings  at  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  for  hospital  sites.  On 

file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601  (Hot  Springs,  Ark.)  S. 

(3)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(4)  Outline  Description  of  Military  Posts  and  Reservations  in  the  United  States  and  Alaska 

and  of  National  Cemeteries.  Washington,  Government  Printing  Office,  1904,  53. 

(5)  Letter  from  Surg.  Gen.  George  M.  Sternberg,  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  July  7,  1899.  Subject: 

Sanitarium  for  Soldiers  Suffering  from  Tuberculosis.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  60225 
(Old  Files). 

(6)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  U. 

(7)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  Edward  P.  Rockhill,  M.  C.,  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital, 

Fort  Bayard,  to  Maj.  E.  H.  Bruns,  M.  C.,  S.  G.  0.,  February  2,  1918.  Subject:  Opening 
of  wards.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  Ft.  Bayard)  (K). 

(8)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  Edward  P.  Rockhill,  M.  C.,  to  Lieut.  Col.  E.  H.  Bruns,  M.  C.,  S.  G.  0., 

August  4, 1918.  Subject:  Occupation  of  wards.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen. 
Hosp.  Ft.  Bayard)  K. 

(9)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General  U.  S.  Army,  1919,  Yol.  II,  50. 

(10)  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General  U.  S.  Army,  1900,  29. 


518 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(11)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632. 

(12)  Shown  on  “block  plan,”  Letterman  General  Hospital.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(13)  Sixth  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  November  19,  1917. 

Subject:  Request  construction  of  permanent  building  for  psychiatric  wards.  Also:  Eighth 
indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  Western  Department. 
Subject:  Authorizing  construction  of  permanent  building  for  psychiatric  wards.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632.11  (Letterman  General  Hospital)  K. 

(14)  Tentative  plan  for  Columbia  University  to  aid  the  medical  and  surgical  defense  of  New  York, 

suggested  by  J.  Bentley  Squier.  Published  in  the  New  York  Times,  April  3,  1917. 

(15)  Report  from  Lieut.  Col.  P.  W.  Gibson,  M.  C.,  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  1, 

Williamsbridge,  N.  Y.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  18,  1919.  Subject:  Report  of 
activities  of  General  Hospital  No.  1.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  0.  (General 
Hospitals). 

(16)  Letter  from  F.  A.  Goetze,  treasurer,  Columbia  University,  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  June  15, 

1917.  Subject:  Offer  of  use  of  war  hospital  for  military  purposes.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  O.,  187538  (Old  Files). 

(17)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  June  25,  1917.  Subject:  Offer  of 

war  hospital  by  Columbia  University,  N.  Y.  Approval  of  Secretary  of  War  indorsed 
thereon.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  187538  (Old  Files). 

(18)  G.  O.  No.  103,  W.  D.,  Washington,  August  6,  1917.  Par.  1. 

(19)  Report  of  Sanitary  Inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  4,  at  Fort  Porter,  N.  Y.,  on  April  25, 

1919,  by  Col.  E.  R.  Schreiner,  M.  C.  On  file,  Division  of  Sanitation,  S.  G.  0. 

(20)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  October  16,  1917.  Subject:  LTse  of 

Fort  Porter,  N.  Y.,  for  general  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Record  Room,  A.  G.  0.,  323.7 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  4)  K. 

(21)  Letter  from  commanding  office,  General  Hospital  No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  N.  Y.,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  November  11,  1917.  Subject:  Duties.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 323.7-5 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  4)  K. 

(22)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  February  8,  1918.  Subject: 

Accommodations  for  troops  returning  from  Europe.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.1 
(General  Hospitals)  K. 

(23)  First  indorsement  from  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  N.  Y.,  to 

the  Surgeon  General,  April  8,  1918.  Report  on  psychiatric  service  at  this  hospital.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  702  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  4)  K. 

(24)  Memorandum  from  Lieut.  Col.  T.  D.  Woodson,  M.  C.,  for  the  Chief,  Morale  Branch,  General 

Staff,  July  7,  1919.  Subject:  General  Hospital  No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  N.Y.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  4)  K. 

(25)  Outline  Description  of  Military  Posts  and  Reservations  in  the  L’nited  States  and  Alaska  and 

of  National  Cemeteries.  Washington,  Government  Printing  Office,  1904,  356. 

(26)  Telegram  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  Eastern  Department, 

July  3,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of  barracks  at  Fort  Ontario.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.G.  0., 
176795-2  (Old  Files). 

(27)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  commanding  officer,  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y., 

October  17, 1917.  Subject:  Hospital  construction.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  621.-1 
(Ft.  Ontario)  (N). 

(28)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort 

Ontario,  N.  Y.,  May  3,  1918.  Subject:  Additional  hospital  buildings  and  improvements. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (General  Hospital  No.  5)  K. 

(29)  Letter  from  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  3,  191S. 

Subject:  Construction  work,  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0., 652 (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  5)  (K). 

(30)  Letter  from  the  chief  of  surgical  service,  to  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  5, 

January  20,  1919.  Subject:  Report  of  surgical  work  for  year  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  319.1-2  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  5)  K. 

(31)  Report  of  Sanitary  Inspection  of  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario, 

N.  Y.,  made  on  August  29-30,  1919,  by  Col.  Paul  C.  Hutton,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  O.,  721.-1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  5)  K. 

(32)  Report  on  Sanitary  Inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  5,  at  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y.,  April  26, 1919, 

by  Col.  E.  R.  Schreiner,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  5)  K. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


519 


(33)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  F.  W.  Weed,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  7,  1918. 

Subject:  Sanitary  inspection  General  Hospital  No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  5)  K. 

(34)  First  indorsement  from  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  5 to  the  Surgeon  General, 

June  4,  1919.  Subject:  Conditions  at  the  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.  333. 
(General  Hosp.  No.  5)  K. 

(35)  Memorandum  from  Col.  Robert  E.  Noble,  M.  C.,  to  all  officers  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  office, 

April  29,  1918.  Subject:  Designation  of  hospitals  as  points  to  which  patients  will  be  sent, 
according  to  their  classification.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (General). 

(36)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  6,  to  Surgeon  General,  December  6, 

1917.  Subject:  Conditions  at  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3 
(Lawson  Gen.  Hosp.)  K. 

(37)  Shown  on  chart  of  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  168795- A (Old  Files). 

(38)  Monthly  sanitary  reports  from  General  Hospital  No.  6,  for  months  of  June,  July,  August,  and 

September,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721.5  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  6)  P. 

(39)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  October  16,  1917.  Subject: 

Operation  of  sewage  disposal  plant  at  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
672  (Ft.  McPherson,  Ga.)  N. 

(40)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  6,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  27, 

1919.  Subject:  Report  of  activities.  On  file,  Historical  Division,  S.  G.  O.  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  6). 

(41)  Letter  from  the  chief  of  Construction  Division,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  27,  1918. 

Subject:  Installation  of  steam  heating  plant  at  General  Hospital  No.  6,  Fort  McPherson, 
Ga.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  674  (Lawson  General  Hospital)  K. 

(42)  Letter  from  Mrs.  T.  Harrison  Garrett  to  the  Surgeon  General,  April  10,  1917.  Subject:  Offer 

of  property  to  Government  for  use  as  a hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Balti- 
more, Md.)  S. 

(43)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General , November  1,  1917.  Subject: 

Lease  of  Mrs.  T.  Harrison  Garrett’s  estate.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601  (Baltimore, 
Md.)  S. 

(44)  Memorandum  from  Maj.  H.  H.  Johnson,  M.  C.,  to  Personnel  Division,  November  28,  1917. 

Subject:  Personnel  of  General  Hospital  No.  7 now  being  organized.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.G.  0.,  210.31-1  (General  Hospital  No.  7)  K. 

(45)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  September  12,  1917.  Subject: 

Hospital  for  tuberculosis.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  204575  (Old  Files). 

(46)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  October  24,  1917.  Subject: 

Tuberculosis  Hospital,  Otisville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632-1  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  8)  K. 

(47)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  February  15,  1918.  Subject: 

Tuberculosis  Hospital,  Otisville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  8)  K. 

(48)  Letter  from  Maj.  W.  G.  Hammer,  M.  C.,  General  Hospital  No.  8,  to  Col.  George  E.  Bushnell, 

M.  C.,  S.  G.  0.,  July  11,  1918.  Subject:  Progress  report.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  8)  K. 

(49)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  Construction  Division,  War  Department,  August  15, 

1918.  Subject:  New  construction,  General  Hospital  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  8)  K. 

(50)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  8,  Novem- 

ber 7,  1918.  Subject:  Water  supply.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  671  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  8)  K. 

(51)  Shown  on  plans  of  General  Hospital  No.  8.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(52)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(53)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  October  9,  1919.  Subject: 

Discontinuance  of  Gen.  Hosp.  No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
323.72-3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  8)  K. 

(54)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  8,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November 

16,  1919.  Subject  : Final  report  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  8)  K. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

GENERAL  HOSPITALS,  NOS.  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  AND  18. 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  9,  LAKEWOOD,  N.  J. 

The  Lakewood  Hotel,  which  was  the  nucleus  of  General  Hospital  Xo.  9, 
was  situated  at  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  69  miles  southeast  of  New  York  City.  It  was 
in  the  pine  region  and  winter  resort  section  of  the  State,  and  was  easily  acces- 
sible to  both  New  York  City  and  Philadelphia  by  means  of  the  Central  Rail- 
road of  New  Jersey.  The  hotel  was  leased  from  the  Resort  Hotel  Co.  in  Jan- 
uary, 1918,  for  $50,000  per  year.1 

The  soil  was  sandy,  the  terrain  gently  rolling,  affording  excellent  natural 
drainage.2 


Fig.  173. — General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J . 

To  augment  the  bed  capacity  of  the  hospital,  additional  neighboring 
properties  were  subsequently  leased.  These  were  the  Florence-in-the-Pines 
Hotel,  the  Aeolian  Building,  and  an  adjacent  small  tract  of  unimproved  land.1 

The  Lakewood  Hotel,  the  largest  of  the  leased  properties,  was  a five-story 
building  of  brick  exterior,  but  of  otherwise  noniireproof  construction.  Its 
design  was  attractive,  in  the  shape  of  the  letter  U , the  arms  of  which  pointed  to 
the  south.  Its  first  floor,  with  extensions  rearward,  contained  the  lobby, 
dining  rooms,  kitchen,  billiard  rooms,  etc.,  and  porches  by  which  it  was  com- 
pletely surrounded.3 

The  area  of  the  first  floor  was  86,000  square  feet,  that  of  each  of  the  floors 
above,  40,000  square  feet;  and  there  were,  in  all.  500  rooms.3  The  lease  of  this 
property  covered  not  only  the  grounds,  but  all  buildings,  furniture,  linen, 
silverware,  dishes,  etc.1 

The  Florence-in-the-Pines  Hotel  was  a three-story  frame  building,  much 
smaller  in  size  than  was  the  Lakewood  Hotel;  and  in  its  lease,  there  were  also 
included  all  buildings,  furniture,  linen,  silverware,  dishes,  etc.4 

520 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


521 


The  Lakewood  Hotel  was  used  as  the  hospital  proper;2  the  Florence-in- 
the-Pines  Hotel  was  utilized  as  quarters  for  nurses  on  duty  at  the  hospital;4 
and  the  Aeolian  Building  was  converted  into  a garage  and  storehouse.5  On 
the  unimproved  tract  of  land  temporary  buildings  were  constructed  to  afford 
additional  bedspace.3 

On  January  4,  1918,  a small  detachment  of  Medical  Department  personnel 
arrived  at  the  Lakewood  Hotel;  and  on  January  10,  it  was  formally  taken  over 
by  the  War  Department.5  By  February  1,  when  it  was  officially  designated 
General  Hospital  No.  9, 6 it  had  been  placed  in  a reasonably  satisfactory  degree 
of  readiness  to  receive  a limited  number  of  patients,  the  first  of  which,  however, 
did  not  arrive  until  February  14,  when  139  cases  of  scarlet  fever  were  received, 
by  transfer,  from  the  hospital  at  Camp  Merritt.5 

The  principal  construction  project  entered  into,  in  order  to  physically 
balance  the  hospital,  comprised  five  two-story  ward  barracks,  the  addition  of 
considerable  kitchen  equipment,  and  a heating  plant  to  heat  the  newly  con- 
structed buildings  as  well  as  to  augment  the  inadequate  heating  plant  of  the 
Lakewood  Hotel  building.7  The  total  cost  of  this  construction  work  was  about 
$180,000.  Much  other  construction  and  repair  work,  not  included  in  the 
above  statement,  was  done  from  time  to  time,  which  comprised  screening, 
sanitary  flooring,  resetting  of  boilers  in  the  hotel  heating  plant,  improvement 
in  the  plumbing,  the  installation  of  operating  rooms,  physical  reconstruction, 
and  other  special  facilities.  Prior  to  the  completion  of  this  work,  the  capacity 
of  the  hospital  was  650  beds,  but  with  the  additional  beds  the  capacity  of  the 
hospital  was  augmented  to  1,0004 

General  Hospital  No.  9 was  not  a special  hospital  in  any  sense,  the  major 
portion  of  the  patients  treated  being  general  medical  and  surgical  cases,  though 
it  was  designated  to  receive  arthritis  and  orthopedic  cases,  and,  on  June  6,  1918, 
was  made  a center  for  cardiovascular  diseases.8  Its  use  as  a general  hospital 
was  discontinued  on  May  31,  1919. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  from  February  4, 

1918,  to  May  31,  1919,  melusive.a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

February 

14 

139 

4 

157 

16 

141 

2, 171 

March.  

141 

23 

37 

201 

18 

183 

4,609 

ApriL 

183 

46 

150 

12 

391 

157 

17 

2 

10 

205 

6,705 

May 

205 

51 

141 

397 

80 

2 

18 

3 

38 

256 

8 275 

J une 

256 

16 

33 

89 

394 

69 

35 

4 

30 

40 

216 

6 888 

July 

216 

22 

1S7 

107 

532 

66 

2 

20 

3 

1 

2 

17 

421 

9 104 

5 

August 

421 

25 

197 

61 

704 

66 

1 

36 

4 

1 

8 

24 

564 

10  961 

3 

September 

564 

82 

143 

113 

902 

132 

4 

34 

4 

1 

2 

119 

604 

2 

15  223 

50 

October 

606 

239 

279 

145 

1,269 

388 

13 

52 

i 

2 

1 

9 

127 

673 

3 

24,716 

149 

November 

676 

56 

259 

201 

1,192 

188 

3 

72 

2 

4 

154 

767 

2 

21  626 

120 

December 

769 

42 

216 

164 

1, 191 

111 

2 

132 

2 

1 

103 

237 

603 

58,940 

16 

1919. 

January 

603 

62 

315 

166 

1,146 

103 

6 

7 

12 

216 

746 

25  332 

2 

February 

746 

80 

414 

127 

1,367 

109 

1 

46 

1 

9 

32 

301 

868 

10  298 

6 

March 

868 

99 

384 

147 

1,498 

126 

2 

78 

4 

72 

2 

67 

309 

838 

25  983 

April 

838 

74 

126 

109 

1, 147 

68 

1 

94 

1 

45 

7 

48 

256 

627 

8’ 224 

15 

May 

627 

34 

31 

65 

'757 

59 

3 

160 

3 

44 

1 

360 

127 

1R 178 

“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
fde,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  O ffice;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


522 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  ./.,  from  February  4, 
1918,  to  May  31,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen . 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total 

1918. 

1918. 

February 

8 

10 

18 

11 

38 

March 

20 

45 

12 

39 

51 

April 

20 

65 

May 

15 

49 

64 

1919 

June 

15 

49 

64 

12 

36 

48 

July 

24 

51 

8 

83 

10 

47 

August 

15 

57 

77 

March . . \ 

8 

45 

53 

September 

15 

44 

59 

8 

45 

October 

14 

33 

47 

May 

42 

49 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

February 

25 

1 

26 

74 

27 

101 

39 

March  

29 

1 

30 

66 

28 

April 

31 

1 

32 

147 

28 

29 

1 

30 

150 

30 

June 

31 

1 

32 

163 

30 

July 

43 

1 

44 

212 

34 

246 

68 

August 

40 

4 

3 

47 

223 

60 

283 

85 

September. 

45 

6 

2 

53 

334 

67 

401 

79 

October 

49 

10 

2 

61 

329 

63 

392 

87 

November 

61 

10 

2 

73 

356 

90 

446 

11S 

December 

54 

12 

3 

69 

359 

109 

468 

111 

1919. 

J anuary 

64 

10 

3 

77 

363 

11S 

481 

80 

February 

67 

10 

5 

82 

44  L 

120 

561 

73 

March 

68 

10 

6 

84 

423 

89 

512 

78 

April 

70 

10 

6 

S6 

422 

/o 

497 

89 

May 

35 

5 

3 

43 

30 

47 

77 

6S 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  10,  BOSTON,  MASS. 

General  Hospital  No.  10  was  located  in  the  city  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  com- 
prised two  groups  of  buildings,  and  a separate  building  used  for  quarters  and 
storage  purposes.  Of  the  two  main  groups,  one  was  situated  on  Parker  Hill 
in  Boston  and  comprised  the  Robert  Bent  Brigham  Hospital,  which  was  leased 
by  the  Government  from  the  trustees  of  that  institution;  a hospital  especially 
constructed  by  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  as  a reconstruction 
hospital  for  the  use  of  the  War  Department;  and  the  Massachusetts  Woman's 
Hospital,  a short  distance  from  the  other  buildings,  but  likewise  on  Parker  Hill, 
which  was  leased  from  the  trustees  of  that  institution  for  use  as  nurses’ 
quarters.  The  second  group  of  buildings  comprised  the  whole  of  the  west 
department  of  the  Boston  City  Hospital,  situated  in  the  suburb  of  West  Rox- 
bury,  which  was  leased  by  the  War  Department  from  the  city  of  Boston.  In 
addition  to  these  two  groups  of  hospital  buildings,  a single  large,  two-storied 
barracks  was  leased  from  the  Wentworth  Institute  of  Boston.  This  barrack 
building  had  been  erected  for  the  use  of  student  officers  of  the  Reserve  Officers’ 
Training  Corps.  Its  lower  story  was  used  by  the  hospital  for  the  storage  of 
supplies  and  the  upper  floor  as  quarters  for  the  detachment,  Medical  Depart- 
ment. The  two  main  groups,  on  Parker  Hill  and  in  West  Roxbury,  respec- 
tively, were  separated  by  approximately  7 miles;  the  barracks  at  the  Went- 
worth Institute  was  three-quarters  of  a mile  from  the  summit  of  Parker  Hill.9 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


523 


The  Robert  Bent  Brigham  Hospital,  with  its  equipment,  drugs,  and  fix- 
tures, was  leased  from  the  trustees  at  $55,000  per  year.10  Its  bed  capacity 
was  200.  Immediately  adjoining  it,  and  on  the  same  hill,  commanding  a 
beautiful  view  of  the  city,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  con- 
templated erecting  a 250-bed  hospital,  the  use  of  which  they  had  tendered  the 
Government.  This  offer  was  made  in  March  of  1918  and  was  accepted  by  the 
War  Department  on  the  26th  of  that  month  at  a nominal  lease  of  $1  per  year.11 
At  that  time,  however,  the  hospital  had  not  been  built;  but  representatives 
from  the  Elks,  in  consultation  with  officers  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office, 
obtained  requirements  and  suggestions,  and,  proceeding  upon  this,  they  con- 
structed the  hospital,  which  was  completed  in  the  following  December. 

These  two  institutions,  the  Robert  Bent  Brigham  Hospital  and  Elks’ 
Hospital,  formed  the  backbone  of  General  Hospital  No.  10.  The  Massachusetts 
Woman’s  Hospital,  leased  from  the  Woman’s  Charity  Club  at  $2,500  per  year,10 
and  the  Wentworth  Barracks,  leased  from  the  Wentworth  Institute  at$l  per 


Fig.  174. — Portion  of  General  Hospital  No  10,  Boston. 


year,10  the  former  for  nurses  and  the  latter  for  enlisted  men  and  storage,  com- 
pleted the  group  of  buildings  in  the  city  proper.  The  west  department  of 
the  Boston  City  Hospital,  tendered  to  the  Government  and  leased  at  $1  per 
year,12  from  the  city  of  Boston,  had  a capacity  of  300  and  was  intended  as  a 
convalescent  department  of  this  general  hospital. 

Leases  on  the  Robert  Bent  Brigham  property,10  the  Woman’s  Hospital,10 
and  the  West  Roxbury  property  12  became  effective  on  October  1,  1918,  and 
occupancy  was  assumed  soon  thereafter.  The  hospital  as  a whole  was  opened 
for  patients  in  December,  1918,  although  the  Elks’  Hospital,  not  being  com- 
pleted until  that  month,  was  not  utilized  until  January,  1919.  The  convales- 
cent department  at  West  Roxbury  was  opened  at  about  the  same  time  as  the 
Elks’  Hospital.13 

The  Robert  Bent  Brigham  Hospital  consisted  of  six  three-story  brick  and 
stone  buildings  of  modern  design,  and  was  fully  equipped.10  The  Elks'  Hospital, 


524 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


of  semipermanent  two-story  pavilion  type  construction,  consisted  of  one  large 
main  building  with  three  wings,  and  three  additional  buildings  in  the  rear,  and 
was  connected  to  the  Robert  Bent  Brigham  Hospital  by  corridor  and  tunnel,10 
the  latter  carrying  the  heating  mains  from  the  central  heating  plant  in  the 
Robert  Brigham  Hospital.  The  west  department  of  the  Boston  City  Hospital, 
consisting  of  14  buildings  of  mixed  character  of  construction,  was  beautifully 
situated  and  well  adapted  to  the  care  of  convalescents.14 

The  construction  and  alteration  work  done  in  connection  with  the  estab- 
lishment of  this  hospital  consisted  principally  of  corridor  construction,  con- 
necting certain  buildings  in  the  west  department  and  the  installation,  in  that 
group,  of  messing  facilities.  Little  alteration  or  addition  was  required  in  the 
group  in  the  city.  The  total  cost  of  this  work  was  $46,000.  The  original 
authorized  capacity  was  900  beds,  but  tliis  was  later  reduced  to  700  beds.15 

The  hospital  opened  in  December  of  1918,  and  by  February,  1919,  500 
sick  were  being  constantly  cared  for.  It  remained  at  this  level  for  about  one 
month,  when  the  number  rapidly  increased  to  800,  near  which  it  remained  until 
May  of  that  year.16 

On  May  28,  1919,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  the  cancellation  of 
all  leases  and  the  abandonment  of  the  hospital,  effective  June  15,  1919.17  Prior 
to  the  latter  date  the  comparatively  few  patients  requiring  further  treatment 
were  sent  to  other  general  hospitals.18 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston,  Mass.,  from  October,  1918,  to 

June  17,  1919,  inclustve.a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919, 

18 

IS 

January 

129 

129 

97 

97 

February 

ISO 

ISO 

116 

116 

March. 

165 

16S 

16S 

May 

67 

67 

i Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


525 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston,  Mass.,  from  October,  1918,  to 

June,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and 
month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Aides 

and 

workers. 

Other 

civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.) 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.) 

Total . 

1918. 

3 

1 

4 

4 

5 

1 

10 

9 

21 

8 

2 

31 

60 

11 

71 

33 

42 

14 

2 

58 

578 

62 

640 

36 

1 

1919. 

January 

45 

14 

2 

61 

467 

63 

530 

38 

1 

43 

15 

5 

63 

435 

81 

516 

2 

45 

15 

5 

504 

81 

585 

55 

2 

47 

12 

6 

468 

60 

528 

69 

2 

May 

38 

11 

6 

55 

467 

42 

509 

80 

2 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  11,  CAPE  MAY,  N.  J. 

The  Hotel  Cape  May  was  located  on  the  Ocean  Drive,  at  the  eastern  end 
of  the  city,  and  within  100  feet  of  the  beach  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  It  was  a 
large  H-shaped,  eight-story  building  of  brick  and  stone  construction,  and 
contained  338  rooms,19  125  fresh  and  salt  water  baths,  two  large  lobbies,  spacious 
dining  rooms,  kitchen,  and  storage  facilities.  To  its  rear,  and  component  parts 
of  the  property,  were  a brick  boiler  house,  a garage,  and  a laundry  building.19 
The  laundry  was  a three-story  frame  building,  on  the  first  floor  of  which  there 
was  a complete  equipment  for  laundry  work;  and  on  the  second  and  third  floors 
were  rooms  which  had  been  used  as  quarters  for  the  hotel  employees.  Still 
farther  removed  to  the  rear,  and  also  belonging  to  the  hotel  property,  were  20 
cottages,  and  several  vacant  lots.19 

The  hotel  had  its  separate  sewerage  system,19  which  discharged  into  Dela- 
ware Bay;  and  its  own  lighting  system,19  the  energy  of  which  was  obtained  from 
the  central  heating  plant.  Its  water  supply  was  that  of  the  city  of  Cape  May, 
which  was  obtained  from  artesian  wells.20 

The  soil  was  very  sandy,  leaving  no  subsequent  traces  of  rain,  and  there 
was,  in  consequence,  no  mud  problem  with  which  to  deal.  The  seasons  of  the 
year  were  well  tempered  by  the  adjacent  ocean,  so  that  during  the  summer 
there  were  few  hot  days,  with  the  nights  always  cool,  and  during  the  winter, 
moderate  weather,  with  high  winds  only  in  March  and  April. 

The  roads  about  the  place  were  constructed  principally  of  gravel  and  were 
maintained  in  an  excellent  condition.20 

The  general  sanitary  condition  of  the  neighborhood  was  satisfactory; 
the  hotel  was  quite  separate  from  the  city  proper;  and  there  was  no  marsh 
land  near  by,  though  in  summer  the  far-famed  Jersey  mosquitoes  abounded 
in  great  numbers. 

On  December  18,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  the  War 
Department  authorize  the  leasing  of  the  Cape  May  Hotel  for  use  as  a general 
hospital.21  This  property  had  been  offered  by  the  Cape  May  Hotel  Co.  at  a 
rental  of  $99,000  yearly,22  and  it  had  been  investigated  by  representatives  of 
the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  The  lease  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of 


526 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


War,  and  was  executed  by  the  Quartermaster  General’s  Office,  January  15, 
1918,  to  be  effective  on  January  20,  at  the  yearly  rate  quoted.23 

The  hotel  had  not  been  occupied  for  a year  or  two,  and  had  been  greatly 
neglected.  The  pipes  of  the  water  and  heating  systems  throughout  the  main 
building  were  in  bad  condition;  many  of  them  had  become  broken,  due  to  the 
settling  of  the  walls;  and  having  been  incased  in  the  walls,  the  resultant  leaks 
had  caused  unsightly  discolorations,  and  dampness  in  many  parts  of  the  build- 
ing. These  defects  were  difficultly  located  and  repaired,  many  in  fact  not 
being  discoverable  until  after  the  building  had  been  put  into  use. 

The  work  of  alteration  and  repair  comprised  principally  the  correction 
of  the  defects  in  plumbing,  though  adequate  measures  in  this  regard  were  not 
instituted  at  the  time  the  control  of  the  building  was  assured  by  the  War 
Department.  There  had  been  considerable  expression  of  objection,  outside  the 
War  Department,  to  what  was  claimed  to  be  an  excessive  rental  agreed  to  in 


Fig.  175. — General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J. 


the  lease.  Based  on  these  statements  was  the  War  Department’s  conclusion 
to  discontinue  the  lease  of  the  property  on  June  30,  1918,  though  the  Inspector 
General’s  Office  had  reported  the  hotel  as  being  well  suited  for  hospital  purposes, 
recommending  at  the  same  time,  however,  that  it  be  obtained  for  a rental  of 
not  over  $60, 000. 19  Throughout  the  controversial  period,  the  Surgeon  General’s 
Office  had  maintained  that  $99,000  was  not  considered  an  excessive  amount. 
Ultimately,  the  owners  of  the  hotel  agreed  to  an  annual  rental  of  $50,000, 
for  any  time  it  might  be  used  after  June  30,  1918;  and  the  War  Department 
reversed  its  decision  not  to  make  further  use  of  the  property,  approving,  on 
August  7,  1918,  a renewal  of  the  lease,  at  $50,000  a year,  effective  July  1, 
1918. 24 

Because  of  the  condition  of  uncertainty,  which  lasted  until  August  7, 
as  to  what  the  final  status  of  the  hotel  would  be,  in  so  far  as  the  W ar  Depart- 
ment’s use  of  it  was  concerned,  progressive  activity  in  the  hospital  was  at  a 
standstill,  and  comparatively  few  patients  were  admitted.  In  the  fall  of  1918, 
however,  work  on  the  needed  repairs  and  alterations  was  resumed. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


527 


Opened  first  as  General  Hospital  No.  16,  the  designation  was  changed  to 
General  Hospital  No.  11,  March  14,  1918. 25  The  hotel  building  was  used  prac- 
tically exclusively  for  patients,  and  its  authorized  bed  capacity  was  750.  Of 
the  20  cottages,  5 were  used  as  isolation  wards,  and  the  remainder  for  quarters 
for  officers,  nurses,  and  reconstruction  aides.19  The  enlisted  personnel  were 
quartered  in  tents  which  were  located  to  the  rear  of  the  laundry  building.20 

After  the  definite  status  of  the  hospital  had  been  established,  its  number 
of  patients  was  increased,  and  by  October,  1918,  600  sick  were  under  treat- 
ment.26 During  the  months  following,  until  July,  1919,  the  number  of  patients 
varied  from  500  to  690. 26  In  addition  to  a large  number  of  general  medical  and 
surgical  cases,  this  hospital  cared  for  the  following  special  types  of  cases: 
Deafness,  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  diseases,  maxillofacial  injuries,  organic 
diseases  of  the  nervous  system,  peripheral  nerve  injuries,  speech  defects  (not 
neurotic),  and  wounds  or  injuries  of  the  skull  or  brain  and  spinal  cord. 

On  July  20,  1919,  due  to  the  fact  that  the  inflow  of  sick  and  wounded  from 
the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  had  practically  ceased,  and  that  the  Medical 
Department  now  possessed  sufficient  facilities  or  Government  owned  property 
to  adequately  care  for  the  sick  of  the  Army,  General  Hospital  No.  11  was 
abandoned,  and  all  activities  under  Medical  Department  control  were  removed.27 
The  lease,  however,  could  not  be  terminated  at  this  time,  and  the  payment 
of  rental  until  August  23,  1919,  was  essential  to  afford  adequate  time  for  the 
removal  of  all  Government  property.28 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J.,jrom  February,  191S, 

to  August  4,  1919,  inclusive.11 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

10 

10 

4 

1 

5 

5 

22 

27 

22 

5 

5 

76 

47 

3 

131 

49 

1 

2 

79 

79 

38 

47 

2 

166 

55 

12 

3 

96 

96 

18 

32 

13 

159 

28 

18 

2 

20 

91 

91 

37 

39 

182 

29 

1 

4 

31 

117 

117 

21 

64 

23 

225 

47 

1 

3 

22 

152 

152 

53 

125 

35 

40 

6 

2 

6 

96 

215 

215 

46 

457 

81 

799 

4 

16 

3 

5 

36 

639 

1 

640 

37 

245 

89 

1,011 

82 

51 

113 

196 

569 

569 

39 

382 

195 

1,185 

104 

445 

581 

581 

71 

212 

319 

1,183 

52 

48 

209 

182 

692 

692 

57 

214 

166 

1, 129 

236 

1 

26 

5 

198 

655 

1 

656 

38 

187 

183 

l’  064 

206 

26 

12 

167 

652 

1 

653 

189 

150 

1,048 

173 

1 

28 

33 

201 

607 

7 

614 

36 

120 

192 

962 

162 

1 

46 

19 

147 

576 

11 

587 

15 

25 

124 

751 

139 

2 

45 

47 

45 

473 

5 

47S 

7 

12 

497 

30 

28 

428 

10 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


ft 

8 

» 


1918. 

February... 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September. 

October 

November.. 
December. . 


1919. 

January 

February... 

March 

April 

May 

.1  line 

July 

August 


205 
1,913 
2,851 
2,817 
3,545 
4,456 
8,  664 
12,688 
17,512 
18,606 


19,047 
8,  773 
20,  080 
18,041 
20,  306 
16,  805 
3,032 
3 


6 

9 

29 


31 

28 

31 

118 

237 

102 

19 


“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  ( Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  The  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


528 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J from  February , 1918, 
to  August  4,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

February 

12 

87 

1 

100 

January 

1 

55 

March 

19 

24 

1 

44 

February 

3 

April 

6 

24 

30 

March..”. 

8 

57 

May 

3 

30 

2 

35 

April 

20 

61 

81 

J une 

2 

14 

16 

May 

33 

66 

99 

2 

17 

19 

June 

116 

3 

17 

20 

July 

35 

42 

3 

29 

32 

34 

3 

37 

October 

3 

33 

36 

November 

3 

37 

40 

December 

2 

44 

46 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

2 

2 

4 

31 

76 

March.." 

13 

3 

1 

17 

42 

45 

87 

31 

17 

2 

1 

20 

151 

44 

195 

24 

2 

1 

27 

154 

43 

197 

36 

5 

2 

43 

178 

43 

221 

July 

12 

3 

1 

16 

116 

43 

159 

16 

17 

4 

1 

22 

150 

43 

193 

32 

18 

7 

2 

27 

15S 

40 

198 

33 

21 

8 

2 

31 

206 

52 

25S 

41 

26 

35 

7 

3 

36 

206 

69 

275 

52 

11 

3 

49 

249 

82 

331 

51 

1919. 

46 

11 

3 

60 

328 

S6 

414 

50 

46 

12 

3 

61 

315 

84 

399 

52 

45 

11 

5 

61 

335 

79 

414 

54 

46 

11 

5 

62 

331 

62 

393 

DO 

41 

10 

7 

58 

328 

37 

365 

60 

36 

8 

7 

51 

323 

21 

344 

54 

July 

2 

2 

5 

9 

1SS 

1SS 

2 

1 

2 

3 

3 

3 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  12,  BILTMORE,  N.  C. 

At  Biltmore,  N.  C.,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Kenilworth  Inn,  which  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  in  1908,  there  was  being  erected,  in  the  fall  of  1917,  a new  struc- 
ture, the  design  of  which  was  that  of  a modern,  high-class,  resort  hotel.  On 
December  20,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  this  building  be 
leased  from  the  Kenilworth  Co.  at  8115,000  per  year  for  the  first  year  of  gov- 
ernmental occupancy,  and  at  875,000  rental  for  each  succeeding  year'.29  The 
recommendation  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War  on  January  2,  1918, 
and  the  control  of  the  property  was  assumed  by  the  Medical  Department.  0 

The  inn  was  located  in  Buncombe  County,  about  2 miles  from  the  business 
center  of  Asheville,  a town  with  an  estimated  permanent  population  of  35,000, 
though,  because  of  its  international  popularity  as  a health  resort,  there  was  fre- 
quently an  increase  of  its  population  to  150,000. 

The  Asheville  plateau  upon  which  Kenilworth  was  situated,  is  a circular 
plateau,  comprising  2,000,000  acres,  the  perimeter  of  which  is  a complete  circle 
of  mountain  peaks.  The  rolling  hills,  generous  plateaus,  and  wide  valleys  of 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


529 


the  locality  afforded  an  ideal  place  at  which  to  locate  a hospital.  The  soil  was 
composed  principally  of  a sandy  loam  with,  here  and  there,  outcroppings  of  light 
gravel,  which  obviated  the  possibility  of  flying  dust.  The  average  mean  tem- 
perature, as  observed,  was  35°;  and  the  air  was  dry  and  invigorating. 

The  city  of  Asheville  had  45  miles  of  paved  streets,  all  connecting  with 
the  roads  which  led  to  Kenilworth.  The  roads  through  Kenilworth  connected 
with  Biltmore  Avenue  at  the  west  entrance,  and  with  Swannanoa  River  Road 
at  the  south  entrance.  Both  of  these  roads  were  of  concrete. 

Surrounding  the  Kenilworth  Inn  was  a tract  of  land,  15  acres  in  extent, 
belonging  to  the  hotel  company,  on  which  was  located  a group  of  dwellings. 
These  were  particularly  desirable  as  adjuncts  to  the  hotel,  since  they  had  been 
placed  upon  the  same  knoll  as  had  the  inn.  Authority  was  therefore  obtained 
to  lease  some  of  them — five  cottages,  a two-story  residence,  and  a building, 


Rig.  176. — General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C. 


called  the  All  Souls’  Crescent — for  officers’  quarters,  and  three  dwellings  for 
quarters  for  nurses. 

Two  buildings  in  Biltmore  were  leased;  one  of  them,  adjacent  to  the  rail- 
road station,  for  receiving,  storing,  and  issuing  supplies;  the  other,  two  blocks 
distant,  for  quarters  for  the  personnel  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps  on  duty  at 
the  hospital. 

The  main  hotel  building,  a splendid  five-story  structure,  roughly  T-shaped 
in  design,  faced  south,  overlooking  a mountainous  country  of  great  beauty. 
It  was  built  of  hollow  tile  and  cement  and  was  considered  fireproof.  It  had 
many  features  which  made  it  highly  desirable  for  a hospital,  among  which 
were  an  excellent  water  supply,  an  adequate  sewerage  system,  an  independent 
electric-light  plant,  freight  and  passenger  elevators,  and  broad  and  attractive 
verandas  especially  well  adapted  for  the  care  of  the  sick.  Immediately  adja- 
cent to  the  building  there  was  sufficient  room  for  the  erection  of  an  adequate 
number  of  temporary  buildings  for  expansion.31 

45269°— 23 34 


530 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Little  construction  or  alteration  work  was  done  at  this  place,  the  majority 
being  accomplished  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1918.  It  consisted  of  installa- 
tion of  cooking  equipment,  inclosing  verandas,  installing  temporary  partitions, 
painting,  and  other  minor  details  incident  to  the  completion  of  the  construc- 
tion to  suit  Government  needs  rather  than  those  of  the  hotel  company.  The 
total  cost  of  this  work  was  $30,000. 

It  was  designated  a general  hospital  March  14,  1918, 32  and  was  opened  for 
sick  in  the  following  May.33  In  the  basement  a laboratory,  dispensary,  mess 
hall  for  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  the  steam  heating  plant,  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association,  various  offices,  etc.,  were  located.34  On  the  first 
floor,  in  addition  to  the  offices  for  the  administrative  work  of  the  hospital,  one 
of  the  largest  wards,  52  beds,  was  located.  This  was  to  have  been  the  hotel 
parlor,  and  it  was  a very  light,  spacious,  and  attractive  room.  On  this  floor 
some  smaller  wards  and  the  dining  rooms  for  patients  and  officers  were  also 
located.34  The  second,  third,  and  fourth  floors  were  practically  similar,  and 
there  the  majority  of  space  was  divided  into  small  wards  of  one,  two,  and  three 
beds  each.34  A noteworthy  feature  of  the  hospital  was  the  spacious  verandas 
which  surrounded  a large  part  of  the  first  floor.34 

The  actual  capacity  of  the  hospital  proved  to  be  450  beds,  and  in  this 
respect  it  did  not  meet  the  expectations  of  those  who  made  the  preliminary 
surveys.  It  was  opened  for  sick  in  May,  1918,  with  a capacity  of  200  beds,35 
and  by  June  the  maximum  capacity,  450  beds,  had  been  provided.30  By 
July  the  number  of  sick  receiving  treatment  had  reached  400,  at  which  point 
it  remained  until  November,  when  it  suddenly  dropped  to  250,  and  then  fluctu- 
ated between  this  point  and  400  until  August,  19 19. 37 

Although  surgical  facilities  were  provided,  little  surgery  was  done  until 
1919,  at  which  time  a considerable  number  of  empyema  cases  was  concentrated 
here,  and  from  then  on  surgical  work  was  confined  to  the  treatment  of 
empyemas. 

On  September  1,  1919,  the  hospital  was  closed38  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  Surgeon  General,  which  had  been  made  May  28, 39  and  approved  by  War 
Department  June  6; 40  and  in  conformity  with  the  act  of  Congress,  March  3, 
1919,  it  was  transferred  to  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service.41 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS, 


531 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C.,from  April,  1918,  to 

August  31,  1919,  inclusi.ve.a 

SICIC  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

| Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
j ration  of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

12 

12 

11 

1 

38 

1 

17 

7 

2 

27 

12 

15 

70 

84 

15 

11 

216 

8 

250 

18 

1 

2 

229 

2 451 

July 

229 

12 

88 

10 

339 

35 

2 

1 

26 

275 

8 583 

275 

6 

218 

50 

549 

89 

12 

3 

2 

1 

397 

11  290 

397 

13 

41 

23 

474 

66 

1 

4 

22 

381 

13  147 

381 

46 

28 

26 

481 

87 

3 

5 

5 

366 

11 '284 

366 

36 

37 

16 

455 

84 

1 

8 

3 

193 

166 

7 644 

166 

31 

140 

57 

394 

47 

3 

37 

6 

90 

2L0 

1 

6' 851 

1919. 

211 

57 

55 

82 

405 

140 

6 

25 

9 

3 

24 

197 

1 

7,309 

198 

16 

128 

20 

362 

66 

2 

28 

9 

2 

29 

226 

5,669 

226 

15 

189 

24 

454 

28 

5 

15 

2 

7 

50 

347 

7,906 

347 

29 

148 

52 

576 

34 

3 

40 

4 

7 

115 

373 

10'  227 

373 

20 

93 

85 

571 

37 

1 

32 

12 

8 

124 

357 

11,616 

4 

357 

21 

73 

84 

535 

26 

2 

16 

4 

12 

150 

325 

9'  99S 

325 

15 

63 

90 

493 

20 

48 

4 

7 

93 

321 

10 

321 

9 

8 

32 

370 

26 

1 

103 

2 

131 

107 

5,443 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

April 

21 

2 

1 

24 

181 

7 

188 

May 

20 

3 

1 

24 

184 

13 

197 

27 

June 

21 

3 

1 

25 

142 

13 

155 

45 

July 

24 

4 

1 

29 

179 

13 

192 

47 

August 

21 

4 

1 

26 

189 

23 

212 

48 

September 

21 

4 

1 

26 

188 

41 

229 

59 

October 

18 

5 

1 

24 

178 

22 

200 

50 

November 

20 

5 

1 

26 

175 

24 

199 

53 

December 

1919. 

25 

5 

2 

32 

217 

29 

246 

52 

January 

29 

6 

4 

39 

190 

29 

219 

47 

February 

26 

5 

4 

35 

191 

37 

228 

45 

March 

27 

5 

5 

37 

183 

32 

215 

44 

April 

32 

5 

5 

42 

203 

25 

228 

43 

May 

32 

6 

8 

46 

220 

12 

232 

40 

June 

27 

6 

7 

40 

226 

6 

232 

57 

July 

24 

5 

5 

34 

217 

6 

223 

56 

August 

13 

4 

4 

21 

71 

2 

73 

49 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns,  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  Geneml,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,'  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  13,  DANSVILLE,  N.  Y. 

On  December  20,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  requested  the  authority  of 
the  War  Department  to  lease,  for  hospital  purposes,  the  Jackson  Sanatorium 
at  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  with  all  its  furniture  and  equipment.43  This  was  approved 
on  January  2,  1918, 43  and  a lease  was  executed  on  the  18th  of  that  month  to 
be  effective  on  February  1.  The  yearly  rental  was  $49, 880. 44 


532 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  property  consisted  of  one  main  building,  a large  four-story  brick 
structure,  and  a number  of  smaller  ones.43  The  main  building  was  intended 
for  the  hospital  proper  and  the  other  buildings  were  to  accommodate  other 
necessary  activities.  Seven  frame  cottages,  near  by,  were  planned  for  quarters 
for  medical  officers;  one  large  frame  cottage  was  to  be  used  for  nurses,  and  two 
large  frame  buildings  for  the  enlisted  personnel.  It  was  believed  that  the 
property  could  be  operated  as  a 500-bed  general  hospital,  and  was  designated 
as  General  Hospital  No.  18,  and  personnel  and  supplies  were  sent  there.46 
Several  thousand  dollars  were  authorized  for  some  minor  repairs  and  alterations, 
and  some  of  this  money  was  expended  in  preparing  the  hospital  for  early  occu- 
pancy by  the  sick.  However,  as  General  Hospital  No.  18  it  never  opened  for 
sick. 

It  now  became  apparent  that  the  capacity  of  this  place  had  been  overrated 
and  that  it  would  not  be  adequate  for  the  care  of  more  than  200  or,  at  the 
most,  300  sick.  The  conviction  that  only  large  hospitals  should  be  established 
now  became  more  and  more  pronounced  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  con- 
sequently, early  in  May,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  to  the  War  De- 
partment that  the  lease  on  this  property  be  canceled.47  It  was  evident  that  the 
hospital  could  not  be  economically  operated,  at  least  at  a rental  of  849,880  a 
year,  and  that  the  enlargement,  by  new  construction,  to  a capacity  of  1,000 
beds  was  not  warranted.  Cancellation  of  the  lease  was  promptly  approved45 
and  the  owner  notified. 

There  appears  to  have  been  a misunderstanding  between  the  agents  of 
the  War  Department  and  the  owner  as  to  the  intention  of  the  Government. 
Although  the  lease  terminated  June  30,  1918,  the  president  of  the  Sanatorium 
Co.  stated  in  effect  that  he  had  been  led  to  understand  it  -was  the  War  Depart- 
ment’s agreed  intention  to  renew  the  lease  annually  until  the  war  was  over. 
Negotiations  were  entered  into  anew  with  the  owner,  a new  lease  was  agreed 
upon,  and  its  approval  was  requested  by  the  Surgeon  General  on  June  29,  191S.49 
The  new  lease,  however,  did  not  become  effective  until  July  18,  and  it  carried 
an  annual  rental  of  820,000  instead  of  849,880,  and  included  some  additional 
property  not  orignially  obtainable;50  otherwise  it  was  essentially  the  same  as 
the  first  lease. 

In  the  meantime,  the  medical  personnel  and  property  had  been  removed 
to  Richmond,  Ya.,  to  establish  there,  on  other  leased  property,  a hospital  for 
the  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News.51  A new  organization,  consisting  of 
officers,  nurses,  and  men,  was  sent  to  Dansville,  and  preparation  was  made 
anew  for  the  opening  of  what,  in  the  meantime,  had  become  General  Hospital 
No.  13.52  Any  idea  of  developing  here  a large  hospital  had  been  given  up.  It 
was  found  that  the  place  would  serve  admirably  as  a hospital  for  psychoneuroses 
and  was  accordingly  so  announced  to  the  ports  of  debarkation.  The  total  ex- 
penditure at  this  place  did  not  exceed  86,000. 

Though  little  was  done  in  physical  alteration  or  repair,  the  hospital  was 
slow  in  opening.  However,  in  November,  191S,  it  was  ready  for  the  reception 
of  275  sick;  and  100  patients,  afflicted  with  psychoneuroses,  were  at  once  sent 
there  for  treatment.53  In  a few  weeks  the  number  had  been  increased  to  over 
200,  and  the  hospital  continued  to  operate  at  about  that  capacity  until  March, 
1919.  By  this  time  problems  of  the  Medical  Department,  relating  to  the 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


533 


accommodation  of  the  sick  returning  from  France,  had  been  practically  solved, 
and  it  was  determined  to  discontinue  the  use  of  this  hospital,  and  the  cancella- 
tion of  all  leases  was  recommended  on  March  12.54  The  United  States  Public 
Health  Service  had  expressed  its  desire  to  acquire  this  property,  and,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  act  of  Congress,  March  3,  1919,  its  transfer  to  that  service  was 
effected  on  April  21. 55 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  from  March,  1918, 

to  March,  1919,  inclusive ,a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 
posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

5 

1 

6 

4 

2 

50 

2 

8 

2 

12 

11 

1 

25 

1 

9 

3 

3 

3 

1 

4 

2 

1 

1 

38 

1 

6 

100 

107 

4 

1 

102 

658 

102 

14 

135 

251 

8 

2 

2 

2 

234 

3 

5,941 

10 

1919. 

237 

31 

268 

21 

42 

4 

197 

1 

6,879 

46 

198 

43 

32 

273 

35 

67 

6 

165 

4,976 

165 

13 

178 

19 

44 

109 

6 

2,532 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total . 

1918. 

1919. 

13 

20 

33 

9 

9 

11 

25 

36 

7 

11 

22 

33 

18 

18 

7 

14 

1 

1 

2 

2 

December 

9 

9 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and 
month . 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Aides 

and 

workers. 

Other 

civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

March 

15 

4 

1 

20 

80 

9 

89 

24 

April 

12 

3 

1 

16 

80 

12 

92 

26 

May 

7 

3 

1 

11 

61 

20 

81 

23 

June 

7 

3 

1 

11 

76 

20 

96 

July 

1 

1 

16 

16 

August 

1 

i 

2 

16 

16 

September 

1 

2 

i 

4 

27 

27 

October 

5 

5 

2 

12 

31 

i 

32 

November 

10 

4 

3 

17 

149 

39 

188 

26 

6 

December 

17 

4 

3 

24 

202 

66 

268 

30 

9 

1919. 

January 

19 

4 

3 

26 

202 

69 

271 

27 

7 

February 

15 

4 

3 

22 

166 

82 

248 

25 

16 

March 

1 

3 

2 

6 

30 

58 

88 

24 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Officeof  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Ad- 
jutant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


534 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  14,  FORT  OGLETHORPE,  GA. 

Prior  to  the  war  Fort  Oglethorpe  had  been  used  as  a permanent  garrison 
for  a regiment  of  cavalry.  It  comprised  approximately  75  buildings,  the  major 
portion  being  of  brick  construction,  the  remainder  of  frame  material.  The  build- 
ings included  a permanent  post  hospital,  post  headquarters,  barracks,  officers’ 
quarters,  etc..,  for  which  there  were  a post  sewer  system  and  a water  supply, 
the  latter  having  connections  with  the  water  supply  of  the  city  of  Chattanooga.58 

Included  in  the  general  plan  of  the  Surgeon  General  to  procure  the  build- 
ings of  permanent  garrisons  in  then-  entirety  for  use  as  hospitals,  a specific 
request  was  made  for  the  use  of  the  buildings  at  Fort  Oglethorpe  on  May  IS, 
1917. 57  Favorable  action  was  taken  by  the  War  Department  on  June  23,  and 
the  Secretary  of  War  caused  a telegram  to  be  sent  to  the  commanding  general 
of  the  Southeastern  Department  directing  him  to  ‘‘  make  available  the  perma- 
nent barracks  at  this  station  for  general  base  hospital  use.”58 

On  June  25,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  telegraphed  the  surgeon,  South- 
eastern Department,  to  direct  the  post  surgeon  at  Fort  Oglethorpe  to  make  plans 
for  converting  the  post  into  a general  hospital  and  to  send,  by  telegram,  informa- 
tion concerning  any  additional  temporary  buildings  which  he  might  think  would 
be  needed.59  Prior  to  this  time,  the  Surgeon  General  had  authorized  the  con- 
struction of  four  temporary  wards,  five  frame  storehouses,  and  a frame  mess  hall 
and  kitchen,  to  provide  adjuncts  to  the  post  hospital;  and,  in  addition,  had  per- 
mitted certain  repairs  to  and  alterations  of  the  original  post  hospital  building  to 
improve  its  condition.60  A regimental  infirmary  had  also  been  constructed.60 
This  physical  expansion  was  to  provide  hospitalization  facilities  for  the  sick 
of  the  increasing  number  of  troops  then  stationed  at  Fort  Oglethorpe. 

Because  of  its  increased  activities,  the  hospital  at  Fort  Oglethorpe  func- 
tioned somewhat  as  a base  hospital,  but  it  was  actually  administered  as  a post 
hospital,  this  status  obtaining  until  July  14,  1917,  when  it  was  changed  to  a 
provisional  base  hospital,  by  General  Orders,  No.  23,  issued  from  headquarters, 
Fort  Oglethorpe,  on  that  date. 

Beginning  in  September,  and  continuing  throughout  the  fall  of  1917, 
authorizations  for  IS  temporary  hospital  buildings,  and  many  smaller  proj- 
ects comprising  alterations  and  repairs,  were  approved  by  the  Surgeon  General. 
During  the  winter  1917-18,  and  the  following  spring  and  summer,  an  equal 
number  of  additional  temporary  buildings,  together  with  many  small  projects  for 
improvements,  were  authorized.61  In  all,  42  buildings  were  added  to  the  post; 
and  a maximum  capacity  of  2,000  beds  was  reached  in  the  summer  of  191S. 

On  November  15,  1917,  the  commanding  general,  Southeastern  Department, 
complying  with  instructions  which  he  had  received  from  The  Adjutant  General's 
Office,  changed  the  status  of  the  provisional  base  hospital  back  to  that  for 
post  hospital.82  The  Surgeon  General  then  endeavored  to  have  it  made  a gen- 
eral hospital,  but  he  was  unsuccessful  in  his  efforts  until  March  14,  191S,  when, 
with  over  1,200  patients  under  treatment,  it  became  General  Hospital  No.  14. 63 

No  specialties  were  accentuated  at  this  hospital,  although  a complete 
physical  reconstruction  service  was  developed.  General  medical  and  surgical 
cases  were  treated. 

On  May  22,  1919,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  the  discontinuance 
of  General  Hospital  No.  14,  and  its  reorganization  into  a post  hospital.64 


OTHER  GEXERAL  HOSPITALS. 


535 


Fig.  177. 


536 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  14,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga..  from  March  17 , 

1918,  to  June  6,  1919,  inclusive.a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 

sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

c; 

S 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

o 

hj 

Quarters. 

Uospital. 

| 

1918. 

March 

1,243 

114 

1,716 

39 

3,112 

1.643 

14 

33 

3 

1 

37 

1,327 

38  722 

6 

April 

1,327 

109 

1, 316 

90 

2,842 

1,436 

21 

59 

4 

98 

37 

1 187 

25' 242 

4 

May 

1, 187 

38 

1,514 

63 

2,802 

1, 3S6 

15 

44 

3 

28 

35 

1,291 

31  421 

24 

.T  urie 

1,291 

28 

1 , 375 

37 

2,731 

1,380 

29 

32 

72 

F213 

41  731 

15 

July 

1,213 

60 

1,446 

2, 764 

1 . 344 

8 

41 

9 

20 

32 

1,310 

36  779 

19 

1,310 

59 

1,917 

33 

3,319 

1,862 

7 

45 

2 

25 

62 

1,316 

44,394 

September 

1 , 316 

49 

2,405 

35 

3,  805 

1.649 

54 

40 

141 

1,914 

44  936 

October 

1,914 

356 

4, 120 

23 

6,413 

3,  816 

487 

41 

10 

9 

83 

12 

800 

1 ’ 967 

113 

1,292 

15 

3,387 

1,687 

88 

47 

21 

215 

1,319 

lfv 

48  930 

352 

1 , 329 

120 

1,183 

17 

2,649 

1,583 

14 

86 

6 

75 

7 8S0 

32  062 

100 

1919. 

885 

118 

796 

27 

1,826 

727 

15 

24 

100 

19 

885 

28  726 

24 

885 

58 

429 

14 

1, 386 

320 

1 

78 

172 

78 

21 

708 

8 

22,698 

199 

716 

61 

523 

29 

1,329 

521 

3 

84 

35 

10 

27 

4 

22  565 

120 

649 

37 

450 

41 

1,177 

507 

3 

83 

42 

24 

3 

17  895 

113 

518 

29 

344 

36 

927 

446 

1 

58 

14 

43 

365 

11  600 

99 

365 

8 

38 

8 

419 

65 

9 

335 

3.796 

CIVIL  LiN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

108 

217 

101 

426 

105 

218 

101 

424 

104 

327 

109 

540 

97 

123 

101 

321 

July 

99 

178 

111 

388 

96 

175 

105 

376 

96 

173 

117 

386 

92 

87 

174 

117 

3S3 

169 

113 

369 

92 

167 

115 

374 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

January 

83 

164 

107 

354 

February 

76 

160 

103 

339 

March. 

82 

163 

109 

354 

162 

105 

334 

63 

157 

122 

342 

62 

155 

121 

338 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 
Corps . 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q-M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

94 

94 

52S 

52S 

10 

April 

84 

3 

1 

88 

528 

1 

529 

12 

May 

96 

3 

2 

101 

558 

1 

559 

13 

June 

97 

3 

3 

103 

565 

20 

5S5 

11- 

July.  

no 

3 

3 

116 

613 

613 

14 

111 

3 

117 

762 

762 

l2i 

121 

6 

3 

130 

744 

744 

16t 

124 

3 

132 

SS6 

SS6 

19: 

132 

7 

3 

142 

905 

905 

20 

9S 

10 

4 

112 

1,039 

1,039 

15; 

1919. 

86 

8 

3 

97 

926 

926 

9 

7S 

8 

1 

87 

817 

S17 

S- 

67 

8 

3 

574 

7' 

5S 

9 

72 

502 

6’ 

May 

44 

s 

3 

401 

401 

41 

o Compiled  from  monthlv  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file. 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


Other  general  hospitals. 


537 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  15,  CORPUS  CHRISTI,  TEX. 

On  January  25,  1918,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  the  Corpus 
Beach  Hotel  and  Bathing  Pavilion,  at  Corpus  Christi,  be  leased  for  use  as  a 
hospital.65  In  addition  to  the  hotel,  there  were  small  cottages  and  other 
frame  buildings,  10  in  all,  and  17  acres  of  unimproved  land  potentially 
useful  for  hospital  expansion  purposes,  the  whole  being  leased  for  $6,000  a 
year.65 

It  was  the  primary  intention  of  the  Surgeon  General  to  have  established 
here  either  a convalescent  hospital,65  or  a reconstruction  hospital  as  the  term 
was  then  used.  But  the  place  at  best  was  small,  and  especially  so  when  com- 
pared with  other  properties  that  were  being  developed  or  to  be  developed. 
It  did  have,  however,  the  advantages  of  climate  that  could  not  be  well  disre- 
garded in  the  treatment  of  the  large  number  of  convalescents  which  it  was 
reasonable  to  expect  from  a war  of  first  magnitude. 

After  the  lease  of  the  hotel  had  been  approved  and  executed,  the  first  work 
looking  to  the  physical  development  of  the  hospital  was  authorized  by  the 
Surgeon  General  in  March,  1 918 ;66  and  a few  additional  items  covering  altera- 
tions and  repairs  were  authorized  in  the  spring  and  summer  following,  but  they 
were  of  a minor  nature,  and  the  cost  of  the  whole  did  not  exceed  $3,000. 

On  March  21,  1918,  the  hospital  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  15, 67 
and  it  was  opened  for  the  reception  and  care  of  the  sick  on  April  7,  1918, 68 
at  a bed  capacity  of  100.  Within  a few  weeks  thereafter  the  entire  property 
was  made  available  for  use,  thus  increasing  its  bed  capacity  to  215,  which, 
without  crowding,  was  the  maximum. 

The  development  of  the  hospital,  beyond  the  potential  capacity  of  the 
existing  available  buildings,  was  adversely  decided  upon,  for  the  time  being, 
and,  on  July  26,  1918,  it  was  rated  as  a convalescent  hospital  only,  the  surgeons, 
ports  of  debarkation,  being  so  informed  in  order  that  they  would  select  suitable 
cases  for  transfer  thereto.69  Neither  reconstruction  activities  nor  specialties 
were  developed.  The  hospital  soon  filled,  and  for  a part  of  the  summer  of  1918 
its  capacity  was  exceeded,  but  the  average  number  of  patients  under  treatment 
at  the  hospital  was  200.70 

On  February  26,  1919,  the  abandonment  of  the  hospital  was  directed  by 
the  War  Department.71  Active  steps  were  at  once  taken  to  carry  this  measure 
into  effect,  and  on  February  28  all  patients  requiring  further  treatment  were 
transferred  to  the  hospital  at  Camp  Travis,  Tex.  While  the  abandonment 
was  being  effected,  Congress  enacted  legislation  which  necessitated  the  United 
States  Public  Health  Service  assuming  control  of  the  hospital.  There  was 
some  delay  incident  to  the  transfer  of  the  control  of  the  hospital,  due  to  unfa- 
miliarity with  the  requirements  of  the  new  law,  but  it  was  finally  accomplished 
on  May  31,  1919. 72 


538 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  15,  Corpus  Christi,  Tex.,  from  April,  1918, 

to  May,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1 

| 

1918. 

4 

126 

130 

130 

653 

130 

9 

161 

2 

302 

63 

234 

4, 351 

234 

26 

33 

14 

307 

121 

1 

1 

10 

174 

6,412 

Julv 

174 

12 

174 

13 

373 

S4 

1 

1 

1 

286 

7,848 

286 

37 

7 

10 

340 

61 

1 

2 

13 

4 

259 

8,008 

259 

5 

27 

25 

316 

144 

1 

17 

154 

10  346 

154 

25 

24 

258 

48 

1 

6 

1 

11 

186 

2,  718 

186 

7 

32 

14 

239 

101 

1 

6 

1 

17 

113 

10, 399 

113 

19 

8 

175 

80 

4 

1 

20 

70 

7,377 

1919. 

70 

20 

107 

26 

223 

93 

4 

2 

2 

3 

31 

88 

1,600 

88 

11 

54 

24 

177 

82 

1 

1 

75 

18 

3,880 

3 

2 

5 

3 

1 

1 

60 

1 

1 

1 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

January 

28 

3 

31 

1 

7 

8 

February 

28 

3 

31 

24 

3 

27 

March. .’. 

2 

2 

23 

3 

26 

April 

1 

1 

23 

3 

26 

May 

1 

1 

September 

23 

3 

26 

26 

3 

29 

26 

3 

29 

December 

27 

3 

30 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

12 

1 

1 

14 

7 

10 

11 

1 

2 

14 

53 

6 

10 

10 

1 

2 

13 

106 

S 

114 

12 

July 

10 

1 

1 

12 

115 

11 

126 

12 

12 

1 

1 

14 

110 

10 

120 

14 

12 

2 

1 

15 

104 

17 

121 

13 

12 

2 

1 

15 

100 

17 

117 

14 

11 

3 

1 

15 

100 

16 

116 

3 

12 

3 

1 

16 

100 

36 

136 

1919. 

14 

2 

1 

17 

96 

131 

12 

9 

2 

1 

12 

88 

49 

137 

11 

2 

1 

4 

18 

39 

1 

1 

i 

3 

14 

20 

34 

1 

1 

1 

3 

2 

1 

3 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


539 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  16,  NEW  HAVEN,  CONN. 

The  William  Wirt  Winchester  Memorial  Tuberculosis  Hospital  was  situated 
2 miles  west  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  on  a spur  of  the  New  York,  New  Haven  & 
Hartford  Railroad.  It  was  a small  hospital,  which  had  just  been  completed, 
but  it  embodied  modern  ideas  of  the  required  facilities  for  the  treatment  of 
tuberculosis.  It  was  connected  with  the  city  by  macadam  road  and  an  electric 
railway;  and  the  buildings,  comprising  a three-story  administration  building, 
an  east  ward,  a west  ward,  two  dormitories,  a private  ward,  and  a nurses’ 
home,  were  situated  oil  a wooded  knoll  which  afforded  a pleasant  outlook  on 
the  city  and  the  surrounding  country.  The  buildings  were  of  brick,  colonial 
in  design,  and  were  connected  by  corridors,  but  were  not  fireproof.  The  hos- 
pital had  been  constructed  by  the  General  Hospital  Society  of  Connecticut 


Fig.  178. — Open-air  tuberculosis  ward,  General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

for  the  especial  purpose  of  treating  cases  of  tuberculosis,  and  was  affiliated 
with  Yale  University.  Its  capacity  was  estimated  as  being  200  beds.73 

On  February  8,  1918,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  this  hospital 
be  leased  with  the  view  to  its  use  as  a general  hospital  for  the  treatment  of 
tuberculosis.74  His  recommendation  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War 
on  February  12,  and  the  lease  was  executed  on  the  26th,  the  monetary  con- 
sideration being  $26,000  per  year.75 

On  March  21, 19 IS,  the  hospital  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  16,76 
and  was  opened  and  used,  as  it  had  been  originally  constructed,  for  the  care 
of  200  sick.  In  April  the  200  beds  were  almost  fully  occupied.77 

At  this  time  there  was  great  need  for  increasing  the  total  number  of  available 
beds  for  the  tuberculous,  and  it  was  decided  to  enlarge  General  Hospital  No. 
16;  consequently,  negotiations  were  entered  into  and  leases  secured  for  suitable 


540 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IX  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

adjoining  property  upon  which  temporary  buildings  could  be  constructed.  On 
March  18,  the  construction  of  10  open-air  wards,  a kitchen  and  mess  hall  for 
the  sick,  nurses’  quarters  for  26  nurses,  a storehouse,  a hospital  exchange, 
three  barracks,  a kitchen  and  mess  hall  for  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the  Medical 
Department,  and  a guardhouse  were  authorized  by  the  Surgeon  General.78 
The  construction  of  these  additional  buildings  was  begun  on  May  21,  and  within 
a month  some  of  them  had  been  completed  and  occupied.  By  September  5, 
they  had  all  been  finished  and  occupied.  Later  it  was  necessary  to  add  four 
more  buildings,79  which  were  completed  on  October  1,  1918;  but  some  other 
minor  construction  and  alteration  work  was  found  necessary  from  time  to 
time.  The  total  cost  of  the  work  done  on  the  hospital  was  8350,000;  and 
500  beds  for  the  sick  were  provided.80 

Nineteen  hundred  and  sixty-eight  patients  were  admitted  to  the  hospital. 
Of  this  number,  719  were  nontuberculous,  among  whom  there  were  267  in- 
fluenza patients;  of  the  1,249  tuberculosis  patients,  435  were  returned  to  duty, 
428  were  discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability,  280  were  transferred 
to  other  hospitals  for  treatment,  and  106  died.81 

On  May  18,  1919,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  the  hospital  be 
abandoned  on  August  1,  1919.82  This  recommendation  was  approved;  and 
in  accordance  with  law  the  Surgeon  General  was  directed  to  transfer  the  control 
of  the  hospital  to  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service.  It  was  soon  found, 
however,  that  it  would  be  impracticable  to  close  the  hospital  on  August  1, 
and  its  abandonment  was  deferred  one  month.83  Two  hundred  sick  remaining 
in  the  hospital,  and  requiring  further  treatment  in  military  hospital,  were 
distributed,  by  transfer,  to  General  Hospitals  Nos.  8,  19,  and  21. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  from  March,  1918, 

to  August,  1919,  inclusive.11 


SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration o f term . 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

*3 

c 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

| 

1918. 

25 

52 

1 

78 

22 

542 

56 

18 

117 

1 

192 

16 

1 

1 

1 

173 

4,974 

Mnv 

173 

22 

49 

2 

246 

27 

12 

42 

Tiitip 

165 

18 

29 

38 

250 

31 

2 

3 

1 

21 

192 

5, 737 

T'lly 

192 

53 

10 

115 

17 

272 

52 

1 

5 

6 

20S 

6.266 

208 

15 

6 

344 

3S 

1 

8 

297 

7)211 

297 

36 

189 

5 

527 

41 

4 

2 

10.  s76 

465 

144 

60 

17 

94 

18 

2 

1 

2 

13 

556 

IS.  176 

556 

25 

51 

8 

640 

100 

2 

14 

1 

13 

510 

15. 34S 

510 

14 

20 

6 

550 

6S 

8 

20 

11 

438 

14,  S37 

1919. 

4.28 

41 

76 

562 

77 

9 

6 

10 

445 

14. 787 

445 

15 

62 

4 

526 

51 

5 

10 

9 

1 

450 

12. 1S3 

450 

19 

40 

3 

512 

10 

18 

13 

3 

403 

12.903 

403 

13 

109 

9 

534 

42 

IS 

10 

6 

458 

12, 13S 

16 

90 

2 

566 

24 

10 

16 

6 

19 

491 

13.  402 

491 

30 

81 

11 

613 

75 

12 

21 

1 

31 

n 

462 

14,652 

.Tilly 

462 

17 

117 

7 

603 

51 

13 

34 

8 

25 

472 

15,463 

August 

472 

. 26 

2 

25 

525 

49 

4 

210 

4 

214 

31 

13 

9,637 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  521  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section, ‘Adjutant’s  General  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  onfile,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


541 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  from  March,  1918, 

to  August,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

27 

27 

54 

54 

29 

29 

February 

54 

54 

27 

27 

March 

54 

54 

26 

26 

April 

59 

59 

30 

30 

May 

57 

57 

44 

44 

64 

64 

40 

40 

July 

70 

70 

53 

53 

August 

53 

53 

96 

96 

December 

63 

63 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

12 

3 

15 

57 

11 

68 

25 

April 

17 

3 

1 

21 

109 

11 

120 

27 

May 

17 

2 

1 

20 

118 

10 

128 

26 

June 

50 

3 

l 

54 

215 

19 

234 

21 

July. 

68 

8 

1 

77 

243 

21 

264 

26 

August 

71 

6 

2 

79 

200 

24 

224 

47 

September 

57 

6 

2 

65 

276 

29 

305 

54 

October 

74 

7 

4 

85 

308 

29 

337 

56 

November 

72 

6 

2 

80 

306 

35 

341 

71 

December 

35 

10 

2 

47 

349 

40 

389 

53 

1919. 

January 

49 

8 

2 

59 

333 

33 

366 

49 

February 

46 

8 

2 

56 

312 

44 

356 

49 

March 

37 

10 

3 

50 

307 

43 

350 

50 

April 

31 

9 

3 

43 

292 

61 

353 

49 

May 

35 

9 

2 

46 

277 

51 

328 

48 

June 

31 

9 

3 

43 

314 

46 

360 

.54 

July 

33 

10 

3 

46 

315 

16 

331 

60 

8 

6 

1 

15 

9 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  17,  MARKLETON,  PA. 

The  Markleton  Sanatorium  was  situated  in  the  mountainous  region  of  west- 
ern Pennsylvania,  at  an  altitude  of  1,700  feet  above  sea  level.  It  was  adjacent 
to  the  railroad  station  of  Markleton,  on  the  main  line  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio 
Railroad,  and  was  six  hours,  traveling  time,  west  of  Washington  and  three 
hours  east  of  Pittsburgh.  The  town  of  Markleton  comprised,  mainly,  the 
railroad  station,  2 stores,  and  about  20  small  dwellings  located  along  the  rail- 
road tracks  to  a coal  mine  about  three-fourths  of  a mile  distant.  The  nearest 
town  of  any  size  was  Rockwood,  about  7 miles  away.84 

The  sanatorium  was  nestled  among  the  mountains,  which  shut  it  in  on 
both  the  east  and  the  west,  and  was,  therefore,  not  exposed  to  the  cold  winds  of 
the  winter.  Its  main  building  was  a five-story,  steam-heated,  brick  struc- 
ture, with  north  and  south  frame  wings,  each  of  which  was  150  feet  long. 
There  were  150  rooms  in  the  building,  all  in  a poor  state  of  repair. 

In  January,  1918,  the  sanatorium  was  offered  to  the  Government,  for  lease 
or  sale.84  A representative  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  inspected  it,  and, 
on  February  5,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  it  be  leased  for  use  as  a 


542 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


general  hospital  in  the  care  and  treatment  of  tuberculosis.85  The  recommenda- 
tion was  approved,  and  the  lease  was  executed  February  25,  1918.88  Included 
in  the  transaction  were  the  sanatorium,  with  its  complete  equipment,  a laundry 
and  cold-storage  plant,  a power  plant,  outbuildings,  several  farmhouses,  and 
100  acres  of  land,  all  obtained  for  a rental  of  $20,000  a year.84  Under  a sepa- 
rate agreement,  some  cottages  were  leased  for  use  as  quarters  for  nurses  on 
duty  at  the  hospital.  The  designation  General  Hospital  No.  17  was  given  on 
March  21,  1918; 87  it  was  opened  in  the  following  month,  with  a bed  capacity 
of  100, 86  and  was  soon  filled. 

At  the  time  General  Hospital  No.  17  was  secured,  the  need  for  additional 
beds  for  tuberculosis  patients  in  general  hospitals  was  pressing,  and  it  was 


Fig.  179. — General  Hospital  No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa. 

exceedingly  difficult  to  find  suitably  located  places  that  could  be  used  for  the 
treatment  of  tuberculosis,  and  even  more  difficult  to  induce  owners  of  properties 
to  lease  them:  they  were  decidedly  averse  to  the  use  of  them  for  hospitals  for 
the  tuberculous.  These  almost  unsurmountable  difficulties  influenced  the  selec- 
tion of  the  comparatively  undesirable  Markleton  Sanatorium.  It  was  not  v eil 
suited  to  general  hospital  purposes;  it  was  small  and  would  not  have  permitted 
of  an  economical  expansion  by  the  construction  of  a sufficient  number  of  build- 
ings to  constitute  a hospital  that  would  be  on  a par  with  the  general  hospitals 
then  being  provided.  It  was  estimated  that  between  300  and  400  patients 
could  be  cared  for;  however,  the  subsequent  history  of  the  hospital,  not  unlike 
those  of  General  Hospitals  Nos.  13,  15,  and  IS,  proved  the  fallacy  of  this 
estimate. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


543 


On  March  4,  1918,  personnel  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  its  renovation 
and  alteration  were  begun.86  Following  this,  the  construction  of  six  tuber- 
culosis wards,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  main  building,  was  authorized  and  started.86 
This  temporary  construction  was  stopped,  however,  after  three  buildings  had 
been  built.  At  one  time,  in  the  summer  of  1918,  the  abandonment  of  the  hos- 
pital was  considered;  but  the  entertainment  of  the  idea  was  dropped:88  there 
was  too  much  uncertainty  regarding  future  military  necessities.  It  developed 
at  this  time,  too,  that  the  lessor  had  been  led  to  understand  that  the  sanatorium 
had  been  leased  for  not  only  the  period  of  the  war,  but  one  year  thereafter, 
and  that  it  was  mainly  because  of  this  understanding  that  he  had  been  induced 
to  permit  the  discontinuance  of  the  sanatorium,  as  such,  and  to  enter  into  a lease 
with  the  Government. 

Later  in  the  fall  available  bed  space  for  the  tuberculous  became  critical, 
and  further  construction  at  this  hospital  was  requested,  but,  because  of  the 
armistice,  was  not  consummated.  The  maximum  bed  capacity  of  the  hospital 
was  200. 89  This  bed  capacity  had  been  attained  by  August,  1918,  coincident  with 
the  number  of  patients  under  treatment.  Both  bed  capacity  and  the  number 
of  patients  remained  at  that  figure  until  the  hospital  was  closed  on  March  27, 
1919. 90 

Being  a hospital  for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis,  the  development  of 
physical  reconstruction  activities  was  attempted,  but,  due  to  the  small  size  of 
the  hospital,  the  results,  as  obtained  elsewhere,  were  not  secured.91 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa.,  from  March,  1918,  to 

April  9,  1919,  inclusive ,® 


SICK  AND  AVOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

3 

1 

4 

2 

1 

1 

2 

1 

3 

72 

76 

3 

72 

1 

599 

23 

73 

33 

106 

1 

105 

2,  411 

5 

105 

41 

146 

2 

144 

144 

1 

17 

1 

163 

8 

1 

3 

11 

140 

4,  433 

140 

3 

16 

2 

161 

10 

7 

3 

141 

4,  302 

141 

4 

31 

1 

177 

5 

1 

1 

3 

167 

4,  663 

167 

31 

78 

6 

282 

18 

3 

4 

1 

3 

253 

6,  591 

253 

3 

49 

1 

306 

58 

3 

38 

207 

6,  568 

207 

2 

35 

1 

245 

24 

3 

25 

2 

2 

189 

6,  059 

1919. 

189 

25 

48 

262 

25 

20 

11 

1 

205 

6,  018 

205 

6 

9 

1 

221 

11 

18 

1 

9 

1 

1S1 

5,  570 

182 

5 

3 

2 

192 

6 

3 

53 

125 

2 

3 

3i  576 

3 

3 

2 



1 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,' Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


544 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  7,  Markleton,  Pa.,  from  March,  1918, 

to  April  9,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1918. 

January 

October 

2 

9 

2 

7 

9 

March 

6 

8 

14 

1 

8 

April 

3 

2 

5 

6 

2 

8 

1919. 

2 

6 

8 

2 

7 

9 

July 

2 

8 

10 

2 

6 

8 

2 

9 

11 

March 

2 

5 

7 

2 

9 

11 

April 

1 

1 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY; 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Y ear  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary- 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

3 

1 

4 

3 

10 

11 

6 

1 

7 

32 

39 

12 

6 

1 

7 

34 

11 

12 

9 

1 

10 

108 

11 

119 

14 

July 

14 

1 

15 

114 

11 

125 

19 

12 

1 

13 

113 

11 

124 

17 

13 

1 

14 

111 

11 

122 

19 

11 

3 

14 

70 

11 

81 

14 

10 

5 

15 

12 

S7 

20 

December 

13 

1 

19 

109 

10 

119 

18 

1919. 

14 

6 

1 

21 

115 

13 

12S 

23 

14 

6 

1 

21 

114 

22 

136 

22 

9 

i 

10 

60 

21 

SI 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  18,  WAYNESVILLE,  N.  C. 

General  Hospital  No.  18  was  established  in  a heterogeneous  group  of 
buildings  scattered  along  the  north  bank  of  Richland  Creek  in  the  outskirts 
of  the  town  of  Waynesville.  The  various  buildings  which  composed  the 
hospital  were  an  old  hotel,  its  annex,  a pavilion  and  spring  house,  five  small 
outbuildings,  and  some  separately  located  cottages.  The  hotel  building  was 
three  stories  high,  of  brick  construction,  and  had  porches  extending  along 
the  front  and  both  sides  for  the  first,  and  second  floors,  with  smaller  porches 
(pat  the  rear.  It  had  been  constructed  in  E883"and  contained  80  rooms.  The 
/“"annex  was  a wooden  building,  3 stories  high,  fronted  toward  the  main  building 
100  yards  distant,  and  had  40  rooms.  The  pavilion  and  spring  house  had 
formerly  been  used  as  a dance  hall  for  the  guests  of  the  hotel,  and  was  about 
300  yards  distant. 

The  grounds  surrounding  the  hotel  comprised  144  acres,  upon  which  was 
located  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  that  possessed  a local  reputation  for  being 
beneficial  in  the  cure  of  rheumatism  and  skin  diseases  and  was  used  as  an 
attractive  feature  by  the  hotel.  Adjacent  to  the  hotel  property  there  was 
a 167-acre  farm,  which  was  obtained  and  used  by  the  educational  and  recrea- 
tional department  of  the  hospital. 

The  terrain  was  more  or  less  level  and  was  a part  of  Richland  4 alley, 
which,  at  this  point,  was  about  3 miles  in  width,  being  delimited  on  either 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS.  545 

side  by  mountains  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Range.  Picturesque  brooks  traversed 
the  valley  and  afforded  ample  drainage  throughout. 

The  mean  average  temperature  for  the  year  was  59°  F.  The  thermometer 
rarely  dropped  below  the  freezing  point  in  winter,  and  seldom  rose  above  80° 
in  summer.  During  summer  days  there  were  usually  cool  breezes  blowing 
from  the  mountains,  and  it  was  extremely  infrequent  that  blankets  were  not 
required  at  night.  During  the  winter  the  nights  were  frosty,  but  the  days 
were  usually  sunshiny  and  almost  balmy;  snow  rarely  lay  for  more  than  a very 
few  hours. 

On  March  14,  1918,  the  property  was  investigated  by  a representative  of 
the  Surgeon  General;  and,  based  upon  his  recommendation,  it  was  leased  on 
March  26,  at  the  rate  of  $10,000  a year.93 

There  was  an  acute  necessity  at  this  time  for  the  provision  of  hospital 
space  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  cases  of  tuberculosis  in  the  military  service; 
the  necessity  for  distributing  these  tuberculosis  hospitals  throughout  the 
United  States  added  to  the  difficulties  attending  the  acquisition  of  suitable 
space;  and  the  advisability  of  strongly  considering  the  location  of  them  in 
places  popularly  known  to  be  beneficial  made  the  problem  even  more  perplex- 
ing. It  was  difficult  to  lease  readily  convertible  properties,  even  though  unsuit- 
able, for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis,  and  it  was  seldom  possible  that  first 
class  buildings  could  be  secured.  It  was  neither  the  desire  nor  the  intention 
of  the  Surgeon  General  to  greatly  enlarge  General  Hospital  No.  18  at  the  time 
when  it  was  organized:94  it  was  expected  that  ere  long  space  would  become 
available  in  the  semipermanent  tuberculosis  hospitals  then  being  especially 
constructed.  So,  in  order  to  temporarily  increase  the  bed  capacity  of  General 
Hospital  No.  18,  that  it  might  be  utilized  to  the  greatest  extent  in  increasing 
the  total  number  of  available  beds  for  the  tuberculous,  enlisted  men  on  duty 
at  the  hospital  were  quartered  in  tents.95  In  August,  1918,  however,  the 
erection  of  three  additional  buildings  was  recommended,96  and  the  construc- 
tion of  these  was  completed  in  January,  1919.  Some  additional  expenditures 
were  made  in  the  alteration  and  repair  of  certain  of  the  buildings;  and  the 
heating  arrangements,  being  insufficient  or  totally  lacking  in  some  of  the 
buildings,  were  rectified.  A reconstruction  service  was  provided  and  established 
in  the  pavilion  but  it  was  not  developed  to  any  great  extent. 

Opening  with  a capacity  of  250  in  April,  19 18, 97  100  sick  were  sent  there 
and  within  a very  short  period  the  hospital  was  completely  filled.  During 
the  summer  the  capacity  was  constantly  increased  by  better  interior  organiza- 
tion, by  the  housing  of  attendants  in  tents,  and  by  the  renovation  of  additional 
acquired  space  until  in  the  late  summer  a capacity  of  600  was  reached.98  Dur- 
ing this  period  the  hospital  was  completely  full  and  remained  so  until  about 
November  of  that  year  when,  due  to  the  acquisition  of  additional  general 
hospital  space  for  tuberculosis  elsewhere,  the  number  of  sick  fell  to  the  less 
disturbing  figure  of  350,  near  which  it  remained  until  March,  1919.98  On  May 
7,  1919,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Surgeon  General,  this  hospital  was 
abandoned  and  the  property  returned  to  the  lessor.99 

45269°— 23 35 


546 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  18,  Waynesville,  N.  C.,from  April,  1918, 

to  March  81,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


1918. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September. 

October 

November.. 
December. . 


1919. 

January 

February. . . 
March..! 


3 

236 

270 

339 

472 

598 

643 

341 


387 

343 


Admissions. 


From  other 
sources . 


1 

242 

38 

79 

153 

137 

78 

57 

62 


6 

252 

282 

363 

520 

630 

707 

709 

411 


432 

352 

1 


Completed  cases. 


Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

3 

8 

1 

7 

4 

3 

1 

4 

12 

2 

7 

1 

2 

35 

2 

10 

1 

26 

1 

1 

3 

1 

27 

15 

1 

2 

17 

2 

265 

18 

3 

77 

4 

1 

13 

6 

2 

2 

1 

61 

6 

8 

10 

4 

82 

1 

41 

228 

i 

Remaining. 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


1 

236 

270 

339 

472 

597 

643 

341 

387 


343 


2 

4,297 
1,022 
1,348 
2, 468 
1, 585 
1,374 
588 
684 


475 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

2 

10 

12 

1918. 

1 

25 

26 

2 

14 

16 

1 

26 

27 

2 

14 

16 

July 

2 

23 

25 

1919. 

39 

39 

1 

22 

23 

22 

22 

1 

20 

21 

26 

26 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C, 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

3 

2 

5 

2S 

4 

32 

10 

7 

2 

9 

79 

79 

32 

12 

3 

126 

126 

36 

July 

12 

1 

IS 

1S2 

1S2 

36 

19 

5 

2 

26 

184 

184 

40 

20 

3 

28 

1S1 

181 

39 

22 

4 

3 

29 

1S3 

1S3 

58 

25 

4 

3 

32 

243 

243 

58 

23 

4 

33 

275 

42 

1919. 

19 

7 

3 

29 

263 

263 

36 

3 

4 

2 

9 

78 

7S 

1 

1 

1 

3 

13 

13 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  ( Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file. 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office,  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General  s Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


547 


REFERENCES. 

(1)  Letter  from  Maj.  Win.  C.  Williams,  I.  G.  D.,  to  the  Inspector  General  of  the  Army,  January  25, 

1919.  Subject:  Inspection  of  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood, 
N.  J.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  333  (General  Hosp.  No.  9)  K. 

(2)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  9 at  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  on  April  7-8, 1919, 

by  Col.  E.  R.  Schreiner,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  721  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  9)  K. 

(3)  Report  from  Capt.  Francis  S.  Paterno,  Q.  M.  C.,  to  Chief  of  Construction  Division,  February 

25,  1919.  Subject:  Completion  report  of  construction  work  at  United  States  Army  General 
Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J.  On  file,  Historical  Division  S.  G.  0.  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  9)  K. 

(4)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  April  8, 1918.  Subject:  Lease  of  the  Florence-in-the-Pines  to  be  used  as  nurses’ 
quarters.  On  file  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Lakewood,  N.  J.  ) F. 

(5)  Report  from  Col.  Charles  F.  Mason,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  16,  1919.  Sub- 

ject: Annual  Report  of  General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J.  for  1918.  On  file,  His- 
torical Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(6)  Second  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  1, 1919. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospital.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  0., 
322.3  (Misc.  Sec.). 

(7)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood, 

N.  J.,  made  by  Col.  W.  F.  Truby,  M.  C.,  on  October  20, 1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.O., 
721  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  9)  K. 

(8)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officer,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Meade,  Md., 

June  6,  1918.  Subject:  Treatment  of  cardiovascular  diseases  at  General  Hospital  No.  9. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  702  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  9)  K. 

(9)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Parker  Hill,  Boston,  Mass.,  by 

Col.  Jere  B.  Clayton,  M.  C.,  on  May  5,  1919.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721-1  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  10)  K. 

(TO)  Shown  in  lease.  Copy  on  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0.  (General  Hospital  No.  10). 

(11)  Sixth  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  26,  1918. 

Subject:  Approval  of  lease  of  Elks’  Hospital,  Boston,  Mass.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  10 ) K. 

(12)  Shown  in  lease.  Copy  on  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Boston  City  Hall,  Mass.)  S. 

(13)  Letter  from  Col.  John  T.  Clarke,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  August  29,  1920.  Subject: 

Report  of  activities  of  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston,  Mass.  On  file,  Historical  Lfivision, 
S.  G.  O.  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  10). 

(14)  Letter  from  Maj.  Charles  L.  Greene,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  18,  1918. 

Subject:  Report  on  conditions  affecting  physical  reconstruction  at  General  Hospital  No.  10, 
Parker  Hill.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  356  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  10)  K. 

(15)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  10,  May  10. 

1919.  Subject:  Reduction  in  bed  capacity.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721-1  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  10)  K. 

(16)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (U). 

(17)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Director  of  Operations,  General  Staff,  May  28,  1919. 

Subject:  Cancellation  of  lease.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  10)  K. 

(18)  Letter  from  Secretary  of  War  to  Hon.  Henry  Cabot  Lodge,  United  States  Senate,  June  20, 

1919.  Subject:  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston,  Mass.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  10)  K. 

(19)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  W.  L.  Reed,  I.  G.  D.,  to  the  Inspector  General  of  the  Army,  June  20, 

1918.  Subject:  Inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  333.1  (1)  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  11)  K. 

(20)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J.,  December  3,  1918, 

by  Col.  W.  F.  Truby,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721-1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  11)  K. 

(21)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  December  18,  1917.  Subject: 

Cape  May  Hotel,  Cape  May,  N.  J.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Cape  May 
N.  J.)  S. 

(22)  Letter  from  W.  R.  Ramsey,  attorney,  Washington.  D.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November, 

30,1917.  Subject:  Cape  May  Hotel.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No. 
11)  K. 


548 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(23)  Letter  from  Quartermaster,  headquarters,  Eastern  Department,  to  the  Quartermaster  General, 

January  18, 1918.  Subject:  Lease  of  Cape  May  Hotel.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601 
(Cape  May,  N.  J.)  S. 

(24)  Copy  of  renewal  lease.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481-1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  11)  K. 

(25)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  14,  1918.  Subject:  Gen- 

eral hospitals.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  322.3  (General  Hospitals)  K. 

(26)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(27)  First  indorsement  from  General  Hospital  No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J.,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

August  5,  1919.  Subject:  Closing  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  602.1  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  11)  K. 

(28)  Letter  from  Chief  of  Real  Estate  Service,  War  Department,  to  Cape  May  Hotel  Co.,  Cape  May, 

N.  J.,  July  21,  1919.  Subject:  Cancellation  of  lease.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
481-1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  11)  K. 

(29)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  December  20,  1917.  Subject: 

Kenilworth  Inn,  Kenilworth,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Asheville, 
N.  C.)  F. 

(30)  Second  indorsement  from  A.  G.  O.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  2,  1918.  Subject:  Ap- 

proval of  lease  for  Kenilworth  Inn.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Asheville,  N.C.)  F. 

(31)  Letter  from  Col.  H.  C.  Fisher,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  undated.  Subject:  Report  on 

Kenilworth  Hotel,  Biltmore,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Biltmore,  N.  C.)  S. 

(32)  Letter  from  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  14,  1918.  Subject:  General 

hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.)  K. 

(33)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  12,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  25, 

1918.  Subject:  Arrival  of  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  705  (Gen.  Hosp.  No. 
12)  K. 

(34)  Letter  from  Maj.  A.  Y.  Moschovitz,  M.  C.,  to  Col.  Raymond  P.  Sullivan,  M.  C.,  January  13, 

1919.  Subject:  Report  of  consultation  visit  to  General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  333-1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  12)  K. 

(35)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report,  May  15,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  U. 

(36)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report,  June  26,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0.,  632  U. 

(37)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report,  compiled  in  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  On  file,  Record  Room, 

S.  G.  O.,  632  (U). 

(38)  First  Indorsement  from  S.  G.  O.  to  Quartermaster  General,  Director,  Purchase  and  Storage, 

October  17,  1919.  Subject:  General  Hospital  No.  12  was  discontinued  September  1,  1919. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  210.8-1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  12)  K. 

(39)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  General  Staff,  War  Department,  May  28,  1919.  Subject: 

Cancellation  of  leases.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  General. 

(40)  Letter  from  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  6,  1919.  Subject:  Abandon- 

ment of  General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0..  602 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  12)  K. 

(41)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  commanding  officer.  General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore, 

N.  C.,  September  8, 1919.  Subject:  Transfer  of  General  Hospital  No.  12  to  Public  Health 
Service.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0.,  323.7-5  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  12)  K. 

(42)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  December  20,  1917.  Subject: 

Jackson  Sanatorium,  Dansville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Dansville, 
N.  Y.)  F. 

(43)  Second  Indorsement  from  A.  G.  0.  to  Surgeon  General,  January  2,  1918.  Subject:  Approval 

of  lease  for  Jackson  Sanatorium,  Dansville,  N.  5'.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601 
(Dansville,  N.  Y.)  F. 

(44)  Letter  from  quartermaster,  headquarters,  Eastern  Department,  to  Quartermaster  General, 

January  18,  1918.  Subject:  Execution  of  lease  for  Jackson  Sanatorium.  Dansville.  N.  Y. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Dansville,  N.  Y.)  F. 

(45)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  W.  L.  Pyles,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  23,  1917. 

Subject:  Report  of  inspection,  Jackson  Sanatorium,  Dansville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Dansville,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(46)  Letter  from  Maj.  A.  H.  Crosbie,  M.  R.  C.,  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  13. 

Dansville,  N.  Y.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  23, 1918.  Subject:  Report  of  prog- 
ress. On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7-5  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  13),  K. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


549 


(47)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  May  9,  1918.  Subject:  Cancellation 

of  the  lease  of  General  Hospital  No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  13)  K. 

(48)  First  Indorsement  from  A.  G.  0.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  13, 1918.  Subject:  Approval 

of  request  to  cancel  lease  of  Jackson  Sanatorium,  Dansville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  14)  K. 

(49)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  June  29,  1918.  Subject:  New  lease  for 

General  Hospital  No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  13)  K. 

(50)  Copy  of  lease.  On  file,  Hospital  Di-vision,  S.  G.  0.  (Dansville,  N.  Y.). 

(51)  Letter  from  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  Adjutant  General,  June  12,  1918.  Subject  : Transfer 

of  personnel  and  equipment  from  Dansville,  N.  Y.  to  Richmond,  Ya.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  O.,  323.7-5  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  13)  K. 

(52)  Letter  from  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  13,  Dansville, 

N.  Y.,  September  17,  1918.  Subject:  Organization  of  General  Hospital  No.  13.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7-5  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  13  K. 

(53)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  13,  to  Surgeon  General,  November  24, 

1918.  Subject:  Report  of  transfer  of  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  705  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  13)  K. 

(54)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  Construction  Di-vision,  War  Department,  March  12,  1919. 

Subject:  Cancellation  of  lease  and  abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  13.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  13)  K. 

(55)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y.  to  Surgeon  General, 

April  28,  1919.  Subject:  Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  13.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  13)  K. 

(56)  ‘'Outline  Description  of  Military  Posts  and  Reservations  in  the  United  States  and  Alaska 

and  of  National  Cemeteries.”  Washington,  Government  Printing  Office,  1904. 

(57)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  18,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of 

permanent  barracks  of  certain  posts  for  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Di-vi- 
sion, A.  G.  0.,  2600303  (Old  Files  Section). 

(58)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  Southeastern  Department, 

June  23,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of  permanent  barracks  at  certain  posts  for  general  or  base 
hospital  accommodations.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old  Files). 

(59)  Night  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  department  surgeon,  Southeastern  Department, 

June  25,  1917.  Subject:  Request  for  plans  of  a base  hospital  at  certain  posts.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old  Files). 

(60)  Letters  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  various  dates.  Subject: 

Temporary  hospital  buildings  at  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
176796  (Old  Files). 

(61)  Letters  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  W7ar  Department,  various 

dates.  Subject:  Alteraton  and  construction  of  buildings.  On  file,  Hospital  Division, 
S.  G.  0.,  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  14,  General  Hospital  Requests). 

(62)  Telegram  from  Kirkpatrick,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  24, 

1917.  Subject:  Hospital  administration.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Post 
Hospital,  Fort  Oglethorpe)  N. 

(63)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  14,  1918.  Subject:  Gen- 

eral hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.3  (General  Hospitals)  K. 

(64)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Director  of  Operations,  General  Staff,  May  22,  1919. 

Subject:  Closing  of  General  Hospital  No.  14  as  such.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  320.2 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  14)  K, 

(65)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  January  25, 1918.  Subject:  Lease 

of  Beach  Hotel,  Corpus  Chris!  i.  Tex.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Corpus  Christi)  F. 

(66)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officer,  hospital,  Corpus  Christi,  Tex.,  March  2, 

1918.  Subject:  Instruction  for  establishment  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7-5  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  15)  K. 

(67)  First  Indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  21,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (General 
Hospitals)  K. 


550 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(68)  First  Indorsement  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  15,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

December  27, 1918.  Subject:  Statistical  information.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  730 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  15)  K. 

(69)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  chief  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J., 

July  26,  1918.  Subject:  Use  of  General  Hospital  No.  15  for  convalescent  patients.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  15)  K. 

(70)  Shown  on  weekly  report  compiled  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  On  file,  Record  Room, 

S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(71)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  26,  1919.  Subject: 

Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  15,  Corpus  Christi,  Tex.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  602  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  15)  K. 

(72)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  15  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  31, 

1919.  Subject:  Transfer  to  Public  Health  Service.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  602 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  15)  K. 

(73)  Report  on  property  tendered  for  hospital  purposes.  New  Haven  Hospital  inspected  by 

Col.  G.  E.  Bushnell,  M.  C.,  January  16,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (New 
Haven  Hospital,  West  Haven,  Conn.)  S. 

(74)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  February  8,  1918.  Subject:  Lease 

of  New  Haven  Hospital,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  for  tuberculosis.  On  file,  Record  Room. 
S.  G.  0.,  601  (New  Haven,  Conn.)  F. 

(75)  Memorandum  for  Acting  Chief  of  Staff  for  Assistant  Secretary  of  War,  February  11,  1918. 

Subject:  Lease  of  New  Haven  Hospital  for  tuberculosis  hospital.  Approved  February  12, 
1918.  On  tile,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601  (New  Haven,  Conn.)  F.  Also:  Telegram  from 
George  P>.  Lummer,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  26,  1918: 
“Lease  signed  for  hospital  today.”  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (New  Haven, 
Conn.)  F. 

(76)  First  Indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  21,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  hospitals.  Onfile,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (General  Hospitals) 
K. 

(77)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports  compiled  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  On  file,  Record 

Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(78)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  April  3,  1918.  Subject:  Au- 

thority to  construct  additional  wards  and  buildings  at  the  United  States  Army  General 
Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  16)  K. 

(79)  Third  Indorsement  from  War  Department,  S.  G.  0.  to  Construction  Division,  War  Depart- 

ment, July  23,  1918.  Subject:  Additional  construction,  General  Hospital  No.  16.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  16.)  K 

(80)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General,  United  States  Army,  to  Siugeon  General,  Public  Health  Service, 

August  15,  1918.  Subject:  Transfer  of  General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  16)  K. 

(81)  Compiled  from  sick  and  wounded  reports,  General  Hospital  No.  16.  Now  on  file,  World  War 

Div.,  A.  G.  O. 

(82)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  May  28,  1919.  Subject:  Cancellation 

of  leases.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  General. 

(83)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  June  18,  1919.  Subject:  Abandon- 

ment of  General  Hospital  No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  602 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  16)  Iv. 

(84)  Letter  from  M.  B.  Barnett,  Marble  ton,  Pa.,  to  the  Siugeon  General,  United  States  Army, 

January  29, 1918.  Subject:  Sale  or  lease  of  Markleton  Sanatorium.  Onfile.  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  601  (Markleton,  Pa.)  F. 

(85)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  February  5,  191S.  Subject: 

Lease  of  Markleton  Sanatorium,  Markleton,  Pa.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601 
(Markleton)  F. 

(86)  Letter  from  Col.  W.  L.  Reed,  I.  G.  D.,  to  the  Inspector  General  of  the  Army,  June  13,  1918. 

Subject:  Inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  17.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  333 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  17)  K. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


551 


(87)  First  Indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  21,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  hospital  at  Markleton,  Pa.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  322.3 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  17)  K. 

(88)  Letter  from  Brig.  Gen.  Robert  E.  Noble,  M.  C.,  to  Senator  Boise  Penrose,  United  States  Senate, 

September  18,  1918.  Subject:  Markleton  Sanatorium,  General  Hospital.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Markleton,  Pa.)  F. 

(89)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports  compiled  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  On  file,  Record 

Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(90)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa.,  to  Col.  Roger  Brooke, 

M.  0.,  March  28,  1919.  Subject:  Transfer  of  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  17)  K. 

(91)  Reports  from  Chief  of  Educational  Service,  General  Hospital  No.  17,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

various  dates.  Subject:  Report  of  educational  work.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
456  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  17)  K. 

(92)  Report  on  special  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  18,  Waynesville,  N.  C.  Made  on 

August  8,  1918,  by  Lieut.  Col.  F.  W.  Weed,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  18)  K. 

(93)  Telegram  from  Gorgas  to  J.  B.  Sloan,  Waynesville,  N.  C.,  March  26,  1918.  Subject:  Sec- 

retary of  War  has  approved  leasing  of  hotel  at  rate  of  $10,000  per  year.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Waynesville,  N.  C.)  F.  And:  Telegram  from  Dunn  to  Surgeon 
General.  March28, 1918.  Subject:  Justreceived  word  that  lease  was  signed  in  Charleston, 
yesterday.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  18)  K. 

(94)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  18,  Waynesville, 

N.  C.  June  27,  1918.  Subject:  Administration.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  18)  K. 

(95)  Letter  from  quartermaster  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  18,  July  31,  1918. 

Subject:  Buildings  for  use  at  this  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  18)  K. 

(96)  Second  indorsement  from  War  Department,  S.  G.  0.  to  Construction  Division,  War  De- 

partment, August  13,  1918.  Subject:  Additional  construction  General  Hospital  No.  18, 
Waynesville,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  18)  Iv. 

(97)  Telegram  from  Davis,  commanding,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  April  24,  1918.  Subject: 

Hospital  ready  to  receive  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  705  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  18)  K. 

(98)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report  compiled  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  On  file,  Record  Room, 

S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(99)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  18,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  7, 

1919.  Subject:  Official  closing  of  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  18,  Waynes- 
ville, N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  18)  K. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


GENERAL  HOSPITALS,  NOS.  19,  20,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  AND  29. 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  19,  OTEEN  (AZALEA),  N.  C. 

Early  in  the  year  1918  all  hospital  space  for  Army  tuberculous  patients 
was,  with  the  exception  of  the  Fort  Bayard  General  Hospital,  in  relatively 
unsuitable  leased  properties.  These  converted  hospitals  had,  at  that  time, 
very  little  remaining  available  space;  and  the  accumulation  of  the  tuberculous 
in  the  base  hospitals  of  the  camps  was  not  only  highly  undesirable  but  demanded 
relief;  consequently  additional  space  was  vitally  required.  At  this  time  the 
lease  and  purchase  of  certain  tracts  of  land  in  the  mountainous  regions  of  North 
Carolina,  to  be  used  for  hospital  purposes,  was  begun  under  the  authority  of 
the  Secretary  of  War.1  When  completed,  about  400  acres  had  been  acquired.2 
The  land  so  secured  was  situated  1 mile  from  Azalea,  5 miles  from  Biltmore, 
and  7 miles  from  Asheville.  Following  its  acquisition,  plans  were  developed 
for  the  construction  of  a large  tuberculosis  hospital  to  consist  of  over  60  frame 
buildings  having  a capacity  of  1,000  beds.3  On  March  2.  1918.  the  Secretary 
of  War  authorized  the  construction  of  the  hospital,  and  work  upon  it  was  insti- 
tuted.1 In  the  fall  of  1918,  when  the  original  project  was  being  rapidly  com- 
pleted, and  when  occupation  of  the  buildings  had  begun,  the  construction  of 
an  additional  group  of  200  buildings,  with  a capacity  of  500  beds,  was  re- 
quested and  authorized.4 

In  the  first  group  the  wards  were  of  the  infirmary  and  the  ambulatory 
types,3  and  were  grouped  about  a culinary  and  administrative  center.  The 
500-bed  group  consisted  of  ambulatory  wards5  for  the  most  part,  which,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  were  located  on  a hill  some  distance  from  the  main  kitchen 
and  mess  hall.  Between  these  two  main  groups  a third  group  of  12  buildings 
was  located. 

At  first  all  ambulant  patients  in  the  hillside  group  of  wards  were  required 
to  walk  to  the  mess  halls,  three-fourths  mile  distant.6  This  was  done  with  a 
view  to  hardening  and  more  rapidly  rehabilitating  them.  The  scheme  was 
found  to  be  impracticable,  and  later  a mess  hall  and  kitchen  were  constructed 
in  close  proximity  to  this  detached  class  of  sick. 

As  at  General  Hospital  No.  8,  the  wards  were  of  three  types'" — infirmary, 
ambulatory,  and  semi-infirmary,  the  latter  type  being  a compromise  between 
the  first  two  and  was  determined  upon  as  the  construction  and  use  of  the 
wards  developed.  Much  study  was  given  to  the  subject  and  every  effort  was 
made  to  provide  the  facilities  for  the  satisfactory  treatment,  after  care,  and 
instruction  of  the  tuberculous;  and  all  of  the  usual  services  of  a complete 
general  hospital  were  provided.  In  all,  100  buildings,  with  heating,  lighting, 
plumbing,  and  sewer  connections,  were  erected,  the  majority  not  connected  by 
umbrella  walks,  and  all  but  one — the  heating  plant — were  of  frame  construc- 
tion. In  area  covered,  if  not  in  capacity,  this  was  the  largest  temporary 
general  hospital  constructed  during  the  war.  Some  conception  of  its  magni- 
tude may  be  gained  from  the  fact  that  40  miles  of  the  following  utilities  were 
552 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


553 


installed:  Roads,  sewers,  water  and  steam  mains,  and  electric  transmission  and 
distribution  lines. 

The  designed  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  1,500  beds;7  as  actually  operated, 
however,  this  capacity  was  not  fully  realized,  due  mainly  to  the  fact  that  the 
ambulant  and  infirmary  sick  were  not  in  the  exact  ratio  anticipated  in  the 
construction.  It  had  been  estimated  that  33  per  cent  of  the  tuberculous  would 
be  infirmary  cases  and  55  per  cent  ambulatory;  but  it  developed  that  they 


were  about  equally  divided;  and  late  in  the  war  experience,  even  the  reverse  of 
the  original  ratio  obtained.  The  total  cost  was  $2, 750, 000. 8 

On  May  25, 1918,  it  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  19. 9 It  was  opened 
to  the  sick  in  September,  19 18, 10  and  the  number  under  treatment  rapidly 
rose,  reaching  1,000  on  January  1,  1919. 10  The  peak,  1,175,  was  reached  in 
the  following  May.10  The  number  varied  between  948  and  1,192  throughout 
the  year  1919. 10 


554 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  19,  Oteen  (Azalea),  N.  C.,  from  Sep- 
tember, 1918,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi-, 
ration  of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

•3 

o 

otJ 

.50  © 

? o 
3 ^ 

By  trans- 
" fer. 

Otherwise. 

‘ft 

CO 

c 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

C/2 

3 

1918. 

September 

57 

456 

513 

26 

1 

486 

October 

486 

63 

315 

864 

81 

5 

1 

1 

4 763 

N ovember 

770 

26 

226 

1 

1,029 

95 

6 

1 

927 

5 260 

December 

927 

77 

189 

1 

1, 194 

178 

8 

7 

9 

9 

1 

9S9 

5^327 

1919. 

January 

989 

108 

374 

5 

1,476 

285 

10 

27 

5 

5 

1, 144 

9 858 

February 

1,144 

71 

281 

3 

1,499 

267 

19 

39 

3 

1 

l'  170 

7, 599 

March.,  j 

1, 170 

48 

167 

5 

1,390 

226 

21 

81 

6 

6 

12 

1 ' 038 

8 609 

April 

lj  038 

58 

392 

3 

1,491 

132 

25 

42 

1 

84 

15 

1, 192 

8 467 

May 

l'  192 

60 

229 

3 

1,484 

220 

20 

20 

18 

1 051 

8’  607 

June 

1,051 

36 

278 

2 

1,367 

126 

17 

144 

3 

1 

10 

1,066 

8 701 

July 

1,066 

28 

98 

11 

1,  203 

79 

27 

104 

2 

29 

14 

948 

AUgUSt 

'948 

21 

258 

20 

1,250 

54 

23 

160 

1 

9 

35 

968 

9 111 

September 

968 

19 

227 

9 

1,  223 

24 

13 

2 

15 

1,089 

4, 254 

October 

1,089 

26 

93 

5 

1,213 

22 

18 

64 

3 

21 

28 

1,057 

3,977 

November 

1,057 

27 

185 

16 

1,  285 

16 

32 

31 

4 

1 

25 

23 

1, 153 

5, 68S 

December 

1, 153 

31 

41 

18 

1,  243 

30 

22 

252 

6 

1 

2 

20 

'910 

3, 114 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

4 

4 

8 

April 

181 

Cl 

949 

5 

8 

13 

May 

1S5 

64 

249 

7 

17 

24 

Juiie 

231 

88 

319 

7 

38 

1 

46 

July 

173 

125 

298 

172 

90 

262 

1919. 

2S2 

30 

312 

7 

37 

1 

October 

215 

130 

345 

4 

54 

58 

November 

250 

199 

1 

373 

200 

61 

261 

December 

150 

90 

240 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and 
month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Aides 

and 

workers. 

Other 

civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

29 

6 

1 

36 

263 

33 

296 

52 

38 

7 

3 

48 

265 

33 

29S 

37 

7 

5 

49 

390 

41 

431 

62 

41 

11 

6 

58 

592 

109 

701 

61 

1919. 

50 

16 

5 

71 

5SS 

151 

739 

78 

53 

15 

75 

586 

1S3 

769 

108 

48 

16 

11 

593 

176 

769 

108 

47 

17 

12 

76 

547 

160 

707 

100 

45 

15 

11 

71 

522 

10S 

630 

9S 

52 

13 

10 

499 

22 

521 

107 

1 

J uly 

51 

14 

14 

79 

498 

12 

510 

118 

1 

43 

14 

9 

66 

400 

405 

116 

1 

45 

10 

9 

64 

398 

s 

406 

128 

35 

6 

46 

324 

6 

330 

151 

40 

6 

6 

52 

315 

8 

323 

142 

December 

42 

6 

5 

53 

464 

s 

472 

129 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  side  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office"  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


555 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  20,  WHIPPLE  BARRACKS,  ARIZ. 

Whipple  Barracks  had  been  located  1 mile  northeast  of  Prescott,  Ariz., 
in  a bowl-shaped  basin  among  the  mountains,  at  an  altitude  of  about  5,000 
feet.11  Between  the  years  1903-1906  permanent  brick  and  concrete  buildings 
had  been  erected  to  provide  facilities  for  quartering  a battalion  of  troops. 
In  1911  it  was  practically  abandoned  as  a result  of  the  transfer  of  troops  to 
the  Mexican  border. 

In  Febi'uary  6,  1918,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  the  transfer  of 
the  post  to  the  Medical  Department  for  use  as  a general  hospital  for  the  treat- 
ment of  tuberculosis.12  On  February  15  the  transfer  was  authorized,13  and 
on  May  25  it  was  designated  “General  Hospital  No.  20”  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment.14 The  renovation  of  the  post  was  begun  at  once,  but  for  some  time 


Fig.  181. — Sun  porch,  General  Hospital  No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz. 


only  small  expenditures  were  made  for  this  purpose  and  for  slight  alterations. 
It  was  apparent,  however,  that  much  more  space  would  be  required  for  the 
treatment  of  tuberculosis  than  would  be  afforded  in  the  altered  existing  build- 
ings. These  were  studied,  and  a plan  was  evolved  whereby  certain  additional 
buildings  in  new  construction  were  to  be  added,  which,  with  the  existing 
buildings,  would  give  a capacity  of  approximately  1,300  sick.  Based  upon 
this  plan,  a request  was  made  in  July  for  the  construction  of  a total  of  about 
30  buildings,  most  of  which  were  to  be  wards  of  three  types — infirmary,  semi- 
infirmary,  and  ambulatory; 15  all  buildings  to  be  of  tile  and  stucco,  to  have 
modern  improvements,  and  to  be  so  grouped  about  the  existing  buildings  as  to 
serve  the  greatest  purpose.  The  general  scheme  and  plan  were  altered  from 
time  to  time,  but  eventually  the  project  was  greatly  reduced,  the  following 
buildings  being  actually  constructed:  5 two-story  wards,  2 one-story  wards, 
and  1 nurses’  building,  which  brought  the  total  capacity  of  the  hospital  up  to 
500  beds.  This  work  was  not  completed  until  July,  1919.  In  the  meantime 


556 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


there  was  much  to  disturb  the  progress  of  the  project:  the  ever  present  diffi- 
culty of  designing  and  placing  new  buildings  so  as  to  function  well  with  those 
existing,  and  the  advent  of  the  armistice,  which  changed  the  aspect  of  the 
problem  but  did  not  serve  to  obviate  entirely  the  necessity  for  the  construction. 
A portion  of  the  construction  was  obviated,  however,  and  the  capacity  was 
never  increased  beyond  500  beds.  The  change  from  the  larger  project  to  the 
smaller  one  was  effected  in  January,  1919,  when  it  could  be  safely  predicted 
that  facilities  as  originally  contemplated  would  not  be  required. 

Reconstruction  activities  were  provided  and  all  the  services  of  a general 
hospital  were  started,  some  completed,  others  finished  on  a reduced  scale. 

The  hospital  opened  for  sick  in  June,  1918, 16  with  a capacity  of  150  beds, 
most  of  which  were  at  once  filled.  While  the  constructed  capacity  was  500  beds, 
this  actually  was  never  reached  in  operation.  By  October  the  actual  capacity 
had  reached  400  beds,  and  by  that  time  the  patients  had  increased  to  an  equal 
number.  From  this  time  on  until  the  end  of  1919  the  hospital  was  practically 
full,  patients  seldom  falling  as  low  as  300  in  number  and  oftentimes  coinciding 
with  the  capacity.17 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz.,  from  June, 

1918,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive .a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED 


Y ear  and  month . 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command . 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

C 

L. 

Hospital. 

e3 

3 

1918. 

4 

72 

76 

4 

72 

168 

72 

7 

105 

184 

5 

178 

1 

4,346 

20 

179 

11 

33 

1 

224 

11 

1 

211 

1 

56 

212 

1 

101 

314 

4 

2 

1 

2 

305 

7,464 

305 

89 

16 

1 

411 

49 

12 

2 

345 

3 

10  507 

17 

348 

67 

29 

7 

451 

S3 

14 

3 

2 

349 

11,666 

December 

349 

57 

26 

2 

434 

57 

4 

18 

2 

1 

3 

3 

346 

10,285 

1919. 

346 

26 

29 

1 

402 

28 

2 

44 

9 

9 

310 

9,777 

310 

29 

17 

356 

32 

78 

3 

1 

241 

1 

7.647 

9 

242 

55 

312 

14 

4 

44 

250 

7,004 

4 

250 

21 

73 

344 

19 

1 

26 

1 

4 

1 

292 

May 

292 

19 

33 

3 

347 

23 

1 

37 

20 

259 

8,317 

259 

21 

65 

22 

367 

16 

1 

44 

2 

39 

265 

7,583 

July 

265 

17 

113 

34 

429 

11 

1 

43 

i 

1 

50 

322 

n.  2 ’-9 

322 

10 

76 

53 

461 

12 

5 

55 

2 

47 

340 

2,187 

340 

10 

40 

30 

420 

6 

3 

47 

15 

25 

323 

1 

l'  926 

11 

324 

13 

48 

17 

402 

10 

2 

33 

9 

19 

329 

1,383 

329 

23 

83 

20 

12 

2 

19 

6 

27 

389 

2,722 

December 

389 

19 

18 

17 

443 

6 

2 

6S 

63 

301 

1 

4,951 

10 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

1 

3 

4 

1 

6 

1 

3 

4 

1 

6 

1 

5 

6 

42 

47 

1 

6 

July 

42 

47 

August 

1919. 

September 

SO 

171 

12 

263 

1 

5 

6 

October 

so 

171 

12 

263 

1 

5 

6 

so 

171 

12 

•263 

March. 

1 

5 

6 

December 

so 

170 

11 

261 

o Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General ’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


557 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz.,from  June, 
1918,  to  December , 1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

3 

3 

1 

7 

59 

9 

68 

July 

8 

3 

2 

13 

65 

31 

96 

11 

August 

12 

3 

2 

17 

115 

31 

146 

11 

September 

13 

4 

5 

22 

117 

31 

148 

10 

October 

16 

5 

5 

26 

164 

29 

193 

76 

November 

17 

6 

5 

28 

165 

29 

194 

69 

December 

20 

4 

5 

29 

195 

46 

241 

22 

1910. 

January 

17 

4 

5 

26 

172 

74 

246 

18 

February 

19 

3 

8 

30 

172 

75 

247 

22 

March 

19 

4 

10 

33 

159 

43 

202 

22 

April 

21 

4 

14 

39 

147 

41 

188 

31 

May 

24 

5 

14 

43 

166 

39 

205 

41 

June 

26 

4 

14 

44 

214 

13 

227 

42 

July 

26 

5 

15 

46 

187 

5 

192 

41 

August 

23 

5 

11 

39 

164 

6 

170 

44 

September 

14 

5 

7 

26 

158 

25 

183 

43 

October 

11 

4 

5 

20 

158 

31 

189 

44 

November 

14 

4 

5 

23 

155 

87 

212 

44 

December 

16 

3 

6 

25 

149 

83 

232 

42 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  22,  PHILADELPHIA,  PA* 

On  January  19,  1919,  the  mayor  and  the  director  of  health  and  charities 
of  Philadelphia  formally  offered  a portion  of  the  Philadelphia  General  Hospital 
to  the  War  Department  for  hospital  purposes  at  a nominal  rental  of  $1  per  year. 
A board  of  officers  representing  the  Chief  of  Staff,  the  Surgeon  General,  and  the 
Chief  of  the  Construction  Division  inspected  the  various  buildings  offered,  and 
reported  that  the  property  could  be  adapted  to  hospital  use  within  a very  short 
period  at  a cost  of  $65,000  and  that  it  would  provide  a capacity  of  500  beds.18 
The  leasing  of  this  property  had  already  been  approved  on  January  6 by  the 
Secretary  of  War,  who  desired  that  it  be  developed  with  the  least  practicable 
delay.18  The  portion  offered  the  Government  was  the  80-year  old  group  of 
buildings  which  had  been  used  in  part,  for  the  insane.  The  group  for  purposes 
of  description  may  be  divided  into  five  sections:  a 3-story  brick  building  sit- 
uated west  of  the  west  wing  of  the  administration  building;  a 4-story  brick 
building  comprising  the  west  wing  of  the  administration  building  of  the  hos- 
pital; a 4-story  brick  building  comprising  the  east  wing  of  the  administration 
building  of  the  hospital,  600  feet  distant  over  outside  walks  from  the  nearest 
wards;  and  second  floor  of  the  east  section  of  the  nurses’  home.  Section  1 was 
converted  into  quarters  for  the  enlisted  personnel  and  into  storage  space  for 
medical  and  quartermaster  supplies;  section  2 was  renovated  and  converted 
into  wards;  section  3 was  converted  into  wards  and  mess  and  administrative 
offices;  section  4 was  made  into  a kitchen;  and  section  5,  with  the  use  of  some 
paint  and  the  installation  of  some  toilet  facilities,  became  a very  good  nurses’ 
home. 

The  construction  work  cost  slightly  in  excess  of  $65,000  and  consisted,  in 
conjunction  with  the  work  above  referred  to,  of  painting,  caleimining,  the  re- 
finishing of  old  floors  which  had  been  laid  many  years  previously;  the  installa- 


*After  General  Hospital  No.  22  (Richmond  College)  was  converted  into  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  the  former 
number  was  used  for  this  hospital.  (See  p.  825.) 


558 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tion  of  diet  kitchens,  utility  rooms,  and  dish  washers;  the  replacement  of  many 
steam  rinsers  and  some  radiation,  plastering,  and  wiring;  the  removal  of  iron 
bars  and  grating  from  many  of  the  outside  windows,  and  many  other  general 
items  of  repair  and  refurnishing.  No  reconstruction  activities  were  installed  in 
this  hospital  as  it  was  intended  that  general  medical  and  surgical  cases  and 
venereal  diseases  would  be  treated  there. 

The  development  of  General  Hospital  No.  22  was  unique  in  at  least  one 
respect,  and  it  presented  a good  example  of  what  could  be  done  in  rapid  altera- 
tion and  organization.  The  Medical  Department  in  January,  1919,  did  not 
feel  the  need  of  developing  general  hospital  facilities  at  Philadelphia,  and  did 
not  originate  the  request  for  the  use  of  this  institution.  However,  in  a reso- 
lution adopted  in  common  council  in  Philadelphia,  January  16,  which  had  been 
approved  by  the  mayor,  it  was  stated  that  the  War  Department  desired  to  use 


Fig.  1S2. — General  Hospital  No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

certain  buildings  and  portions  of  buildings  of  the  Philadelphia  General  Hos- 
pital.19 At  about  the  same  time  the  Director  of  Operations,  General  Staff, 
stated  in  a memorandum  for  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  that  the  develop- 
ment of  a hospital  in  Philadelphia  would  be  particularly  appropriate,  judging 
from  the  strong  desire  of  its  citizens  for  the  return  of  the  local  wounded  to  the 
vicinity  of  their  homes.18 

The  actual  development  of  the  hospital  took  place  in  a most  expeditious 
fashion,  as  had  the  execution  of  the  lease  and  the  authorization  of  funds.  The 
project  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War  on  January  6,  1919;  the  $65,000 
was  allotted  on  January  9,  and  the  same  day  a contractor  was  recommended 
for  the  work.  On  the  following  day  the  contractor  received  orders  to  proceed 
with  the  work  and  on  January  14  actual  funds  were  transferred  to  the  local 
contracting  quartermaster;  complete  plans  for  alteration  were  prepared;  and 
the  work  was  practically  completed  by  February  IS,  when  additional  funds 
were  called  for  and  were  made  available  on  the  following  day.  By  February  2S 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


559 


the  alteration  work  had  been  entirely  finished  and  the  organization  of  the  hos- 
pital was  completed  and  it  was  ready  for  sick  five  days  later.  This  was  indeed 
very  rapid  work  when  contrasted  with  many  similar  projects  carried  out  early 
in  the  war  period  when  it  was  not  uncommon  to  triple  or  quadruple  this  length 
of  time  in  executing  the  lease,  developing  plans,  securing  funds,  and  completing 
the  construction.  The  hospital  opened  on  March  5,  1919,  with  a capacity  of 
450  beds  20  and  within  a fortnight  400  sick  were  being  cared  for. 

In  the  meantime,  however,  the  problem  of  how  to  acquire  hospital  space 
had  changed  to  one  of  liowto  dispose  of  hospital  space,  and  10  general  hospitals 
had  been  closed.  On  May  28,  1919,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  the 
abandonment  of  this  hospital.21  The  recommendation  was  approved  June  5, 
the  abandonment  to  be  accomplised  on  or  before  June  30. 22  All  sick  were 
transferred  prior  to  June  30,  on  which  date  the  hospital  ceased  as  a military 
institution  and  the  control  of  it  was  returned  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia.2 


Statisdcal  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  from  February, 

1919.  to  June,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

1 

1 

1919. 

May 

15 

6 

6 

11 

3 

14 

10 

10 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1919. 

February 

19 

1 

20 

218 

14 

232 

25 

27 

2 

29 

235 

26 

261 

46 

27 

2 

29 

227 

999 

24 

251 

43 

27 

1 

28 

16 

238 

June 

8 

1 

9 

45 

3 

48 

21 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


560 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  23,  HOT  SPRINGS,  N.  C. 

The  Mountain  Lake  Park  Hotel  was  located  in  the  town  of  Hot  Springs, 
N.  C.,  38  miles  distant  hy  railroad  from  Asheville.  The  site  of  the  hotel  was  on  a 
plateau,  popularly  called  the  “dimple”  because  of  the  fact  that  it  was  com- 
pletely surrounded  hy  the  close-in  Southern  Appalachian  Mountains.  The 
property  included  a tract  100  acres  in  extent,  quite  flat,  and  triangular  in  out- 
line. On  it  were  well  arranged  shade  trees  that  bordered  the  roads  and  walks, 
and  approximately  one-fifth  of  it  was  cultivatible. 

The  soil  was  sandy  and  the  subsoil  was  a mixture  of  rock  and  clay.  After 
rains  the  surface  dried  rapidly  and  there  was  a constant  freedom  from  mud  and 
dust.  The  site  was  well  protected  from  high  winds,  being  surrounded  as  it  was 
by  the  mountains. 

The  French  Broad  River  formed  the  northeastern  boundary  of  the  area,  and 
the  tracks  of  the  Southern  Railway  the  southern  boundary,  as  well  as  the  divid- 
ing line  between  the  property  and  the  town  of  Hot  Springs,  a village  of  400 
inhabitants. 

The  climate  was  mild,  usually  dry,  and  very  invigorating.  The  mean 
summer  temperature  was  found  to  be  80°  F.  and  the  maximum  winter  tempera- 
ture 30°  F. 

The  hotel,  a four-story  frame  building,  erected  in  1880,  had  been  used 
by  the  Department  of  Labor  as  an  internment  camp  for  alien  enemies.  This 
department  had  constructed  quite  a number  of  additional  temporary  buildings 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  hotel,  the  group  being  divided  into  two  areas:  Camp  A, 
consisting  of  the  hotel  and  some  additional  barrack  buildings,  with  a capacity 
of  900,  and  occupied  by  ships’  officers  and  the  staff  of  the  Department  of 
Labor;  and  camp  B,  consisting  of  11  barrack  buildings,  with  a capacity  of 
1,100,  occupied  by  seamen.24 

The  Secretary  of  Labor  inquired  of  the  Secretary  of  War  as  to  whether  this 
property  could  not  be  profitably  used  by  the  War  Department  for  hospital  pur- 
poses, as  it  was  the  intention  of  the  Department  of  Labor  to  discontinue  the  use 
of  the  camp.25  At  the  inception  of  the  negotiations  for  the  transfer  it  was  not 
represented  that  the  place  was  undesirable  for  the  purposes  of  the  Department 
of  Labor,  but  the  reason  given  for  its  abandonment  by  that  department  was  that 
the  interned  Germans  were  offensive  to  the  civilians  of  the  community  and  it  was 
feared  that  some  untoward  incident  might  occur  that  would  prove  embarrassing 
to  the  United  States.  The  property  was  inspected  by  representatives  of  the 
Surgeon  General’s  Office,  and  the  gist  of  their  reports  was  to  the  effect  that, 
while  it  was  not  ideal  in  location,  its  water  supply  was  not  entirely  satis- 
factory as  to  quality  and  quantity,  and  the  temporary  buildings  and  the 
hotel  itself  were  not  in  good  condition,  nevertheless  the  property  should  be 
acquired  for  hospital  purposes.  They  reported  further  that  for  a comparatively 
small  amount  of  money  the  whole  could  be  economically  converted  into  a com- 
paratively good  military  hospital.26 

In  the  spring  of  1918  there  was  every  indication  that  the  continuation  of 
war  would  be  prolonged  and  there  was  urgent  need  of  providing  a large  number 
of  general  hospitals.  Moreover,  it  was  reported  that  there  would  be  adequate 
space  for  1,200  beds  at  Hot  Springs;  so  on  May  22,  the  Surgeon  General  recom- 
mended that  the  property  be  obtained;  and,  as  it  was  already  under  lease  by 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


561 


the  Government,  that  the  War  Department  take  over  the  existing  lease,  which 
carried  a rental  of  $18,000  per  year.27  The  lease  was  then  transferred  from  the 
Department  of  Labor  to  the  War  Department  as  of  July  1,  1918. 28 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  War  Department  to  transfer  the  interned  alien 
enemies  to  Fort  Oglethorpe,  but  in  July,  when  this  transfer  was  about  to  take 
place,  an  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  appeared  among  them,  the  first  cases  occur- 
ring in  camp  B on  July  20;  150  cases  developed,  with  17  deaths.  All  originated 
in  camp  B,  where,  upon  investigation,  it  was  found  that  the  cause  was  due  to  the 
use  of  water  from  a proscribed  well  into  which  seepage  had  occurred  from  the 
French  Broad  River.  There  were  no  cases  in  camp  A.24 

While  part  of  the  Medical  Department  personnel  had  arrived  they  had  not 
yet  begun  to  function  when  this  epidemic  occurred,  which,  of  course,  caused 
delay  in  removing  the  prisoners.  Meanwhile,  the  Surgeon  General  had  re- 
quested the  development  of  the  place  for  hospital  purposes,  and  the  various 
plans  in  connection  with  this  work  were  under  way.  Although  it  was  not  very 
satisfactory,  as  has  already  been  indicated,  and  notwithstanding  subsequent 
reports  of  inspections,  made  by  representatives  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office 
during  the  summer  and  fall,  which  did  not  approve  the  selection,  in  view  of  the 
increasing  need  for  general  hospital  beds,  the  work  of  development  was  not  given 
up.  The  expenditure  of  the  funds,  which  had  been  requested  in  June,  was  not 
authorized  until  August  (during  which  month  the  hospital  was  designated  General 
Hospital  No.  23) ; and,  as  a result  of  further  unavoidable  delays,  actual  construc- 
tion work  was  not  begun  until  October  1.  Prior  to  October  1 , about  $100,000  had 
been  allotted  for  the  development  of  this  hospital;  subsequently  an  additional 
sum  was  estimated  as  necessary  for  the  correction  of  the  water  supply.  This  was 
disconcerting  as  it  had  been  understood  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  that  only 
a small  expenditure  would  be  required  to  provide  excellent  water  from  an  un- 
questionable source  not  far  distant.  The  development  of  this  source  of  water 
was  not  approved.29 

Alteration  work  was  under  way  at  the  time  of  the  armistice,  and  although 
most  of  it  was  accomplished  it  had  not  been  advanced  sufficiently  to  make  the 
buildings  completely  available  for  use.  The  commanding  officer,  however,  re- 
ported an  available  capacity  for  300  ambulatory  and  125  bed  cases,30  but  this 
space  was  never  fully  utilized.  The  greatest  number  of  sick  was  122  in  the  month 
of  February,  1919. 31 

In  January,  1919,  the  Surgeon  General  felt  that  the  general  hospital  situa- 
tion was  secure  and  that  an  emergency  which  would  make  the  use  of  this  hos- 
pital necessary  was  unlikely  to  occur  in  the  future.  It  was  therefore  recom- 
mended on  January  31  that  it  be  abandoned.32  This  was  approved  on  February 
1 0 ; 33  and  on  March  15  the  hospital  was  abandoned,34  the  few  remaining  sick  hav- 
ing been  transferred  to  General  Hospital  No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C. 

45269°— 23 36 


562 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  23,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C.,  from  August,  1918 

to  March  15,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Children. 

Total. 

1918 

October 

2 

2 

November 

December 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.’ 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

3 

3 

1 

7 

40 

21 

61 

September 

4 

4 

1 

9 

40 

21 

61 

15 

5 

1 

21 

111 

20 

131 

15 

4 

2 

21 

111 

20 

131 

December 

10 

4 

2 

16 

303 

27 

330 

26 

1919. 

January 

16 

4 

2 

22 

261 

21 

2S2 

27 

February 

2 

2 

2 

6 

126 

IS 

144 

25 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  24,  PARKVIEW  STATION,  PITTSBURGH,  PA. 


The  hospital  was  located  in  the  reconstructed  buildings  of  a county  institu- 
tion, formerly  called  the  North  Side  Home,  Hoboken,  or  the  Warner  House, 
Claremont;  and  in  an  adjacent  institution,  the  Allegheny  Workhouse.  These 
buildings  were  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Allegheny  River,  on  an  area  of  ground 
850  feet  in  width  on  the  riverfront  and  3,700  feet  deep,  and  had  been  constructed 
on  a terrace  1,100  feet  back,  thus  affording  an  outlook  of  marked  attractiveness. 
The  terrain  in  the  rear  of  the  buildings  was  rolling;  the  newest  portion  with  an 
upward  slope,  contained  the  farm  buildings  and  an  old  orchard : the  northernmost 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


563 


portion  was  in  grain  land.  The  soil  was  mostly  clay  with  deposits  of  gravel; 
the  flats  along  the  river  were  an  alluvial  deposit  from  river  floods. 

The  climate  was  much  the  same  as  that  of  Pittsburgh,  with  a higher  veloc- 
ity of  wind,  due  to  the  exposed  position.  The  region  was  hot  in  summer  and 
was  subject  to  electrical  storms  of  great  intensity. 

On  April  8,  1918,  the  Allegheny  County  commissioners  offered  the  North 
Side  Home  to  the  Medical  Department  for  use  for  hospital  purposes.  They 
proposed  a rental  of  $20,000  per  year,  though  they  stated  that  if  this  rental 
seemed  too  high  they  would  accept  any  terms  deemed  proper  by  the  Govern- 
ment.35 There  were,  exclusive  of  farm  houses,  8 buildings  in  all,  3 of  which— 
the  administration  building,  the  men’s  building  and  the  women’s  building— 
were  large  brick  structures  with  3 floors,  attic  and  basement;  the  other  5 were 
smaller  structures  situated  in  the  rear  and  comprised  the  mortuary  and  laundry, 
bakery,  heating  plant,  shop,  and  residence.  The  “home”  had  not  been  oceu- 


Fig.  183. — General  Hospital  No.  24,  Parkview  Station,  Pittsburgh. 


pied  for  about  two  years;  the  heating  system  was  old,  the  floors  were  badly 
worn,  the  buildings  were  gas  lighted  and  in  a state  of  ill  repair.  The  place  had 
been  inspected  by  a representative  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  the  condi- 
tions were  known,  and  it  was  realized  that  a considerable  sum  ($100,000  was 
the  original  tentative  estimate)  would  be  required  to  rehabilitate  it  to  afford 
facilities  for  the  care  of  from  750  to  1,000  sick.36  While  a rental  figure  had 
been  proposed,  it  was  within  the  knowledge  of  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office 
that  the  chamber  of  commerce,  the  mayor,  and  the  people  of  Pittsburgh  gener- 
ally desired  to  offer  this  property  free  to  the  Government,  and  a nominal  lease 
was  accordingly  recommended.36  This  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War 
May  2,  1918,  to  be  effective  July  1,  1918.37 

On  July  19,  an  allotment  of  $126,000  was  made  to  develop  the  hospital. 
Thorough  study  was  given  and  every  effort  made  to  reduce  construction  and  to 
impress  upon  those  in  direct  charge  of  the  new  hospital  and  the  alteration  work 
that  the  object  was  to  secure  a satisfactory  temporary  hospital  at  minimum  cost 
and  not  to  develop,  by  extensive  alteration  and  durable  improvements,  an  ideal 
hospital  at  excessive  costs.  Subsequent  to  the  above  allotment  $17,000  more 


564 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


was  spent  on  repairs  and  alteration;  and  $62,000  was  expended  in  constructing 
two  new  buildings  for  nurses,  the  only  new  buildings  added,  bringing  the  total 
to  $205,000. 

The  work  progressed  slowly  during  the  late  summer,  fall,  and  early  winter 
of  1918.  The  difficulties  encountered  were  not  lessened  by  the  labor  situation, 
which  was  a constant  source  of  trouble,  and  at  times  it  was  necessary  to  detail 
the  enlisted  men  on  construction  work. 

On  August  26,  1918,  the  hospital  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  24 38 
and  in  October  200  beds  were  available;39  in  December,  350; 39  in  January,  1919, 
600; 39  an  d in  April  the  maximum,  700,  had  been  provided. 39  It  opened  for  sick 
in  October  and  the  number  of  sick  in  hospital  increased  pari  passu  with  the 
capacity  of  the  hospital.39 

The  bed  capacity  of  this  hospital  was  originally  estimated  at  750-1, 000.36 
Subsequent  events  demonstrated  that  at  least  750  beds  should  have  been  made 
available.  The  actual  capacity  developed,  exclusive  of  potential  space  for  100 
patients,  vicariously  secured  by  constructing  new  buildings  for  100  nurses,  was 
600.  Experience  showed  that,  with  buildings  of  the  character  of  those  at  the 
North  Side  Home,  with  a high  percentage  of  basement  and  attic  space,  and 
many  small  rooms  to  be  utilized,  at  least  40  per  cent  of  the  total  floor  space 
could  be  covered  with  beds  for  patients,  giving  each  bed  100  square  feet.  In 
this  hospital,  space  was  given  storage,  offices,  waiting  rooms,  dining  rooms,  the 
receiving  and  surgical  services,  disproportionate  to  that  allotted  to  beds. 

On  June  15,  1919,  after  it  had  been  determined  to  abandon  the  hospital, 
the  United  States  Public  Health  Service  requested  its  transfer  to  that  service. 
On  July  15  the  transfer  was  affected,  all  patients  having  been  transferred  else- 
where in  the  meantime.40 

• Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  24,  Parhview  Station,  Pittsburgh,  Pa., 
from  July,  1918,  to  July  22,  1919,  inclusive .“ 


SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 

sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospitals. 

t» 

o 

Hospital. 

£ 

3 

1918. 

5 

5 

3 

3 

3 



13 

lip 

1 

8 

4 

s 

4 

27 

2 

33 

21 

2 

2 

1 

3 

21 

28 

6 

58 

19 

1 

36 

9 

116 

31 

38 

54 

260 

1 

353 

111 

1 

28 

2 

211 

3,409 

29 

1919. 

January 

211 

54 

419 

689 

56 

2 

IS 

21 S 

21 

374 

1 1 . 028 

February 

374 

53 

338 

7 

772 

60 

1 

20 

92 

17 

5S2 

14.264 

March.. . 

582 

46 

115 

17 

760 

47 

2 

4 

3 

27 

93 

14 

569 

l 

19.  977 

10 

April 

570 

28 

172 

21 

791 

36 

1 

25 

2 

52 

24 

l 

16.  S23 

5 

575 

22 

152 

19 

768 

65 

3 

25 

76 

15 

32 

18.662 

552 

17 

272 

15 

856 

30 

104 

48 

70 

14 

590 

19. 073 

July 

590 

10 

5 

3 

608 

26 

135 

80 

352 

6.709 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the.  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office' (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


565 


Statistical  Data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  24,  Hoboken,  Allegheny  County,  Pa., 
from  July,  1918,  to  July,  22,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

1919. 

May 

58 

45 

103 

15 

30 

45 

June 

58 

45 

103 

15 

44 

59 

July 

58 

45 

103 

April 

10 

40 

50 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 


1918. 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 


1919. 

January 

F ebrua'ry 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

i 

1 

5 

76 

12 

88 

5 

2 

7 

77 

12 

89 

6 

2 

8 

77 

12 

89 

8 

4 

3 

15 

127 

18 

145 

9 

13 

4 

3 

20 

140 

19 

159 

32 

21 

4 

4 

29 

468 

30 

498 

28 

26 

6 

4 

36 

370 

33 

403 

37 

36 

7 

8 

51 

355 

49 

404 

46 

37 

7 

11 

55 

351 

49 

400 

61 

44 

8 

8 

60 

352 

45 

397 

71 

45 

8 

4 

57 

346 

42 

388 

69 

44 

7 

5 

56 

339 

22 

361 

66 

1 

3 

4 

1 

1 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  25,  FORT  BENJAMIN  HARRISON,  IND. 

The  site  upon  which  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  had  been  located,  in  1902, 
was  a tract  of  land  consisting  of  approximately  2,415  acres,  and  'was  about  13 
miles,  by  railroad,  northeast  of  Indianapolis.  It  was  an  ideal  site  in  many 
ways;  there  were  a magnificent  first  growth  of  forest  trees,  running  streams,  and 
moderately  rolling  land  with  green  valleys  and  level  fields.  The  soil  was  a 
rich,  black  loam,  and  the  subsoil  was  principally  gravel. 

Permanent  buildings  had  been  constructed  on  the  post  for  domiciliating  a 
regiment  of  Infantry,  and  among  them  were  included  a permanently  con- 
structed post  hospital  of  66  beds  capacity,  and  an  isolation  pavilion  of  38  beds.41 

The  first  efforts,  on  the  part  of  the  Medical  Department,  to  secure  the  whole 
of  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  for  general  hospital  purposes,  were  made  in  May, 
1917. 42  During  this  month  the  post  was  included  in  a general  request,  and, 
in  addition,  two  specific  requests  for  it  were  made  upon  the  Secretary  of  War.43 

In  June,  1917,  the  commanding  general,  Central  Department,  was  directed 
by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  make  available  as  many  permanent  barracks  at 
Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  as  were  needed  for  base  or  general  hospital  purposes; 
and  to  provide  tents  at  first,  and  later  cantonments,  for  the  well  troops  thus 
dispossessed.44  In  August,  however,  the  department  commander  stated  that 
it  was  his  intention  to  use  all  of  the  post  for  the  second  training  camp  and, 
therefore,  he  had  no  space  for  hospital  purposes.  Later  in  the  same  month,  the 
Secretary  of  War  informed  the  department  commander  that  500  beds  would 


566  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fig.  184. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


567 


be  satisfactory  for  the  Medical  Department’s  use;  and  asked  if  the  provision 
of  that  number  in  the  post  hospital  and  additional  available  buildings  would 
interfere  with  the  training  work,  to  which  the  department  commander  replied 
15  days  later  in  the  affirmative,  stating  that  no  space  would  be  available  for 
hospital  purposes.  On  October  15,  1917,  The  Adjutant  General  placed  all  of 
the  buildings  at  this  post  at  the  disposal  of  the  department  commander  for 
Infantry  winter  quarters  after  the  closure  of  the  training  camp,  which  was  to 
take  place  November  25. 45  In  the  meantime,  as  a result  of  the  instructions 

of  the  Secretary  of  War,  which  he  had  issued  to  the  department  commander 
in  June,  to  make  the  permanent  barracks  available,  the  department  surgeon 
was  directed  by  the  Surgeon  General  on  June  30,  to  have  a base  hospital  planned 
at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  and  to  make  request  for  any  additional  buildings 
that  might  be  required.46  It  had  been  the  desire  of  the  Surgeon  General  to 
avoid  hospital  construction,  by  using  this  post,  along  with  others,  for  hospital 
purposes,  and  he  felt  that  funds  might  thus  be  conserved  by  putting  well  troops 
in  temporary  barracks,  at  the  same  time  housing  the  sick  in  the  more  com- 
fortable, permanent  buildings.  Nothing  came  of  this  plan  for  a base  hospital, 
however;  nor  was  anything  done  at  this  post  for  a long  time  thereafter  in  the 
way  of  providing  a general  hospital;  and  the  post  buildings  were  continued 
in  use  for  training  camp  purposes. 

On  September  21,  1918,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  was  at  last  designated 
“General  Hospital  No.  25”; 47  and  in  the  following  month  the  Secretary  of  War 
again  directed  the  department  commander,  Central  Department,  to  transfer 
the  whole  post  to  the  Medical  Department  that  it  might  be  used  as  a general 
hospital,  with  the  exception  of  the  following  buildings:  The  storehouse  and 
other  buildings,  then  being  used  by  the  Quartermaster  Corps,  the  post  adminis- 
tration building,  the  post  exchange,  the  guardhouse,  two  barracks,  and  five 
officers’  quarters.48  These  instructions  were  very  explicit,  and  they  would 
permit  neither  nullification  nor  discretionary  action  on  the  part  of  any  subor- 
dinate commander.  Plans  were  at  once  prepared,  in  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon 
General,  for  the  construction  of  a large  number  of  temporary  buildings,  which, 
with  the  use  of  the  existing  and  available  post  buildings,  would  have  given  a 
bed  capacity  of  2, 500. 49  The  project  was  much  reduced,  however,  before  it 
had  been  approved,  and  was  ultimately  modified  so  as  to  provide  but  500  beds 
in  the  temporary  buildings.  This  reduced  plan  was  approved  by  the  Secretary 
of  War  but  was  not  carried  into  effect.  The  urgency  of  the  situation  had  passed. 
The  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  was  instructed  to  do  the  minimum 
amount  of  alteration,  to  proceed  on  the  assumption  that  the  hospital  would 
not  be  required  for  a long  period  for  the  treatment  of  mental  cases,  and  to 
limit  requests  for  funds  for  alterations  to  $5,000  until  further  orders.  The 
only  work  that  was  done,  in  addition  to  some  temporary  wards  erected  about 
the  post  hospital  in  May,  1917,  for  post  use,  was  the  renovation  and  alteration 
of  some  of  the  post  buildings  for  hospital  use. 

The  hospital  operated  under  the  name  and  organization  of  a post  hospital 
until  September  21,  1918,  when  it  became  a general  hospital.  Up  to  that  time 
the  sick  had  varied  from  100  to  300  and  the  capacity  had  not  exceeded  500. 30 
In  October,  however,  with  the  use  of  the  post  buildings  turned  over,  the  capacity 
was  temporarily  greatly  increased,  and  about  1,600  sick  had  been  sent  there  within 


568 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


a month.50  It  was  deemed  wise  not  to  crowd  this  hospital  as  it  had  been 
denied  complete  construction  facilities  and  the  number  of  sick  was  allowed 
to  fall,  in  another  month,  to  about  900,  near  which  figure  it  constantly  remained 
throughout  the  rest  of  its  existence  as  a general  hospital.50 

This  hospital  when  opened  treated  general  medical  and  surgical  cases, 
but  during  the  winter  of  1918-19  it  was  used  for  the  treatment  of  mental  cases, 
drug  addicts,  inebriates,  epileptics,  and  mental  defectives.  Still  later  the 
special  work  was  discontinued  and  general  medical  and  surgical  cases  of  the 
more  ordinary  sort  where  sent  there.  On  August  4,  1919,  it  was  recommended 
that  the  hospital  be  discontinued  as  such  on  September  1,  and  revert  to  its 
former  status;51  the  approval  of  the  War  Department  was  given  on  August  8 52 
and  the  discontinuance  was  carried  into  effect,  as  contemplated,  on  September  l.53 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind.,  from 
September,  1918,  to  August,  1919,  inclusive A 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


last 

Admissions. 

o 

'd 

Year  and  month. 

g from 
onth. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

d 

3 

o 

© 

© 

|S 

& 

a 

© 

PH 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

© 

o 

c3 

O 

e< 

1918 

September 

248 

1,103 

13 

5 

1,369 

( ictober 

9(50 

2,020 

32 

24 

3,036 

November 

482 

491 

15 

1 

989 

1 >ecember 

408 

431 

93 

932 

1919. 

January 

341 

252 

183 

10 

786 

February 

410 

92 

211 

28 

741 

March 

472 

74 

272 

25 

843 

April 

525 

65 

241 

11 

842 

May 

548 

64 

328 

15 

955 

bine 

643 

86 

643 

26 

1,398 

July 

782 

69 

403 

34 

1,288 

August 

561 

61 

44 

37 

703 

Completed  cases. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

| Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

358 

2 

32 

si 

17 

2,338 

570 

1S9 

4 

3 

20 

4 

4 

2 

1 

576 

9 

6 

345 

3 

14 

5 

9 

238 

4 

20 

5 

2 

250 

40 

10 

18 

160 

2 

97 

22 

13 

210 

79 

4 

19 

438 

1 

140 

2 

13 

22 

362 

3 

170 

30 

208 

2 

229 

2 

189 

50j 

Remaining. 

73 

© 

CL 

C 

C? 

960 

482 

408 

341 

410 

525 

548 

643 

782 

561 

! 23 

Aggregate 
number  ol 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


6 


9, 576 
19,148 
14,592 
10,217 


13,462 
12,018 
15, 568 
24,456 
26, 133 
21,486 
23,000 
IS, 095 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

36 

75 

26 

137 

116 

20 

191 

36 

75 

26 

137 

February 

116 

20 

191 

36 

75 

26 

137 

March. 

183 

20 

258 

36 

75 

26 

137 

April 

190 

50 

20 

260 

May 

310 

50 

20j 

380 

June 

325 

50 

20 

395 

July 

275 

70 

20 

365 

August 

63 

27 

90 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


569 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind..  from 
September,  1918,  to  August,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 


191S. 

September 

October 

November 

December 


1919. 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

30 

3 

33 

175 

175 

34 

37 

3 

40 

150 

150 

50 

26 

4 

1 

31 

150 

150 

65 

31 

8 

2 

41 

461 

461 

60 

34 

8 

2 

44 

455 

455 

53 

35 

7 

2 

44 

430 

430 

68 

36 

6 

2 

44 

437 

437 

67 

35 

6 

1 

42 

414 

414 

59 

38 

4 

1 

43 

401 

401 

69 

39 

5 

2 

46 

392 

392 

66 

39 

5 

2 

46 

395 

395 

62 

28 

1 

29 

176 

176 

53 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  26,  FORT  DES  MOINES,  IOWA. 

Fort  Des  Moines  was  located  within  5J  miles  of  the  city  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa, 
on  a rolling  terrain  that  was  slightly  wooded  with  dwarf  timber.  The  soil  was  a 
rich,  black  loam  fully  3^  feet  thick,  superimposed  upon  a clayey  loam — the 
“Iowa  glacial”  drift.  The  soil  was  readily  metamorphosed  into  an  almost 
impalpable  dust,  which  was  easily  carried  by  the  winds  in  dry  weather,  and  in  wet 
weather  it  became  a tenaceous  mud;  but  as  the  post  was  well  sodded  and  pro- 
vided with  gravel  roads  and  cement  walks,  no  real  inconvenience  was  caused  by 
mud.  The  summers  were  usually  hot  and  dry,  and  the  winters  severely  cold 
and  attended  by  much  snow;  the  falls  were  ideally  pleasant,  but  the  springs 
were  usually  cold  and  damp,  with  much  rain  and  occasional  cyclonic  storms. 

The  early  history  of  the  general  hospital,  which  was  finally  established  at  this 
station,  is  drawn  out  over  a long  period  of  time,  as  the  following  chronologically 
arranged  events  will  bear  testimony:  On  July  2,  1917, 54  the  Sui’geon  General 
requested  the  use  of  the  permanent  buildings  at  Fort  Des  Moines  for  hospital  pur- 
poses, and  on  the  day  following,  the  Secretary  of  War  authorized  the  depart- 
ment commander,  Central  Department,  to  turn  over  the  necessary  barracks 
at  Fort  Des  Moines  for  base  and  general  hospital  purposes.55  On  the  same  day, 
July  3, 56  the  Surgeon  General  directed  the  department  surgeon,  Central  Depart- 
ment, to  make  plans  for  a large  base  hospital  at  Des  Moines  and  to  call  for  any 
additional  buildings  required.  On  September  11,  1917, 57  the  Surgeon  General 
requested  the  construction  of  two  psychiatric  wards  and  two  isolation  wards, 
the  conversion  of  a storehouse  into  a receiving  ward,  the  conversion  of  four 
stables  into  barracks,  and  a mess  hall  for  Medical  Department  men,  and  the  con- 
version of  the  post  exchange  and  gymnasium  into  a dispensary,  eye,  ear,  nose, 
and  throat  and  dental  building,  and  funds  for  this  work  were  allotted  in 
October,  1917.  This  was  the  first  project  of  any  size  contemplated  at  this 
place,  but  the  construction  was  delayed  and  the  work  was  not  completed  until 
May,  1918,  when  a bed  capacity  of  1,100  had  been  obtained. 


570  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL 
NO.  26 

FORT  BE S MOINES 

IOWA 


PERMANENT  BUILDINGS 
TEMPORARY  o 

WELFARE  «» 


SCALE-TEST 

O 200  AOd  600  AOO 


Fig.  1S5. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


571 


On  October  15,  1917, 58  the  Secretary  of  War  telegraphed  the  department 
commander  that  Fort  Des  Moines  would  be  at  his  disposal  when  the  Reserve 
Officers’  Training  Camp  and  Medical  School  ended  on  the  same  date,  but  that 
only  one  battalion  of  Infantry  would  be  stationed  at  the  post.  On  November  7, 
1917,  the  Surgeon  General  requested  the  use  of  the  whole  post  for  general 
hospital  purposes;59  and  on  January  4,  1918, 60  he  requested  the  designation  of 
Fort  Des  Moines  as  a general  hospital,  the  same  request  being  repeated  in  the 
following  February.  On  March  14,  1918, 61  the  Secretary  of  War  disapproved  this 
request.  In  April  the  post  hospital  was  designated  as  a base  hospital.  On 
May  13  82  the  Surgeon  General  again  recommended  that  this  station  be  desig- 
nated a general  hospital.  There  was  space  here  now  for  sick,  and  it  was  desired 
to  use  it  to  the  very  best  advantage.  In  August  the  station  was  designated  a 
department  base  hospital.  On  September  11,  1918, 63  the  Surgeon  General  again 
requested  that  this  post  be  made  a general  hospital;  and  on  September  21  the 
request  was  approved.64 

A number  of  projects  for  the  further  development  of  this  post  were  then 
studied  and  a satisfactory  construction  project  was  developed  contemplating 
10  buildings  and  some  alterations  in  existing  buildings,  all  of  which  would  have 
provided  additional  beds  for  1,000  sick;  but  because  of  the  armistice  this  work 
was  disapproved. 

Complete  reconstruction  facilities  were  provided  in  this  hospital,  and  special 
facilities,  including  prosthetics,  for  the  treatemnt  of  amputation  cases  were 
developed. 

In  April,  1918,  when  it  was  designated  a base  hospital,  the  capacity  was  300. 
With  some  additional  permanent  post  buildings  and  new  construction  the 
capacity  rose  to  1,150  by  June.  In  August  it  was  increased  to  a maximum  of 
1,500.  A trivial  number  of  sick  was  cared  for  in  this  hospital  at  the  time  the 
above  designation  was  made,  but  the  number  soon  rose  to  500,  where  it 
remained  until  September  25,  1918.  It  now  became  a general  hospital  and  was 
put  to  good  use,  for,  by  November  15,  it  was  filled  with  over  1,400  sick.  The 
number  ran  along  between  about  1,200  and  1,800  until  May,  1919,  when  a 
decline  began,  and  by  October  of  that  year  only  673  sick  were  in  the  hospital.65 

On  September  8,  1919,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  the  discontin- 
uance of  this  general  hospital,  and  its  reversion  to  a post  hospital,  effective 
October  15. 66  This  recommendation  was  approved  September  13, 67  and  the 
change  was  duly  carried  out. 


572 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  from  September 

2A,  1918,  to  October  19,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

ft 

8 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

* 

1918. 

September 

441 

36 

366 

33 

876 

86 

2 

74 

1 

32 

681 

14,019 

October 

681 

138 

689 

26 

1,534 

137 

12 

54 

6 

24 

1,301 

November 

1,301 

89 

380 

32 

1,802 

167 

20 

29 

180 

91 

1 314 

1 

41  174 

5 

December 

1,315 

64 

324 

126 

1,829 

72 

6 

36 

527 

82 

1, 106 

37,600 

1919. 

January 

1 , 106 

72 

225 

43 

1,446 

79 

3 

27 

441 

31 

865 

31, 183 

February 

865 

52 

319 

10 

1,246 

62 

2 

35 

105 

54 

988 

26, 045 

March 

988 

72 

319 

122 

1,501 

63 

71 

142 

203 

1,022 

29,848 

April 

1 , 022 

34 

403 

206 

1,665 

56 

1 

121 

195 

195 

1*  097 

31,819 

May 

1,097 

29 

159 

164 

1,449 

27 

4 

136 

93 

168 

1,021 

31,770 

June 

1,021 

36 

293 

86 

1,436 

28 

1 

311 

114 

97 

31,849 

July 

885 

40 

452 

108 

1,  485 

35 

2 

174 

230 

139 

905 

28. 140 

August 

905 

23 

405 

117 

1,450 

43 

1 

204 

1 

225 

126 

850 

26,763 

September 

31 

118 

125 

1,  124 

52 

1 

132 

2 

211 

116 

610 

October 

610 

13 

50 

673 

33 

141 

493 

6 

5,654 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

105 

48 

35 

1S8 

March 

7 

63 

58 

128 

105 

48 

35 

188 

April 

7 

63 

58 

128 

105 

48 

188 

May 

7 

63 

58 

128 

7 

63 

57 

127 

June 

7 

63 

58 

128 

July 

7 

63 

5S 

128 

1919. 

Aujpist 

7 

63 

5S 

128 

7 

63 

58 

128 

September 

63 

58 

128 

February 

7 

63 

58 

128 

October 

7 

63 

58 

128 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

employ- 

ees. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

September 

55 

7 

2 

64 

681 

S3 

764 

S6 

1 

< ic'tober 

57 

9 

3 

69 

675 

82 

757 

90 

1 

N ovember 

63 

8 

2 

73 

657 

103 

760 

114 

1 

December 

77 

13 

2 

92 

662 

117 

779 

111 

1 

1919. 

January 

86 

12 

3 

101 

660 

109 

769 

118 

1 

February 

66 

13 

3 

S2 

605 

115 

720 

99 

2 

March 

60 

13 

5 

7S 

5S3 

99 

682 

9S 

1 

60 

11 

9 

SO 

501 

S7 

SS 

61 

10 

9 

80 

492 

54 

546 

105 

50 

10 

10 

70 

549 

44 

593 

105 

July. . . 

46 

8 

9 

63 

4S5 

30 

102 

50 

6 

7 

63 

457 

30 

487 

102 

SepTember 

37 

6 

7 

50 

450 

31 

4S1 

77 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  ( Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


573 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  27,  FORT  DOUGLAS,  UTAH. 

Fort  Douglas  is  located  in  the  foothills  of  the  Wasatch  Mountains,  3? 
miles  southeast  of  Salt  Lake  City,  which  it  overlooks  from  an  added  elevation 
of  800  feet.  The  terrain  is  practically  level,  with  a gentle  sloping  away 
from  the  mountains  to  the  rear  of  the  post.  The  soil  is  sandy,  thus  insuring 
the  absence  of  mud  following  rains  and  a freedom  from  dust  during  the  times 
when  the  winds  blow. 

Fort  Douglas  had  been  a permanent  garrison  for  a regiment  of  Infantry 
and  there  were  an  excellent  post  hospital,  barracks,  officers’  quarters,  and  other 
complementary  buildings. 

In  the  early  summer  of  1918,  it  appeared  that  this  post  would  make  a 
particularly  desirable  acquisition  as  a general  hospital:  there  were  no  general 
hospital  facilities,  other  than  for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis,  in  all  that  vast 
area  lying  between  the  Pacific  Coast  and  the  Central  States.  So,  early  in  July 
an  informal  arrangement  was  made  between  the  Surgeon  General  and  the 
Director  of  Operations,  General  Staff,  that  the  permanent  buildings  at  Fort 
Douglas,  except  six  designated  structures,  would  be  used  for  general  hospital 
purposes.68 

On  August  3,  1918, 69  the  buildings  were  made  actually  available  to  the 
Medical  Department.  They  consisted  chiefly  of  two  groups  of  barracks  and  a 
group  of  storehouses,  a stable,  etc.  Though  they,  in  themselves,  would  not 
make  a large  hospital,  it  was  thought  they  would  do  very  well  as  a beginning 
in  this  geographical  region;  and  obtaining  them  marked  the  beginning  of  what 
was  designated  by  the  War  Department,  September  2 f , General  Hospital 
No.  27. 70 

In  the  meantime,  a commanding  officer  for  the  general  hospital  to  be 
developed  was  ordered  to  take  command.  To  start  the  project  his  original 
instructions  were  to  submit  at  once  a comprehensive  but  moderate  estimate  of 
funds  necessary  to  renovate  and  occupy  the  existing  buildings,  which  had  been 
turned  over,  and  to  contemplate  only  minor  alterations,  and  no  new  construc- 
tion if  it  could  possibly  be  avoided;  the  probability  of  future  extension  by  new 
construction  was  pointed  out  and  present  action  was  not  to  interfere  with  that 
eventuality.  The  Secretary  of  War  had  stated  that  no  additional  space  would 
be  given  this  hospital  until  the  buildings  already  made  available  were  full  of 
sick. 

Estimates  were  then  submitted  for  the  adaptation  of  the  existing  build- 
ings and  for  the  construction  of  14  new  buildings.  The  new  construction  was 
greatly  reduced  and  the  following  was  authorized  on  October  14  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  War:  The  construction  of  two  temporary  barracks  and  one  general 
mess  and  kitchen;  alterations  and  repairs  covering  the  inclosing  of  porches 
in  temporary  wards;  necessary  heating  equipment,  plumbing  fixtures,  repairs, 
etc.,  for  the  existing  barrack  buildings;  alterations  to  furnish  quarters  and  a 
mess  for  officers;  and  screening,  painting,  calcimining,  and  miscellaneous  general 
repairs.71  In  due  time  this  work  was  begun  but  it  was  never  completed:  with 
the  demobilization  of  troops  and  the  abandonment  of  portions  of  the  canton- 
ments following  the  armistice  there  was  found  to  be  sufficient  hospital  space 
to  obviate  the  necessity  for  completing  this  work.  The  effect  of  these  events 
was  not  felt  at  once,  but  in  February,  1919,  the  work  was  stopped.  This 


574 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


hospital,  though  organized  on  the  basis  of  a large  hospital  and  prepared  for 
expansion,  never  emerged  from  the  small  hospital  class  nor  exceeded  500  beds 
in  capacity.  The  total  cost  was  $284,479. 

On  June  18,  1919,  it  was  felt  that  General  Hospital  No.  27  could  be  dis- 
pensed with  by  the  first  of  the  following  August.  Its  discontinuance  was  rec- 
ommended to  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  approved  it  two  days  later.72  By 
July  15, 73  however,  it  was  found  to  be  impracticable  to  close  the  hospital,  by 
reason  of  the  lack  of  sufficient  beds  properly  located  elsewhere  to  permit  of  a 
comfortable  and  orderly  transfer  of  the  sick;  therefore,  its  discontinuance  was 
deferred  until  September  1,  on  which  date  it  was  closed  and  a reduced  post 
hospital  reestablished  in  its  stead.74 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  27 , Fort  Douglas,  Utah,  from  September 

25,  1918,  to  September  1,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged;  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 
other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 
posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

| Otherwise. 

Hospital.  1 

p 

Hospital. 

©a 

p 

1918. 

79 

3 

82 

18 

1 

2 

61 

394 

61 

59 

536 

656 

368 

21 

1 

..  5 

261 

6,061 

261 

29 

228 

518 

297 

6 

3 

1 

2 

209 

209 

31 

116 

229 

24 

23 

7 

73 

3, 901 

1919. 

73 

20 

ISO 

273 

77 

3 

10 

17S 

3,  739 

178 

19 

184 

4 

385 

79 

1 

1 

11 

4 

289 

7,  818 

March..  I 

289 

27 

248 

7 

571 

193 

2 

16 

26 

8 

326 

13^  651 

326 

22 

247 

12 

607 

181 

35 

14 

5 

372 

Id,  916 

372 

19 

96 

10 

497 

164 

1 

49 

16 

12 

15,  819 

255 

10 

398 

14 

677 

134 

49 

9 

480 

18,285 

July 

480 

21 

75 

576 

212 

136 

53 

15 

160 

15,  892 

160 

9 

41 

4 

214 

52 

1 

51 

96 

14 

5'  572 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 


191S. 

September 

October 

November 

December 


1919. 

January 

February 

March . .' 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.’ 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

18 

IS 

106 

106 

12 

4 

19 

130 

130 

14 

4 

1 

19 

152 

10 

162 

59 

13 

4 

1 

IS 

156 

21 

177 

47 

11 

4 

1 

16 

137 

20 

157 

42 

17 

6 

2 

25 

124 

24 

14S 

44 

20 

6 

3 

29 

196 

21 

217 

54 

23 

5 

6 

34 

194 

SO 

274 

46 

25 

5 

4 

34 

181 

66 

247 

45 

23 

4 

4 

31 

177 

62 

239 

44 

19 

4 

4 

27 

156 

54 

210 

41 

13 

4 

1 

IS 

94 

51 

145 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General  on  file. 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL,  HOSPITALS. 


575 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  28,  FORT  SHERIDAN.  ILL. 

Fort  Sheridan  had  been  abandoned  practically  since  1913.  Almost  the 
entire  garrison  had  in  that  year  been  sent  to  the  Mexican  border,  and  the  largest 
number  of  troops  stationed  at  the  post  from  that  time  until  the  spring  of  1917 
was  one  squadron  of  Cavalry.  The  general  upkeep  of  the  large  and  well- 
appointed  reservation  naturally  suffered,  and  the  buildings  and  grounds  became 
somewhat  shabby  from  lack  of  proper  care. 

Shortly  after  the  war  began  an  officers’  training  camp,  containing  approx- 
imately 5,000  candidates,  was  established  at  this  post.  The  old  post  hospital, 
which  had  been  partially  closed,  was  reopened,  completely  and  thoroughly 
cleaned,  but  very  little  money  was  spent  upon  it.  Four  separate  wards,  con- 
nected by  covered  porches  and  heated  by  a separate  plant,  were  built  to  the 
west  of  the  hospital.  These  wards  were  temporary  buildings,  lined  with  beaver 
board,  and  they  were  to  be  used  for  the  normal  expansion  anticipated  in  a 
garrison  of  that  size. 

In  making  provisions  for  the  large  number  of  wounded  who  were  expected 
to  begin  arriving  from  France  in  the  fall  of  1918,  it  was  decided  in  the  Surgeon 
General’s  Office  that  Fort  Sheridan  was  excellently  located  for  the  establishment 
there  of  a large  general  hospital.  Steps  were  taken  providing  for  the  turning 
over  of  most  of  the  post  of  Fort  Sheridan  to  the  Medical  Department,  to  be 
used  as  a nucleus  for  this  general  hospital.75  Plans  were  made  for  the  erection 
of  a large  number  of  temporary  buildings  for  wards,  etc.,76  with  the  intention  of 
giving  the  hospital  a capacity  in  round  numbers  of  5,000  beds.  The  Medical 
Department  assumed  control  September  21,  1918,  of  that  part  of  the  post 
which  had  been  transferred  to  it.  Construction  work  for  the  remodeling  of 
the  old  buildings  and  the  erection  of  the  new  was  begun  October  2,  1918.  At 
first  the  organization  of  the  hospital  was  not  planned  carefully,  and  for  several 
months  it  was  only  an  expansion  of  the  post  organization  which  had  been  in 
existence  since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  Patients  from  overseas  began  to 
arrive  at  the  hospital  November  17,  1918,  and  by  January  1,  1919,  there  were 
1,241  under  treatment.77 

A number  of  old  stables  on  the  post  were  remodeled  to  be  used  as  barracks 
for  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  on  duty  at  this  hospital ; 78  but  they 
were  not  completed  until  March,  1919,  and  the  men  were,  naturally,  very 
uncomfortable  until  the  proper  changes  had  been  made.  These  detachment 
men  were  compelled  also  to  eat  in  the  already  crowded  mess  halls  78  of  the 
hospital  until  February  5,  1919,  when  the  detachment  kitchen  and  mess  hall 
had  been  completed. 

The  nurses  and  officers  were  accommodated  in  the  officers’  quarters  79 
and  were  fairly  comfortable  from  the  beginning,  though  crowded  to  a certain 
extent.  The  nurses’  mess  was  established  in  the  old  officers’  club,  and  the 
commanding  officer’s  residence  was  remodeled  into  a duty  officers’  mess. 

The  educational  department  was  established  in  January,  1919,  in  one  of 
the  Cavalry  barracks,  which  had  been  remodeled  for  the  purpose.80  The 
physiotherapy  department  was  established  in  a small  ward  in  one  of  the  perma- 
nent buildings  until  the  temporary  buildings  were  constructed,  when  it  was 
moved  to  the  first  floor  of  building  No.  129  and  there,  completely  established 
with  every  convenience,  became  a well  administered  department. 


576 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IjST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  28 
FORT  SHERIDAN 


lake  at 


ILLINOIS 


Fig.  186. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


577 


General  Hospital  No.  28  became  the  largest  general  hospital  provided  in 
the  United  States  during  the  war.  It  consisted  of  practically  all  of  the  perma- 
nent buildings  of  Fort  Sheridan  and  27  new  two-story  frame  buildings,  erected 
upon  the  parade  ground,  and  all  connected  by  corridors. 

The  first  wards  to  be  occupied  were  those  established  in  the  permanent 
buildings,  in  addition  to  the  post  hospital  and  its  outlying  wards.  On  February 
19,  1919,  the  first  of  the  temporary  wards  was  occupied,  and  in  April,  1919,  the 
last  remaining  ward  building  was  completed  and  occupied. 

The  hospital,  as  finally  organized,  and  with  practically  its  full  capacity  in 
use,  was  arranged  in  such  a way  that  the  administrative  features  were  handled 
to  promote  simplicity  and  efficiency.  By  reference  to  Figure  1S6,  it  can  be  seen 
that  this  hospital,  with  a capacity  of  4,S00  patients,  covered  less  ground  than 
the  average  base  hospital  in  a cantonment,  the  capacity  of  which  was  about 
2,000.  Division  of  the  hospital  into  sections  was  carefully  made  so  as  to  group 
special  classes  of  cases  together,  not  only  tending  to  promote  better  adminis- 
trative control  but  the  simplification  of  professional  treatment. 

The  hospital,  during  January  of  1919,  averaged  about  1,000  patients.77 
This  number  increased  gradually  until  June,  at  which  time  there  were  4,987 
patients.77  From  then  until  the  first  of  September  the  increase  was  very  rapid, 
and  on  August  1,  1919,  there  were  5,295  patients  in  the  hospital.77  This  was 
the  largest  number  cared  for  at  one  time,  and  throughout  the  following  fall  the 
reduction  in  number  was  rapid  and  steady.  In  November  there  was  a con- 
siderable increase  in  the  number  of  patients,  caused  by  the  sending  home  from 
France  of  a large  number  of  genitourinary  patients  who  had  been  held  in  deten- 
tion there.  Altogether  1,200  such  patients  were  received. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  III.,  from  September  24, 

1918,  to  December  1919,  inclusive ,a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

October 

295 

124 

5 

28 

452 

334 

35 

2 

80 

1 

4,199 

112 

November 

81 

254 

2 

87 

424 

274 

8 

12 

1 

2 

2 

125 

4, 117 

32 

December 

125 

158 

11 

377 

671 

120 

1 

1 

549 

1919. 

January 

549 

255 

87 

572 

1 . 463 

192 

1 

2 

2 

1 

3 

2 

1,260 

50,723 

February 

1,260 

209 

385 

20 

1,874 

544 

2 

50 

2 

20 

12 

1,244 

35, 731 

March 

1,244 

237 

1,376 

30 

2,887 

653 

3 

70 

10 

24 

17 

154 

1, 956 

April 

1,956 

175 

1,092 

177 

3,400 

680 

3 

74 

13 

24 

28 

243 

2,335 

72  027 

May 

2, 335 

125 

l'  379 

248 

4,087 

620 

9 

210 

13 

22 

70 

290 

2,853 

76,  700 

June 

2,853 

69 

1,765 

300 

4, 987 

79 

9 

262 

59 

862 

413 

3,288 

88  996 

July 

3,288 

1,914 

548 

5^  815 

89 

9 

12 

407 

593 

443 

3,617 

113  419 

August 

3,617 

87 

1, 101 

490 

5;  295 

100 

10 

748 

5 

364 

373 

757 

2, 938 

110  502 

September 

2,938 

82 

'384 

711 

4, 115 

123 

9 

430 

258 

130 

659 

2,  506 

107  665 

October 

2, 506 

50 

1, 138 

590 

4'  284 

77 

5 

298 

223 

29 

696 

2 922 

34 

76  171 

319 

November 

2, 956 

78 

529 

4, 121 

110 

5 

260 

244 

23 

692 

2, 787 

117;788 

1,028 

December 

2,787 

65 

164 

591 

3,607 

102 

8 

327 

323 

14 

1,240 

1,593 

75^347 

“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


45269°— 23 37 


578 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical,  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111.,  from  September 
24,  1918,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

September 

73 

61 

74 

208 

73 

263 

75 

411 

October 

73 

61 

74 

208 

79 

280 

78 

437 

November 

73 

61 

74 

208 

79 

280 

78 

437 

73 

61 

74 

208 

70 

280 

78 

428 

August 

70 

280 

78 

428 

1919. 

September 

70 

2S0 

78 

428 

January 

73 

61 

74 

208 

70 

2-80 

78 

428 

February 

73 

263 

74 

410 

70 

280 

78 

428 

March 

73 

263 

74 

410 

70 

2S0 

78 

428 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Y ear  and 
month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Aides 

and 

workers. 

Other 

civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 
neous. 
(Q..  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

October 

32 

32 

77 

16 

25 

4 

29 

161 

161 

14 

51 

6 

57 

1,025 

1,025 

14S 

1919. 

68 

13 

81 

983 

30 

1,013 

173 

90 

17 

7 

114 

951 

23 

974 

215 

136 

17 

6 

159 

1,293 

27 

1,320 

264 

135 

19 

13 

167 

1,125 

26 

1,151 

293 

1 

May 

139 

18 

19 

176 

1)011 

62 

1,073 

392 

1S5 

431 

June 

157 

18 

23 

198 

998 

61 

1,059 

332 

259 

525 

154 

20 

19 

193 

977 

59 

1,036 

465 

1 

18 

21 

195 

1,045 

58 

1, 103 

4S9 

115 

12 

25 

152 

'940 

54 

'994 

483 

105 

6 

15 

126 

896 

81 

977 

454 

112 

14 

133 

844 

147 

991 

806 

December 

102 

7 

13 

122 

766 

161 

927 

244 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  29,  FORT  SNELLING,  MINN. 

Fort  Snelling  is  situated  1 mile  southeast  of  Minneapolis,  a city  of 
approximately  364,000  inhabitants,  and  immediately  across  the  Mississippi 
River  from  St.  Paul,  a city  of  292,000  inhabitants,  and  the  State  capital. 

The  military  reservation  is  a tract  of  land  about  2,000  acres  in  extent, 
extending  from  the  point  of  conlluence  of  the  Mississippi  and  Minnesota  Rivers 
in  a general  southwesterly  direction  between  the  two  rivers.  The  part  of  the 
reservation  occupied  by  the  buildings  of  the  post  and  hospital  is  a high 
plateau,  790  feet  above  sea  level,  bounded  on  two  sides  by  steep  declivities 
extending  down  to  the  two  rivers,  and  strongly  fortified  b}r  nature.  The 
plateau  is  beautifully  wooded,  as  are  the  bottom  lands  beyond,  which  were  cut 
by  many  natural  ravines. 

The  soil  of  the  greater  part  of  the  reservation  is  a light  sandy  loam,  shading 
into  a richer  loam  to  the  southwest.  The  edges  of  the  cliff  at  the  promontory 
show  a deep  subsoil  of  clay,  gravel,  and  soft  sandstone.  Although  there  was  a 
considerable  amount  of  sand  in  the  surface  soil,  the  paving  of  the  roads  and  the 
vegetation  prevented  the  Hying  of  much  dust  in  dry  weather  and  the  carrying 
of  any  considerable  amount  of  mud  after  rains. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


579 


The  climate  of  the  region  was  found  to  be  temperate,  with  the  exception 
that  there  was  usually  some  rigorous  weather  in  the  middle  of  the  winter. 
This,  however,  did  not  extend  over  periods  of  any  considerable  length  of  time. 
The  hospital  site  was  well  protected  against  the  wind  on  three  sides,  but  was 
exposed  on  the  west. 

The  main  road  through  the  post  was  tarvia-macadam,  the  other  roads 
being  of  dirt  and  gravel,  rolled  down,  which  were  very  well  kept  up.  The 
grounds  were  bordered  on  the  north  by  the  Mississippi  River  and  on  the  east  and 
south  by  the  Minnesota  River. 

Fort  Snelling  was  included  in  the  list  of  posts  for  which  the  Surgeon  General 
made  request  in  June,  1917,  that  they  might  be  used  as  general  hospitals;81  but 
on  October  15,  1917, 82  the  Secretary  of  War  placed  Fort  Snelling  at  the  disposal 
of  the  department  commander  for  use  as  Infantry  winter  quarters,  thus  elimi- 
nating it  from  possible  use  by  the  Medical  Department. 

The  Surgeon  General  reiterated  his  request  to  the  Secretary  of  War  on 
November  7,  1917; 83  but,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  accommodations  for  25,000 
sick  had  already  been  provided  elsewhere,  this  latest  request  was  disapproved. 

In  the  following  summer,  August  12,  1918, 84  the  department  commander 
turned  the  post  over  to  the  post  surgeon  for  hospital  use;  and  in  September, 
the  extemporaneous  use  of  the  post  buildings,  which  included  three  temporary 
wards  and  a mess  hall  and  kitchen  that  had  been  added  to  the  post  hospital  in 
June,  1917,  permitted  the  provision  of  space  for  500  beds.  At  this  time  a plan 
was  recommended  looking  to  the  complete  adaptation  of  the  post  for  general 
hospital  purposes.  This  was  the  first  real  step  toward  the  enlargement  of  the 
hospital  and  the  provision  of  additional  general  hospital  space,  so  much  needed. 
The  plan  included85  the  glazing  of  porches  on  six  double  barracks,  and  their 
connection  with  glass-inclosed  corridors;  the  installation  of  necessary  toilet 
facilities  and  ward  accessories  on  the  first  and  second  floors  of  all  barracks;  the 
erection  of  a general  kitchen  and  mess  hall  and  its  connection  with  a chain  of 
renovated  barracks;  the  construction  of  a kitchen  and  mess  hall  for  the  hospital 
attendants;  the  alteration  of  quarters  and  the  provision  of  messing  facilities, 
for  nurses;  and  other  necessary  general  utilities  and  miscellaneous  improve- 
ments and  alterations.  On  September  21,  1918,  the  hospital  was  designated 
“General  Hospital  No.  29.”  86 

The  work  of  adaptation  was  delayed  somewhat.  Unfortunately,  the  winter 
was  near  at  hand  and  the  severe  weather  added  difficulties;  nevertheless,  the 
construction  work  was  pushed  throughout  the  winter,  alterations  were  installed, 
the  new  buildings  erected,  and  a capacity  of  1,100  was  secured. 

In  September,  1918,  the  hospital  contained  250  beds  and  51  sick.  In 
October,  both  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  and  the  number  of  sick  had  increased 
to  over  1,500,  only  to  fall  again  in  November.  In  December,  the  number  of  sick 
increased  and,  coincidently,  the  capacity  of  the  hospital,  now  being  enlarged  by 
alteration  and  construction.  In  January,  1919,  the  maximum  number  of  beds, 
1,100,  was  available,  and  900  sick  were  under  treatment.  From  this  time  until 
June  the  sick  varied  between  900  and  1,100.87 

In  addition  to  general  medical  and  surgical  work,  special  care  for  the 
following  kinds  of  cases  was  provided:  Amputations,  orthopedic  conditions, 


580 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


injuries  to  the  peripheral  nerves,  skull,  brain,  and  cord;  organic  diseases  of  the 
nervous  system,  mental  defects,  drug  addicts,  inebriates,  and  epileptics.  Pro- 
visions for  full  physical  reconstruction  activities  were  also  made. 

On  June  6,  it  was  apparent  that  this  hospital  would  be  abandoned  in  the 
late  summer,  and  accordingly  the  commanding  officer  was  given  advance 
information  to  this  effect.88  On  June  18, 1919,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended 
to  the  Secretary  of  War  that  the  hospital  be  discontinued  on  August  l;89 
and,  the  Secretary  of  War’s  approval  being  given  two  days  later,  appropriate 
steps  were  taken  to  accomplish  the  work.  On  August  1 this  institution  was 
discontinued  and  normal  post  work  for  a battalion  was  resumed  in  the  original 
post  hospital.90 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.,  from  September 

21,  1918,  to  August  8,  1919,  inclusive.11 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month . 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
‘ fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

o 

2 

1918. 

51 

79 

249 

2 

381 

89 

1 

1 

3 

1 

285 

1 

286 

437 

997 

6 

1,726 

1,412 

53 

2 

7 

251 

1 

252 

62 

801 

1 

1, 116 

404 

8 

4 

79 

621 

621 

183 

687 

1 

1,492 

574 

3 

1 

1 

113 

170 

629 

i 

1919. 

630 

268 

444 

8 

1,3.50 

195 

2 

68 

2 

317 

717 

4 

721 

110 

432 

92 

102 

1 

124 

1 

184 

141 

802 

802 

91 

384 

153 

1,430 

170 

4 

126 

245 

SS5 

885 

52 

419 

162 

\\  518 

120 

6 

103 

2 

286 

987 

14 

1,001 

167 

251 

33 

1.452 

1 

211 

2 

3 

301 

854 

13 

7 867 

155 

490 

30 

1 ’ .542 

9 

218 

2 

392 

8 

July  - - - 

863 

104 

33 

30 

1,030 

39 

347 

12 

269 

363 

363 

1 

'364 

3 

34 

1 

316 

10 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


1.759 

n 

16,(144 

48 

12, 101 

36 

IS,  011 

44 

23,550 
23,510 
27,  SOI 

71 

2S. 568 

247 

30, 551 

550 

27.948 
22.  S32 

110 

2, 576 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

44 

30 

35 

109 

March 

40 

3S 

34 

112 

44 

30 

37 

111 

April 

40 

3S 

34 

112 

44 

30 

37 

111 

May 

40 

38 

34 

112 

40 

38 

34 

112 

June 

40 

3S 

34 

112 

July 

40 

38 

34 

112 

1919. 

August 

40 

38 

33 

111 

January 

40 

39 

36 

114 

February 

40 

38 

34 

112 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file. 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office, and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


581 


Statistical  data.  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.,  from  Septem- 
ber, 21,  1918,  to  August  8,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

September 

22 

2 

4 

28 

378 

65 

443 

40 

October 

21 

2 

8 

31 

443 

73 

516 

49 

November 

26 

4 

10 

40 

477 

106 

583 

71 

December 

39 

6 

10 

55 

568 

143 

711 

00 

1919. 

January 

50 

5 

9 

64 

670 

139 

809 

53 

February 

61 

7 

10 

78 

651 

139 

790 

62 

March 

66 

7 

9 

82 

666 

73 

739 

87 

April 

60 

7 

8 

75 

633 

61 

694 

88 

May 

47 

8 

7 

62 

634 

55 

689 

88 

June 

44 

7 

6 

57 

598 

67 

665 

103 

July 

46 

7 

9 

62 

598 

69 

667 

93 

11 

2 

13 

33 

73 

106 

REFERENCES. 


(1)  Letter  from  the  officer  in  charge  of  cantonment  construction  to  Surgeon  General,  March  15, 

1918.  Subject:  1,000-bed  tuberculosis  hospital  for  Azalea,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hasp.  No.  19)  K. 

(2)  Letter  from  Chief  Real  Estate  Section,  Purchase,  Storage,  and  Traffic  Division,  General 

Staff,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  25,  1918.  Subject:  Purchase  of  404  acres  of 
land  upon  which  General  Hospital  No.  19,  Azalea,  N.  C.,  is  located.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Azalea,  N.  C.)  S. 

(3)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  for  the  officer  in  charge  of 

cantonment  construction,  March  16,  1918.  Subject:  Plans  for  1,000-bed  hospital  to  be 
constructed  at  Azalea,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  19)  K. 

(4)  Telegram  from  Gorgas  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  19,  Azalea,  N.  C.,  July  29, 

1918.  Subject:  Authority  to  enlarge  hospital  by  500  beds.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
600.4  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  19)  K. 

(5)  Shown  on  plans  of  General  Hospital  No.  19.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(6)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  19,  at  Oteen  (Azalea),  N.  C.,  on  De- 

cember 9,  1918,  by  Col.  J.  B.  Clayton,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  19)  K. 

(7)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  19,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  Decem- 

ber 13,  1918.  Subject:  Recommendations  relating  to  additions  to  this  hospital.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  19)  K. 

(8)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  March  25,  1919.  Subject:  Change  of 

status,  General  Hospital  No.  19.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No. 
19)  K. 

(9)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  25,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Gen.  Hosps.)  K. 

(10)  Shown  on  weekly  reports  compiled  in  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  On  file,  Record  Room, 

S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(11)  Letter  from  Col.  W.  F.  Lewis,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  16,  1918.  Subject: 

Sanitary  inspection,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz.  On  file,  Hospital  Di-vision,  S.  G.  0.  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  20  inspection  reports). 

(12)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  February  6,  1918.  Subject:  Use 

of  Whipple  Barracks  by  Medical  Department  for  tuberculosis  purposes.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.2  (Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz.)  N. 

(13)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  Southern  Department,  Feb- 

ruary 15,  1918.  Subject:  Assigning  Whipple  Barracks  to  the  Medical  Corps.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601  (Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz.)  N. 


582  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

(14)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  25, 1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  322.3  (General 
Hospital)  Iv. 

(15)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  War  Department,  July  5, 

1918.  Subject:  Additional  hospital  buildings,  General  Hospital  No.  20.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Ilosp.  No.  20)  K. 

(16)  Telegram  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  20,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June 

19,  1918.  Subject:  Hospital  accommodations.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  705  ( Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  20)  K. 

(17)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (U). 

(18)  Memorandum  from  Assistant  Chief  of  Staff,  Director  of  Operations,  to  the  Assistant  Secretary 

of  War,  January  6,  1919.  Subject:  Army  hospital  for  city  of  Philadelphia.  Approval 
of  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  indorsed  thereon.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  481  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  22)  Iv. 

(19)  Copy  of  resolution.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  22)  Iv. 

(20)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  22  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  April  4-5, 1919, 

by  Col.  E.  R.  Schreiner,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  22)  Iv. 

(21)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  Director  Purchase,  Storage,  and  Traffic,  General  Staff,  May  28, 

1919.  Subject:  Closing  of  General  Hospital  No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  O.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  22)  Iv. 

(22)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  5,  1919.  Subject:  Aban- 

donment of  General  Hospital  No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  22)  Iv. 

(23)  Telegram  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  to  the  Sur- 

geon General,  July  1,  1919.  Subject:  Report  of  closing.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
602-1  (Gen.  PIosp.  No.  22)  Iv. 

(24)  Letter  from  Capt.  E.  J.  Tucker,  Sanitary  Corps,  to  Lieut.  Col.  Wm.  C.  Hoad,  Sanitary  Corps, 

September  24,  1918.  Subject:  Report  on  water  supply,  General  Hospital  No.  23,  Hot 
Springs,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  671  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  23)  Iv. 

(25)  Letter  from  the  Acting  Secretary  of  Labor  to  the  honorable  the  Secretary  of  War.  April  23, 

1918.  Subject:  Internment  camp  at  Hot  Springs,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
601  (Hot  Springs,  N.  C.)  S. 

(26)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  Wm.  A.  Smith,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  8, 191S.  Subject: 

Inspection  of  internment  camp,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601 
(Hot  Springs,  N.  C.)  S. 

(27)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  May  22,  191S.  Subject:  Renewal  of 

lease  on  internment  camp  at  Hot  Springs,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601  (Hot 
Springs,  N.  0.)  S. 

(28)  Copy  of  lease.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Hot  Springs,  N.  C.)  F. 

(29)  Letter  from  the  Chief  of  Construction  Division  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  4,  191S. 

Subject:  Water  supply  for  General  Hospital  No.  23,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  23)  Iv. 

(30)  Letter  from  commanding  officer.  General  Hospital  No.  23.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  Janu- 

ary 30,  1919.  Subject:  Request  information  as  to  policy  determined  for  this  hospital . On 
file.  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  23)  Iv. 

(31)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(32)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Director  of  Operations,  Office  of  the  Chief  of  Staff, 

January  31,  1919.  Subject:  Cancellation  of  lease,  General  Hospital  No.  23,  Hot  Springs, 
N.  C.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  23)  K. 

(33)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  10,  1919.  Subject: 

Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  23,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  23)  Iv. 

(34)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  23,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C.,  to  the 

Surgeon  General,  March  15,  1919.  Subject:  Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  23. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  23)  K. 

(35)  Letter  from  county  commissioners  of  Allehgeny  County,  Pa.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  April 

8,  1918.  Subject:  Rental  of  North  Side  Home,  Hoboken,  Pa.  On  file.  Record  Room. 
S.  G.  0.,  601  (North  Side  Home,  Hoboken,  Pa.)  S. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


583 


(30)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  April  15,  1918.  Subject:  General 
hospital  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (North  Side  Home,  Ho- 
boken, Pa.)  S. 

(37)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  O.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  4,  1918. 

Subject:  Approval  of  Secretary  of  War  of  lease  of  North  Side  Home,  Hoboken,  Pa.,  dated 
May  3,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (North  Side  Home,  Hoboken,  Pa.)  S. 

(38)  Second  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  O.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  August  26, 

1918.  Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  24)  K. 

(39)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(40)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  24,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  August 

2,  1918.  Subject:  Closing  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  602-1  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  24)  K. 

(11)  Report  from  Maj.  E.  L.  Ruffner,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  12,  1917.  Subject: 
Report  on  use  of  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  as  a general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  174571-11  (Old  Files). 

(42)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  18,  1917.  Subject:  LTse'of 

permanent  barracks  of  certain  posts  for  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
632  (General). 

(43)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  23, 1917.  Subject:  Authority 

for  use  of  barracks  at  Forts  McPherson,  Oglethorpe,  and  Benjamin  Harrison  for  base 
hospitals.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  O.,  2604162  (Old  Files  Section).  And : 
Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  November  7,  1917.  Subject: 
Use  of  posts  as  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.3  (General). 

(44)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  Central  Department,  June 

23,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of  permanent  barracks  at  certain  posts  for  general  or  base  hospital 
accommodations  in  connection  with  post  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176795 
(Old  Files). 

(45)  Telegram  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  Central  Department, 

October  15,  1917.  Subject  : Use  of  certain  posts  as  winter  quartern.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  O.,  176795  (Old  Files). 

(46)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  department  surgeon,  Central  Department,  June  30, 

1917.  Subject:  Plans  for  base  hospitals  at  certain  posts.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
176795  (Old  Files). 

(47)  Second  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  O.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  21, 

1918.  Subject:  Designation  of  certain  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0., 
322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.)  K. 

(4S)  Third  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.,  to  the  commanding  general,  Central 
Department,  October  26,  1918.  Subject:  Transfer  of  buildings  at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison 
to  the  Medical  Department.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  25)  K. 

(49)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  Capt.  II.  W.  Cutler,  Sanitary  Corps,  October  19,  1918. 

Subject:  Construction  program  General  Hospital  No.  25.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
632  (Gen..  Hosp.  No.  25)  K. 

(50)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(51)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  August  4,  1919.  Subject: 

Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  25.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7-5  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  25)  K. 

(52)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  O.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  August  8,  1919. 

Subject:  Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  25  approved.  On  file.  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  323.7-5  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  25)  K. 

(53)  General  Order  No.  17,  Headquarters,  General  Hospital  No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison , Ind., 

August  31,  1919.  Copy  on  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  25)  K. 

(54)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  July  2,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of  permanent 

buildings  for  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  0.,  632  (Misc.  sec.) 

(55)  Telegram  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general,  Central  Department,  July 

3, 1917.  Subject:  Use  of  permanent  buildings  at  Fort  Des  Moines  for  base  or  general  hospital 
purposes  authorized.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176795  (Old  Files). 

(56)  Telegram  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  department  surgeon,  Central  Department,  July  3, 

1917.  Subject:  Plans  for  base  hospital  at  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old  Files). 


584 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(57)  First  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  officer  in  charge  of  cantonment  construc- 

tion, Quartermaster  Department,  September  11,  1917.  Subject:  Conversion  and  construc- 
tion of  buildings  at  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176796-134 
(Old  Files). 

(58)  Telegram  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  commanding  general,  Central  Department,  October 

15,  1918.  Subject:  Use  of  certain  posts.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old  Files ). 

(59)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  November  7,  1917.  Subject:  Use 

of  posts  as  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.3  (General). 

(60)  Memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  January  4,  1918.  Subject: 

Hospital  at  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Hospital,  Ft. 
Des  Moines)  C. 

(61)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  14,  1918.  Subject:  General 

hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  323.7-5  (General). 

(62)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  31,  1918.  Subject:  Request 

that  Fort  Des  Moines  be  designated  a general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  26)  K. 

(63)  Letter  from  the  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  September  11,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (General 
Hospitals)  K. 

(64)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  O.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  21, 

1918.  Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3 
(General  Hospitals)  K. 

(65)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  U. 

(66)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  September  8,  1919.  Subject: 

Discontinuance  of  General  Hospital  No.  26.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.1-1  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  26)  K. 

(67)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  13,  1919.  Subject: 

Discontinuance  of  General  Hospital  No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  On  file.  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  26)  K. 

(68)  Letter  from  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  July  12,  1918.  Subject:  Permanent 

buildings  for  use  of  Medical  Department  at  Fort  Douglas,  Utah.  On  file,  Record  Room. 
S.  G.  0.,  680.2  (Ft.  Douglas)  N. 

(69)  Third  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.,  to  Surgeon  General.  August  3,  1918. 

Subject:  Permanent  buildings  at  Fort  Douglas,  Utah,  assigned  to  Medical  Department. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.2  (Ft.  Douglas)  N. 

(70)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  21, 

1918.  Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3 
(General  Hospitals)  K. 

(71)  Letter  from  Chief  of  Construction  Division  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  26, 1918.  Subject: 

Construction  authorized  at  Fort  Douglas,  Utah.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  27)  K. 

(72)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  June  18,  1919.  Subject:  Abandon- 

ment of  General  Hospital  No.  27,  Fort  Douglas,  Utah.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  27)  K. 

(73)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  27,  July  15, 

1919.  Subject:  Abandonment  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.1-1  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  27)  K. 

(74)  Telegram  from  Foster,  Fort  Douglas,  Utah,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  3,  1919. 

Subject:  Closing  of  General  Hospital  No.  27.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  27)  K. 

(75)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  commanding  general  Central  Department,  August  7, 

1918.  Subject:  Assignment  for  the  use  of  the  Medical  Department  of  permanent  post  at 
Fort  Sheridan,  and  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  28)  K. 

(76)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  Construction  Division,  War  Department,  September  7, 

1918.  Subject:  Hospital  construction  at  Fort  Sheridan,  111.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
652  (Ft.  Sheridan)  N. 

(77)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  U. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


585 


(78)  Report  of  special  sanitary  inspection,  General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111.,  made  by 

Lieut.  Col.  H.  B.  McIntyre,  M.  C.,  December  17. 1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  721 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  28)  K. 

(79)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111.,  March  7, 

1919,  by  Col.  W.  P.  Chamberlain,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No  28)  K.] 

(80)  Letter  from  chief  educational  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  28,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  April 

22,  1919.  Subject:  Sketch  of  educational  service.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  353.91-1 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  28)  K. 

(81)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  18,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of 

permanent  barracks  of  certain  Army  posts  for  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  632  (General). 

(82)  Telegram  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  commanding  general,  Central  Department,  October 

15,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of  certain  posts.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old  Files). 

(83)  Letter  from  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  November  7,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of 

posts  as  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.3  (General). 

(84)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  U.  S.  Army  Hospital,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  August  14,  1918.  Subject:  Transfer  of  post  to  Medical  Department.  On  file 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Ft.  Snelling)  N. 

(85)  Letter  from  Chief  of  Construction  Division  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  1,  1918. 

Subject:  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.,  project.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  652  (Ft.  Snelling)  N. 

(86)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.,  to  Surgeon  General,  September  21,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (General 
Hospital)  K. 

(87)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  U. 

(88)  Telegram  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  29,  Fort 

Snelling,  Minn.,  June  6, 1919.  Subject:  Closing  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  29)  K. 

(89)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  June  18,  1919.  Subject:  Abandon- 

ment of  General  Hospital  No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  29)  K. 

(90)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  29,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  August  4, 

1919.  Subject:  Closing  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7-5  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  29)  K. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


GENERAL  HOSPITALS,  NOS.  30,  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  AND  40. 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  30,  PLATTSBURG  BARRACKS,  N.  Y. 

Plattsburg  Barracks  is  located  on  the  west  shore  of  the  northern  por- 
tion of  Lake  Champlain,  and  within  1 mile  of  the  city  of  Plattsburg. 

The  plan  and  distribution  of  its  buildings  was  that  of  a typical  Army  regi- 
mental post;  there  was  a large  parade  with  the  officers’  quarters  along  one 
side,  facing  the  lake,  the  hospital  and  barracks  in  continuation  along 
another,  with  the  administration  building  at  the  southwest  corner. 

The  country  along  the  lake  front,  north  and  south  of  the  post,  and  for  15 
miles  west  to  the  foothills  of  the  Adirondacks,  forms  a lowland  sloping  gently 
toward  the  lake.  The  soil  is  uniformly  sandy,  affording  good  drainage  and 
freedom  from  dust  and  mud.  The  roads  throughout  the  reservation  were  of 
macadam  and  were  connected  with  the  well-maintained  roads  of  the  State; 
the  New  York-Albany-Montreal  highway  passed  just  without  the  gates. 

The  Surgeon  General  desired  to  use  this  post  for  general  hospital  purposes, 
for  in  addition  to  the  permanent  post  buildings,  35  temporary  barracks  had 
been  added  from  time  to  time  for  the  training  camps  which  had  been  conducted 
at  this  station.  In  June,  1917, 1 authority  of  the  War  Department  was  given 
to  use  the  permanent  buildings  of  the  post;  but,  not  unlike  Fort  Benjamin 
Harrison,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Fort  Sheridan,  and  others,  the  buildings,  being 
used  for  other  purposes,  were  acquired  very  slowly. 

During  the  summer,  fall,  and  winter  of  1917  the  hospital  operated  as  a 
post  hospital;  but  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1918  additional  space  became 
available,  and  some  alteration  and  renovation,  to  adapt  the  buildings  for 
hospital  purposes,  were  authorized. 

The  question  of  the  establishment  of  a general  hospital  was  again  brought 
up  and  authority  was  given  to  use  certain  additional  temporary  buildings;2 
but  they  were  not  then  made  available,  because  of  the  local  activities  requiring 
their  use. 

On  September  21,  191S,  the  Secretary  of  War  designated  this  station  as 
General  Hospital  No.  30. 3 Prior  to  this  time,  the  Surgeon  General  had 
requested  (in  April,  in  August,  and  on  September  16  and  20)  a total  of  over 
8200,000  for  alterations  and  repair  work  necessary  for  the  adaptation  of  the 
post  to  general  hospital  purposes.4  The  work  called  for  in  April  was  com- 
pleted in  September,  and  part  of  that  called  for  in  August  and  September  was 
finished  in  February  and  March;  but  a portion  of  the  work  was  never  com- 
pleted, as  construction  and  alteration  were  discontinued  in  March,  1919.  A 
maximum  capacity  of  1,200  beds  had  been  provided,  including  reconstruction 
facilities  and  all  activities  essential  to  general  hospital  work.  The  total  cost 
was  $225,000. 

586 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


587 


In  the  fall  of  1918  it  became  imperative  to  send  mental  and  nervous  cases 
and  epileptics  to  this  hospital  for  treatment.5  Though  unsatisfactory,  the  facili- 
ties for  their  treatment  were  better  there  than  elsewhere.  So  long  as  troops 
were  kept  at  this  place  for  training  it  was  impossible  to  prevent  intermingling 
of  the  ordinary  sick  with  the  mental  cases;  and  this  condition,  though  rela- 
tively temporary,  was  unavoidable.  The  department  inspector  recommended 
that  a decision  be  reached  by  the  War  Department  as  to  the  future  of  this  post; 
that  it  be  used  either  as  a general  hospital  with  no  other  activities  to  interfere, 
or,  that  another  location  be  selected  for  the  treatment  of  mental  cases;  and  that 
construction  and  alterations  already  requested,  looking  to  a betterment  for  the 
winter,  be  expedited.6 

Opening  as  a general  hospital  in  September,  1918,  with  a capacity  of 
approximately  800  and  with  400  sick,  the  activity  of  the  hospital  greatly  increased 
and  the  number  of  sick  rose  during  the  fall  and  early  winter  of  this  year,  reach- 
ing over  900.  In  February  a decline  began,  continuing  until  May,  1919,  when 
the  number  of  sick  fell  to  513.7  Much  of  this  decline  was  due  to  the  fact  that 
better  provisions  were  being  made  elsewhere  for  mental  cases.  After  May, 
1919,  no  more  patients  of  this  class  were  sent  to  this  hospital,  which  was 
reorganized  in  that  month  for  general  medical  and  surgical  cases  only.  Its 
activity  now  increased;  and  by  June,  about  1,000  medical  and  surgical  cases 
were  being  treated.  However,  the  final  decline  began  at  this  point  and  continued 
until  the  closing  of  the  hospital.  On  September  3,  1919, 8 when  the  sick  had 
dropped  below  700,  its  discontinuance  was  recommended  to  take  effect  Sep- 
tember 30. 

When  the  hospital  closed  on  October  10  the  remaining  sick  were  sent  by 
hospital  train  to  General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.9 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  30 , Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  from 
September , 1918,  to  October  10,  1919,  inclusive.0 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

415 

94 

167 

1 

482 

142 

327 

3 

687 

22 

258 

10 

691 

77 

347 

12 

627 

65 

323 

13 

404 

53 

232 

13 

303 

36 

392 

11 

437 

30 

170 

30 

292 

25 

144 

52 

176 

15 

794 

30 

779 

25 

545 

24 

828 

27 

27 

57 

599 

20 

20 

36 

37 

Completed  cases. 


Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

2 

3 

2 

5 

7 

1 

p o 
o ._ 


2 o 


% 8 
g 

5 


Remaining 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


1918. 
September 
October. . . 
November. 
December. 

1919. 
January. . . 
February.. 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October... 


677 

954 

977 

1,127 


1,028 

702 

742 

667 

513 

1,015 

1,373 

939 

675 

37 


482 

687 

691 

627 


403 

303 

436 

292 

176 

779 

828 

599 

37 


13,284 
IS, 111 
21,257 
21, 127 


16,528 
8, 689 
9,502 
8,228 
6, 555 
13, 593 
29, 363 
20, 775 
12,021 
3,091 


21 


a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  521  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistica  'Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


588 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  from 
September,  1918,  to  October  10,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

September 

04 

50 

20 

134 

October 

30 

50 

20 

100 

November 

23 

54 

20 

97 

December 

11 

54 

20 

85 

1919. 

January 

11 

54 

20 

85 

February 

11 

54 

20 

85 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

March 

11 

54 

20 

85 

April 

11 

48 

16 

75 

May 

11 

48 

16 

75 

June 

25 

60 

16 

101 

July 

25 

58 

14 

97 

August 

26 

57 

12 

95 

September 

26 

56 

13 

95 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men . 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscella- 
neous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

1918. 

September 

31 

5 

4 

40 

249 

76 

325 

56 

4 

October 

36 

4 

4 

44 

348 

70 

418 

54 

4 

N ov  ember 

45 

6 

4 

55 

370 

87 

457 

45 

2 

December 

45 

9 

6 

60 

571 

182 

753 

40 

2 

1919. 

January 

40 

7 

9 

56 

541 

155 

696 

40 

2 

February 

35 

5 

11 

144 

619 

40 

March. 

32 

5 

17 

54 

463 

136 

599 

36 

April 

30 

6 

18 

442 

112 

37 

May 

24 

5 

13 

42 

355 

104 

459 

35 

45 

54 

6 

4 

55 

320 

397 

74 

July 

5 

u 

70 

409 

38 

447 

in 

August 

49 

5 

10 

64 

371 

41 

412 

125 

September 

30 

5 

9 

44 

338 

36 

374 

74 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  31,  CARLISLE,  PA. 

Carlisle  Barracks  was  one  of  the  oldest  military  posts  in  existence  in  the 
United  States,  having  been  established  sometime  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
War.  It  was  garrisoned  during  the  Revolution  and  at  times  was  used  as  a 
prison  for  British  prisoners.  The  barracks  were  built  in  1777,  chiefly  by  Hessian 
prisoners.  They  were  occupied  during  the  War  of  1812.  In  1S63  all  but 
one  or  two  buildings  were  burned  by  the  Confederates  on  the  night  of  July  1, 
just  before  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg.  Between  1865  and  1S70  the  barracks 
were  rebuilt  and  occupied  as  a Cavalry  school.  Subsequent  to  this  time  Indian 
prisoners  were  kept  there,  then  later  it  became  a school  for  Indian  prisoners, 
and  still  later  it  became  the  Carlisle  Indian  School. 

On  July  9,  1918,  the  Secretary  of  War  requested  the  Secretary  of  the 
Interior  to  approve  the  turning  back  of  Carlisle  Barracks  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment, citing  the  need  by  the  Army  of  an  institution  of  this  character  for  the 
rehabilitation  and  reeducation  of  sick  and  wounded,  to  which  the  Secretary 
of  the  Interior  agreed  on  July  16. 10 

Carlisle  Barracks  was  situated  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town  of  Carlisle,  in 
the  beautiful  Cumberland  Valley,  19  miles  west  of  Harrisburg,  with  which 
city  there  were  train,  trolley,  and  excellent  road  connections.  The  institu- 
tion, as  transferred  from  the  Department  of  the  Interior,  consisted  of  30S 
acres  of  excellent  farm  land  and  50  buildings.  Farm  No.  1.  adjoining  the 
campus,  or  main  site,  on  the  north  and  east,  contained  110  acres.  Farm 
No.  2,  about  three-fourths  of  a mile  distant,  contained  175  acres.  The  school 
section  comprised  23  acres  and  41  buildings,  the  latter  consisting  of  barracks, 
quarters,  administrative  and  school  buildings,  storehouses,  power  plant,  etc.11 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


589 


Fig.  187. 


590 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


A rapid  survey  of  the  buildings,  which  were  old,  was  made  by  representa- 
tives of  the  Construction  Division  and  the  Surgeon  General's  Office,  to  deter- 
mine repairs  and  alterations  necessary  to  restore  them  to  properly  care  for 
the  sick.  It  was  estimated  that  $180,000  would  be  required  to  do  this  work 
and  that  800  sick  could  be  accommodated.12 

In  the  meantime,  negotiations  had  been  initiated  with  the  Department 
of  the  Interior  to  effect  the  transfer  of  the  real  estate  and  a portion  of  the 
school  equipment.  The  continuation  of  a lease  of  a 40-acre  tract  of  land 
which  was  necessary  for  the  operation  of  this  property  was  also  secured. 

Funds  necessary  for  the  conversion  were  requested  on  August  31  and 
were  allotted  on  October  2.  The  major  portion  of  this  money  was  required 
for  under  the  headings  of  carpentry,  masonry  and  repair  work,  plumbing  and 
heating,  repairing,  and  fire  protection.  This  work  was  completed  in  March, 
1919.  Some  other  miscellaneous  improvements  were  found  necessary,  which 
increased  the  total  cost  of  this  project  to  $194,000  and  produced  a maximum 
capacity  of  900  beds. 

On  August  15,  1918,  it  was  recommended  that  the  designation,  General 
Hospital  No.  31,  be  given.  This  was  approved  in  the  following  month.13 

Although  the  alteration  work  was  not  completed  until  March,  1919,  some 
local  sick  were  treated  from  the  very  beginning  when  the  hospital  was  opened, 
in  October,  1918.  The  capacity  of  the  hospital  reached  500  in  February,  1919, 
and  by  this  time  about  380  sick  were  under  treatment.  In  another  month  the 
capacity  rose  to  800  and  the  number  of  patients  to  650.  By  the  following 
August  the  maximum  capacity  of  900  was  reached,  though  at  that  time  there 
were  919  sick  in  the  hospital.  Throughout  the  period  from  August,  1919, 
to  the  end  of  the  year  the  number  of  sick  gradually  diminished.14 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  from  September  21, 

1918,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive.a 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command . 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

I Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

O 

73 

£ c 

O , 
•s.  0 

a 22 

c3 

- O 

e* 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

7- 

2 

V3 

O 

C5 

191S. 

IS 

IS 

13 

1 

2 

2 

23 

79 

67 

71 

2 

15 

0 

316 

40 

20 

37 

33 

4 

236 

50 

3S 

9 

101 

43 

13 

3S 

951 

1919. 

38 

70 

SI 

3 

192 

01 

1 

23 

102 

5 

1,  4S3 

25 

55 

31 S 

69 

549 

40 

1 

7 

10s 

3SS 

5 

6,  91S 

140 

Mai  ell 

40 

434 

1S7 

1,  054 

SI 

1 

1 

1 

32s 

642 

16,639 

30 

201 

195 

1,  077 

33 

1 

6 

19 

427 

591 

IS,  759 

26 

315 

172 

1,  104 

29 

S 

17 

300 

750 

19,  613 

750 

31 

406 

14 

1,  201 

149 

3 

s 

16 

137 

sss 

23,  7>1 

27 

39<r 

1,  305 

131 

s 

152 

919 

27,  S73 

J Lily  - 

54 

93 

1,  066 

52 

25 

200 

734 

25,  S'27 

734 

46 

74 

854 

63 

9 

43 

s 

93 

645 

20, 167 

9.Q5 

3 

1 000 

53 

1 

53 

14 

62 

S17 

1',  9 21 

1,  074 
900 

109 

S3 

14 

7S5 

22,462 

December 

7S5 

65 

47 

3 

no 

1 

70 

10 

4S 

661 

19,  9S4 

3 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  siek  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file. 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  theOffiee  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


591 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  from  September  21, 
1918,  to  Decembeer,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 


1918. 

September 

October 

November 

December 

1919. 

January 

February 

March 


Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

14 

16 

1919. 

April 

14 

16 

14 

16 

45 

May 

14 

15 

16 

14 

15 

16 

14 

15 

16 

14 

15 

16 

45 

July 

14 

15 

16 

178 

11 

12 

179 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

96 

77 

17 

14 

15 

16 

November 

86 

85 

10 

14 

15 

16 

45 

December 

84 

88 

10 

Total. 


45 

45 

45 

45 

201 

201 

190 

181 

182 


PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

4 

1 

10 

124 

16 

140 

5 

1 

11 

143 

22 

165 

November 

7 

4 

1 

12 

376 

22 

39S 

2 

December 

23 

8 

1 

32 

568 

32 

600 

2 

1919. 

January 

24 

7 

1 

32 

443 

30 

473 

12 

February 

27 

9 

2 

38 

414 

46 

460 

49 

March 

25 

8 

6 

39 

389 

45 

434 

49 

April 

26 

8 

7 

41 

376 

49 

425 

56 

May 

25 

8 

7 

40 

373 

47 

420 

50 

June 

26 

9 

8 

43 

368 

42 

410 

48 

July 

31 

8 

11 

50 

367 

5 

372 

58 

August 

27 

8 

9 

44 

399 

4 

403 

73 

September 

23 

8 

9 

40 

460 

4 

464 

67 

October 

21 

5 

7 

33 

497 

4 

501 

63 

November 

23 

5 

7 

35 

464 

8 

472 

60 

December 

25 

5 

7 

37 

452 

11 

463 

61 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  32,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 

The  property  acquired  for  General  Hospital  No.  32  was  located  southeast  of 
the  center  of  Chicago,  near  the  lake,  and  at  the  corner  of  Drexel  Boulevard  and 
East  Forty-seventh  Street.  It  consisted  of  the  Cooper-Monatah  Hotel,  leased 
at  $52,500  per  year,  and  the  Stillman  Apartments,  leased  at  $3,000  per  year. 
Near-by  residences,  which  were  covered  by  nominal  leases  at  $1  per  year,  were 
secured  and  used  as  nurses’  quarters.15 

This  group  was  one  of  the  first  secured  for  hospital  purposes  under  the  new 
authority,  dated  September  21,  1918,  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  empowering 
a board  constituted  by  a representative  from  the  General  Staff,  the  Construc- 
tion Division,  and  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  to  select  properties  for  hospital 
purposes,  to  approve  the  lease,  and  to  authorize  the  expenditure  of  funds. 
The  Cooper-Monatah  Hotel  was  leased  in  October,  1918  ;16  and  it  was  desired  to 
alter  the  building  and  occupy  it  by  December  1 ; but,  due  to  delay  in  securing 
definite  approval — an  approval  which  had  now  become  unnecessary — the  date 
of  completion  and  occupancy  was  deferred  until  January  7,  1919.  The  board, 
or  hospital  commission  as  it  was  called,  estimated  the  capacity  of  the  hotel  as 
a hospital  at  625  beds.16  As  completed,  the  actual  capacity  was  530.15  The 
lease  included,  in  addition  to  the  rental,  a fixed  sum  of  $92,980  for  the  altera- 


592 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tion  work  and  $24,042  for  the  restoration  of  the  property  after  the  termination 
of  the  lease.16 

This  building,  which  was  then  under  construction,  was  an  L-shaped,  six- 
story,  mezzanine  and  basement  structure  of  reinforced  concrete  floors.  The 
exterior  walls  were  of  brick,  trimmed  with  limestone  and  terra  cotta.  When  it 
was  leased,  all  walls  and  floors  were  in  place,  the  exterior  had  been  finished  and 
the  interior  partitions  installed  to  and  including  the  fourth  floor.  No  finished 
floors,  plastering  or  decorating  had  been  started,  and  no  plumbing,  heating,  or 
lighting  had  been  installed. 

The  conversion  of  this  hotel  was  accomplished  in  the  following  manner:17 
Complete  alteration  plans  were  hurriedly  prepared,  utilizing  the  existing  struc- 
ture as  far  as  possible,  changing  it  only  where  it  was  necessary  to  do  so,  and 
finishing  the  incomplete  work  to  best  suit  the  needs  of  a hospital.  Since  the 


Fig.  188. — General  Hospital  No.  32,  Chicago,  111. 


fifth  and  sixth  floor  partitions  were  not  in  place,  it  was  possible  to  provide 
comparatively  large  wards  on  these  floors — -70  to  80  bed  capacity.  The 
remainder  of  the  building,  with  the  exception  of  the  mezzanine  floor  and  a portion 
of  the  first  floor,  being  already  subdivided  into  rooms,  was  allowed  to  remain  so, 
each  room  accommodating  two  to  five  beds.  The  basement  was  arranged  so 
as  to  provide  for  the  cafeteria,  the  pharmacy,  kitchens,  storerooms,  etc.  The 
original  plans  contemplated  a capacity  of  642  beds.  It  was  necessary,  how- 
ever, to  provide  additional  storage  space  on  the  first  floor  and  to  install  eye, 
ear,  nose,  throat  and  dental  facilities  on  the  fourth  floor,  and  these  installations 
reduced  the  bed  capacity  to  531.  On  the  first  floor,  with  little  alteration,  were 
installed  the  receiving  department,  the  offices,  the  laboratory,  the  mortuary, 
and  the  quartermaster  storerooms.  On  the  mezzanine  floor  two  large  wards 
and  treatment  rooms  were  installed.  The  second  and  third  floors,  containing 
about  40  rooms  each,  were  allowed  to  remain  subdivided  as  originally  intended 
for  the  hotel.  These  rooms  had  adjoining  baths  and  were  converted  into  small 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


593 


wards  with  two  to  four  beds  each,  and  some  of  them  were  fitted  up  for  ward 
offices,  serving  pantries,  utility  rooms  and  treatment  rooms.  The  isolation 
section  was  installed  in  a portion  of  the  east  wing  of  the  second  floor.  The  fifth 
floor  was  subdivided  into  small  wards  accommodating  from  5 to  14  beds  each, 
with  the  necessary  utility  and  treatment  rooms.  On  the  sixth  floor  were 
installed  a 45-bed  and  a 75-bed  ward,  with  the  necessary  ward  facilities  adjoining. 
Here  also  were  installed  the  X-ray  and  the  operating  departments.  The  alter- 
ation work  was  completed  January  7,  1919,  at  a total  cost  of  $108,000. 

This  hospital  was  designated  “General  Hospital  No.  32”  on  December  5, 
1918;18  and  it  treated  general  medical  and  surgical  cases.  It  opened  with  a 
capacity  of  500  beds  on  January  7, 19  the  day  it  was  completed,  the  assembling 
of  the  personnel  and  the  organization  of  the  hospital  having  been  accomplished 
in  the  meantime;  and  February  7,  425  sick  were  being  cared  for.20  From  this 
day  until  May  24,  1919,  the  sick  constantly  under  treatment  averaged  450. 20 
Subsequent  to  May  24  a rapid  reduction  in  the  number  of  cases  treated 
occurred;20  transfers  of  sick  to  this  hospital  were  then  withheld  and  transfers 
of  sick  from  it,  incident  to  the  closing  period,  were  authorized. 

On  April  15,  1919, 21  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  its  abandonment  , 
to  be  effective  August  1,  1919.  This  recommendation  was  approved  by  the 
Secretary  of  War  on  May  5,  1919. 22  Later,  May  12, 23  the  Surgeon  General 
was  advised  that  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service  desired  the  hospital 
upon  its  evacuation  by  the  Army,  and,  therefore,  new  arrangements  weremade 
and  the  property  was  transferred  to  that  service  June  15,  1919. 24  Prior  to  this 
date  the  remaining  sick,  requiring  further  treatment,  were  sent  to  General 
Hospital  No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  32,  Chicago,  III.,  from  December  4,  1918, 

to  June  15,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1919. 

2 

15 

10 

182 

11 

171 

819 

171 

17 

395 

36 

619 

170 

1 

10 

4 

434 

9,352 

434 

33 

128 

28 

623 

131 

1 

21 

27 

3 

440 

4,  515 

440 

38 

253 

43 

774 

139 

113 

29 

8 

464 

6 

14,  082 

470 

23 

59 

52 

604 

112 

1 

112 

18 

16 

333 

12 

12,976 

236 

345 

1 

9 

2 

357 

73 

203 

1, 6S6 

42 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


45269°— 23 38 


594 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  32,  Chicago,  III.,  from  December  4,  1918, 

to  May,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

191S. 

December 

16 

3 

1 

20 

303 

4 

307 

62 

1919. 

January 

25 

7 

1 

33 

259 

5 

264 

64 

February 

32 

6 

2 

40 

261 

10 

271 

79 

March 

31 

6 

2 

42 

293 

12 

305 

102 

April 

34 

7 

2 

43 

'232 

11 

243 

89 

May 

27 

7 

2 

36 

208 

S 

216 

91 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  33,  FORT  LOGAN  H.  ROOTS,  ARK. 


Fort  Logan  H.  Roots,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Arkansas  River,  3 miles 
from  the  town  of  Little  Rock,  was  situated  on  an  elevation  known  as  Big  Rock 
Mountain.  The  post  was  first  occupied  in  1896  and  last  garrisoned  by  Regular 
troops  in  1913,  a battalion  of  the  Ninth  Infantry  being  then  stationed  there. 
From  May  to  September,  1917,  it  was  used  for  a citizens’  training  camp,  and  from 
October  to  November,  1917,  the  First  and  Second  Regiments  of  the  Arkansas 
National  Guard  were  encamped  on  the  reservation.25 

The  general  hospital,  which  was  finally  established  at  Fort  Logan  II. 
Roots,  had  its  beginning  as  early  as  May,  1917,  when  request  was  made  by  the 
Surgeon  General  to  place  the  permanent  barracks  at  the  disposal  of  the  Medical 
Department  for  general  and  base  hospital  purposes.26  This  request  was 
repeated  in  May,  and  again  in  June;  and  on  June  23,  the  Secretary  of  War  directed 
the  department  commander  concerned  to  turn  over  to  the  Medical  Department 
as  many  barracks  as  might  be  needed  for  base  and  general  hospital  use.27  In 
conformity  with  this  order,  the  Surgeon  General  directed  the  department 
surgeon  to  have  the  post  surgeon  develop  the  base  hospital  at  this  station 
and  to  wire  for  authority  for  the  construction  of  any  necessary  buildings.28 
In  short,  the  early  history  of  this  hospital  is  much  the  same  as  that  of  the 
general  hospitals  established  at  Fort  Sheridan,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  and 
others,  except  that  the  permanent  buildings  were  made  available  to  the 
Medical  Department  about  a year  earlier. 

In  November,  1917,  personnel  for  a larger  hospital  was  sent  to  this  station 
and  instructions  were  given  outlining  the  construction  work  to  be  done 
locally.  The  permanent  buildings  of  this  battalion  post  utilized  by  the  Medical 
Department  consisted  chiefly  of  12  sets  of  officers’  quarters,  a large  bachelor 
officers’  building  with  kitchen  and  mess  hall.  4 company  barracks,  the  post 
hospital,  the  post  administration  building,  the  post  exchange,  storehouses, 
stables,  shops,  etc.25  In  addition,  thereto,  and  immediately  adjoining,  were 
30  temporary  company  barracks  with  mess  halls,  kitchens,  etc.25  The  post 
hospital  had  been  enlarged  hi  May,  1917,  by  the  addition  of  four  temporary 
buildings,  and  by  a fifth  building  in  August  of  that  year. 

In  December,  1917,  in  conformity  with  the  post  surgeon’s  request,  funds 
were  approved  for  the  renovation  and  alteration  of  the  permanent  buildings 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


595 


principally,  but  in  part  also  the  temporary  buildings  of  the  post,  to  prepare 
them  for  use  for  general  hospital  purposes.29  This  work  was  begun  and  carried 
on  through  the  following  winter  and  spring  and  was  completed  about  the  middle 
of  the  summer  of  1918. 

On  January  11,  1918,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  that  this  hospital 
be  designated  a general  hospital.30  It  was  increasing  in  size,  and  with  the  altera- 
tions then  under  way  gave  promise  of  a satisfactory  development,  and  was 
not  only  caring  for  the  sick  of  the  immediate  command  but  for  many  sick  from 
Camp  Pike  as  well.  There  was  need  for  more  general  hospital  space,  space 
which  would  be  under  the  control  of  the  War  Department  and  which  could  be 
manipulated,  officered,  and  administered  from  central  control.  There  is  no 
record  of  any  action  or  further  recommendation  in  the  above  matter  until 
October  1,  1918,  when  Fort  Logan  II.  Roots  was  designated  “General  Hospital 
No.  33. ”31 

From  the  beginning  of  1918  until  October  of  that  year  between  200  and 
500  sick  were  constantly  in  hospital;  and  then  in  October,  after  its  designation 
as  a general  hospital  made  it  available  for  general  use,  many  cases  were  sent 
there  for  treatment,  the  number  rising  in  that  month  to  784.32  This  soon  fell, 
however,  and  from  December,  1918,  until  its  discontinuance  as  a general 
hospital  in  January,  1919,  the  sick  remained  below  500.32  On  February  24, 
1919,  the  hospital  was  discontinued  as  a general  hospital  and  it  reverted  to  a 
post  hospital  status.33 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  S3,  Fort  Logan  H.  Boots,  Ark.,  from 
October,  19 IS,  to  January,  1919,  inclusive. a 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

October 

2 

20 

15 

37 

2 

19 

8 

29 

November 

2 

20 

15 

37 

December 

2 

20 

11 

33 

“Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  office  (name  of  hospital). 


596 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  33,  Fort  Logan  H.  Roots,  Ark.,  from 
October,  1918,  to  January,  1919,  inclusive— Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

October 

31 

4 

2 

37 

343 

51 

394 

43 

November 

31 

4 

2 

37 

342 

54 

396 

49 

December 

28 

3 

2 

33 

335 

54 

389 

47 

1919. 

January 

27 

3 

3 

33 

334 

56 

390 

42 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  34,  EAST  NORFOLK,  MASS. 

The  Norfolk  State  Hospital,  Massachusetts,  was  offered  to  the  Government 
for  use  as  an  Army  hospital  in  August,  1918.34  There  followed  correspondence 
between  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  and  the  superintendent  of  the  institution. 


E ' 


Fig.  189. — Portion  of  General  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass. 


Then,  in  October,  1918, 35  the  place  was  surveyed  by  a board  of  officers  composed 
of  representatives  from  the  Construction  Division,  the  Real  Estate  Service,  and 
the  Surgeon  General’s  Office.  This  board  reported  favorably  upon  the  poten- 
tial qualities  of  the  institution  as  a military  hospital,  and  a lease  was  executed, 
effective  October  1,  1918,  and  until  the  close  of  that  fiscal  year,  at  an  annual 
rental  rate  of  $1.36 

The  hospital  was  situated  at  East  Norfolk,  20  miles  southwest  of  Boston, 
having  been  established  by  the  State  of  Massachusetts  in  1910  as  an  institution 
for  the  care  and  treatment  of  inebriates  and  drug  addicts.  It  consisted  of  two 
groups  of  buildings  2 miles  apart,  the  south  group  comprising  6 cottages,  2 
hospital  buildings,  a mess  hall,  an  administration  building,  a powerhouse,  a 
laundry  service  building,  industrial  shops  and  a garage;  and  the  north  group, 
which  consisted  of  6 cottages  and  an  assembly  building  in  which  there  was  a 
mess  hall  and  kitchen.  One  quarter  mile  distant  from  the  north  group  were  a 
dairy  farmhouse  and  barns  for  horses.35 


OTHEE  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


597 


The  institution  was  equipped  with  hydrotherapeutic  and  electrotherapeutic 
apparatus  and  with  shops  for  occupational  therapy.  Its  water  supply,  sewage- 
disposal  plant,  and  electric  light  and  power  plant  were  very  satisfactory.  The 
water  was  obtained  from  a well  on  the  grounds  and  was  pumped  to  a large 
storage  tank.  The  sewage  passed  through  septic  tanks  and  filter  beds,  the 
effluent  ultimately  discharging  into  a small  stream.35 

The  grounds  comprised  1,123  acres,  partly  utilized  for  farm,  dairy,  and 
poultry  purposes.35 

It  was  found  that  considerable  remodeling,  painting,  improving  the  plumbing, 
electric  lighting,  and  storage  facilities  were  necessary,36  and  the  work  was  at 
once  started.  The  expenditure  of  the  necessary  funds  for  this  remodeling  and 
repair  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of  War  on  September  21,  1918,  and  on 
October  28,  1918,  the  work  was  begun.  All  alterations  and  repairs  were  com- 
pleted on  February  15,  1919,  the  total  cost  being  $37,000. 

The  first  of  the  personnel  for  this  hospital  arrived  on  October?,  1918.  On 
November  2,  1918,  there  were  203  patients;37  and  from  that  date  until  the 
date  of  closing,  June  24,  1919,  the  number  of  patients  ran  from  two  to  three 
hundred,37  the  hospital  being  maintained  with  a bed  capacity  of  340.  It  was 
found  to  be  impossible  to  maintain  the  hospital  at  its  capacity  of  400  patients, 
as  was  done  under  State  authority,  because  of  the  necessity  for  housing 
personnel. 

In  May,  1919,  it  was  determined  that  the  necessity  for  the  maintenance  of 
this  hospital  no  longer  existed  and  recommendation  was  made  that  it  be  dis- 
continued.38 The  Surgeon  General  of  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service 
signified  his  intention  of  securing  it  for  the  care  of  war  risk  insurance  patients. 
Early  in  June  the  assignment  of  patients  to  this  hospital  was  discontinued, 
the  patients  then  under  treatment  being  disposed  of  by  discharge  and  by  transfer 
to  the  care  of  the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  Insurance,  and  104  cases  requiring  further 
treatment  were  transferred  to  General  Hospital  No.  43,  at  Hampton,  Va, 
On  June  24,  1919,  the  hospital  was  closed  as  an  Army  institution.39 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass.,  from  November, 

1918,  to  June  24,  1919,  inclusive.11 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

o 

1 

i! 

ii 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

205 

5 

12 

222 

4 

1 

1 

14 

202 

6,  245 

202 

9 

15 

34 

260 

5 

1 

64 

190 

9;  023 

1919. 

190 

16 

117 

25 

348 

10 

27 

12 

50 

249 

7, 369 

249 

16 

46 

16 

327 

17 

2 

63 

6 

34 

205 

ll',  181 

205 

24 

108 

8 

345 

23 

49 

10 

23 

240 

10i  550 

240 

7 

17 

12 

276 

5 

1 

44 

16 

15 

195 

10'  694 

Mav 

195 

19 

24 

15 

253 

16 

1 

36 

7 

5 

188 

8,  804 

June „ D 

188 

7 

2 

1 

198 

11 

94 

1 

91 

1 

23;  721 

i Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  office  (name  of  hospital). 


598 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN’  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Genei-al  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass.,  from  November. 
1918,  to  June  18,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month- 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

March 

20 

.5 

2 

27 

April 

IS 

13 

2 

33 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

21 

10 

2 

7 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

191S. 

November 

9 

3 

1 

13 

112 

16 

12S 

December 

13 

2 

1 

16 

149 

21 

170 

1919. 

Januarv 

13 

4 

3 

22 

206 

23 

229 

33 

February 

21 

5 

3 

29 

215 

27 

242 

10 

March 

13 

5 

3 

24 

241 

29 

270 

10 

April 

17 

3 

3 

23 

229 

29 

25S 

14 

May 

13 

. 5 

2 

20 

209 

24 

233 

13 

June 

2 

2 

•7 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  35,  WEST  BADEN,  IND. 

General  Hospital  No.  35  consisted  of  the  West  Baden  Springs  and  the 
Sutton  Hotels  at  West  Baden,  Ind.  The  West  Baden  Springs  Hotel  was  leased 
on  September  28,  1918, 40  effective  October  15,  1918,  at  $125,000  per  year:  and 


Fig.  190. — General  Hospital  No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind. 


the  lease- included  all  the  hotel  buildings,  a golf  course,  and  620  acres  of  farm 
land.40  The  Sutton  Hotel  was  leased  on  September  30,  1918, 41  effective  October 
15,  1918,  at  $4,041  per  year.  During  the  first  half  month,  however,  a sum  of 
$3,750  was  spent,  in  addition  to  the  rent  proper,  for  the  necessary  improvement 
and  alteration  of  this  property. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


599 


The  West  Baden  Springs  Hotel  consisted  of  seven  buildings,  the  hotel 
proper  being  used  as  the  main  hospital  building.  This  was  a six-story  circular 
building  constructed  of  brick,  with  a stucco  exterior.  It  was  curiously  designed 
of  four  walls,  concentrically  arranged,  the  innermost  encircling  a dome-covered, 
marble-walled  court,  200  feet  in  diameter  and  135  feet  high.  The  space  between 
the  two  outermost  and  that  between  the  two  innermost  walls  was  divided  into 
rooms ; and  there  was  a circular  hallway  between  the  second  and  third  concentric 
walls.  There  were  708  rooms,  exclusive  of  the  lobby,  rotunda,  ball  rooms,  card 
rooms,  the  kitchen,  and  dining  room,  and  the  rooms  between  the  two  inner 
walls  looked  out  into  the  court  on  all  floors.40  This  building,  with  its  famous 
dome,  formerly  the  main  hotel,  was  constructed  in  1890;  and  in  it  were 
located  the  majority  of  the  hospital  activities,  such  as  wards  for  the  sick  and 
the  rooms  for  the  surgical,  eye,  ear,  nose,  throat,  X-ray  and  dental  work,  treat- 
ment rooms,  professional  offices,  etc.  The  original  hotel  dining  room,  three 
stories  high,  was  connected  with  and  structurally  a part  of  the  main  hotel 
building.  In  addition  to  providing  an  80-bed  ward  on  an  upper  floor,  it  was 
retained  for  the  mess  hall  of  the  hospital.  The  hotel  kitchen,  two  stories  in 
height,  was  a part  of  the  dining  room  building.  After  being  renovated  it  was 
continued  in  use  as  the  hospital  kitchen.  Situated  immediately  to  the  rear  of, 
but  separated  from  the  above  structures,  was  a three-story  brick  building 
formerly  used  as  the  hotel  garage  and  as  quarters  for  employees.  In  adapting 
it  to  hospital  purposes,  the  two  upper  stories  were  renovated,  sufficient  toilet 
facilities  were  installed,  and  it  was  used  for  barracks;  the  garage  was  con- 
tinued in  use  as  such.  A three-story  building,  formerly  used  as  a bath  house, 
was  converted  into  barracks  on  the  third  floor,  the  first  and  second  floors  being 
continued  as  baths.  The  powerhouse  and  laundry  were  continued  in  use  as  such. 
The  natatorium,  a two-story  brick  building,  had  on  the  ground  floor  a swimming 
pool,  running  the  full  length  of  the  building,  and  it  was  surrounded  by  rooms 
opening  onto  the  pool.  Its  second  floorwas  similarly  arranged,  the  rooms  open- 
ing onto  a gallery  looking  down  upon  the  pool.  These  rooms  were  used  for  the 
accommodation  of  Medical  Department  personnel.42 

The  alteration  work  began  in  October,  1918,  and  was  completed  in  March 
of  the  following  year.  Throughout  this  period  the  buildings  were  occupied 
and  operated  as  a hospital,  the  perfection  of  facilities  causing  no  great  amount 
of  disturbance. 

The  Sutton  Hotel  was  a U-shaped  building  covering  an  area  of  about  100 
feet  square.  Its  main  portion  had  four  stories  and  the  two  wings  were  three 
storied.  Its  outside  walls  were  of  concrete  blocks,  except  on  the  fourth  story 
mansard  front  sections.  This  building  was  situated  about  1,500  feet  from  the 
West  Baden  Hotel  and  was  used  as  nurses’  quarters.40  Prior  to  its  occupancy 
it  was  necessary  to  increase  the  heating  facilities,  to  thoroughly  renovate  the 
building,  and  to  install  additional  toilet  facilities,  particularly  on  the  top  floor. 

These  two  properties,  as  altered,  and  without  the  establishment  of  special- 
ties, combined  to  make  a very  satisfactory  general  hospital  for  the  treatment 
of  general  medical  and  surgical  cases.  Reconstruction  facilities  were  not  fully 
developed,  but  all  other  activities  common  to  the  best  general  hospitals  were 
established.  The  total  cost  was  $123,000. 


600 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  original  estimate  indicated  that  from  1,200  to  1,400  beds  could  he  pro- 
vided.40 This  estimate  was  based  on  the  intention  to  house  all  personnel  in 
temporary  buildings  to  be  constructed,  a scheme,  however,  which  was  not 
followed  out  in  the  utilization  of  the  property. 

The  designation  “General  Hospital  No.  35  ” was  made  on  October  24, 1918, 43 
and  the  hospital  opened  on  November  2,  1918,  at  a 500-bed  capacity,  and  on 
November  23  44  the  first  sick  arrived,  the  bed  capacity  having  been  increased 
in  the  meantime  to  650.  By  December  7,  1918,  there  were  400  sick  under 
treatment;45  and  thereafter  the  number  receiving  treatment  varied  little 
until  March,  1919,  when,  the  alteration  work  having  been  completed,  a 
maximum  capacity  of  800  beds  was  available.45  A decline  in  the  number  of 
sick  began  in  March,  1919,  and  continued  until  the  hospital  was  abandoned.45 
This  was  due  to  the  fact  that,  from  March  1 the  transfer  of  sick  to  this  hospital 
was  discontinued ; and  on  that  date  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  it  be 
closed  on  May  15. 46  On  March  12  47  the  Secretary  of  War  authorized  the  aban- 
donment of  the  hospital.  The  sick  remaining  under  treatment  were  disposed 
of  by  discharge  and  transfer,  at  the  rate  of  about  50  each  week,  until  April  29, 
when  the  last  sick  had  been  moved  out.  On  May  8,  1919,  the  hospital  was 
closed; 48  and  the  transfer  back  to  the  lessor  was  effected  under  a new  agreement 
between  the  latter  and  the  Government,  dated  April  14,  1919,  wherein  both 
damages  and  improvements  to  the  property  were  adjusted.49 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind.,  from  October  14 

1918,  to  April  28,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

O 

TS1 

■— 

Z 

3 

f 

X 

1918. 

2 

2 

1 

1 

23 

1 

2 

134 

2 

139 

2 

1 

19 

117 

649 

117 

36 

275 

69 

497 

9 

1 

10 

290 

1S7 

1,610 

1919. 

187 

76 

8 

127 

398 

90 

1 

29 

26 

27 

225 

4. 934 

225 

19 

80 

35 

359 

78 

35 

14 

61 

171 

2.  7'5 

171 

23 

269 

94 

557 

20S 

1 

39 

11 

71 

227 

4,  S2S 

227 

13 

3 

53 

296 

90 

9S 

49 

1 1' 351 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

41 

16 

57 

1919. 

41 

27 

119 

39 

15 

41 

07 

119 

36 

14 

50 

41 

27 

119 

April 

26 

23 

6 

-- 

DO 

“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


601 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind.,  j om  October  14, 
1918,  to  April  28,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

October 

4 

2 

2 

8 

105 

105 

November 

14 

3 

2 

19 

100 

10 

no 

19 

December 

1919. 

30 

2 

2 

34 

508 

28 

536 

16 

January 

34 

4 

5 

43 

366 

27 

393 

28 

February 

35 

3 

4 

42 

303 

28 

331 

38 

March 

26 

2 

5 

33 

274 

28 

302 

33 

April 

5 

2 

5 

12 

67 

24 

91 

19 

GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  36,  DETROIT,  MICH. 

The  Ford  Hospital,  the  use  of  which,  for  military  hospital  purposes,  was 
tendered  the  Government  by  the  owner  in  the  summer  of  1918, 50  was  a group 
of  buildings  centrally  located  in  a 20-acre  plot  in  the  residential  district  of 
Detroit,  and  fronted  on  West  Grand  Boulevard  between  Hamilton  Boulevard 
and  Byron  Street.  There  were  the  original  Henry  Ford  Hospital,  with  a 


Fig.  191. — General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich. 


capacity  of  65  beds,  and  a new  one  under  construction,  the  estimated  bed  capacity 
of  which  was  500,  all  in  private  rooms.51 

The  property  was  inspected,  preliminary  negotiations  were  made,  and  on 
September  11,  1918,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment that  the  hospital  be  leased.52  On  October  5,  1918,  a nominal  lease  at  $1 
per  year  was  prepared,  effective  at  once,  the  lease  to  cover  the  old  as  well  as 
the  new  hospital.53 

There  were  six  modern,  permanent,  brick  buildings  composing  the  group, 
as  follows:51  Ward  building,  surgical  building,  laboratory,  service  building, 
power  house,  garage,  and  the  new  building  under  construction.  The  patients’ 
building  of  about  20,000  square  feet  of  lloor  space  was  a three-story  structure 


602 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


divided  entirely  into  bedrooms,  completely  equipped  and  in  running  order. 
The  surgical  building,  immediately  adjoining,  was  modern  and  complete,  and 
had  about  14,000  square  feet  of  floor  space.  These  buildings  were  used  by  the 
Medical  Department  with  little  or  no  change.54  The  laboratory  building  con- 
tained three  stories  and  an  attic  and  had  about  10,000  square  feet  of  floor  space. 
Some  changes  were  made  in  this  building  and,  in  addition  to  those  for  the 
laboratory  work,  facilities  for  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  throat,  dental,  X-ray,  and  dis- 
pensary work  were  installed  there.  The  service  building,  about  40,000  square 
feet  of  floor  space,  was  also  a three-story  building  containing,  on  the  first  floor, 
the  main  kitchen,  bakery,  and  laundry;  and  on  the  second  floor,  the  offices, 
auxiliary  kitchen,  and  laboratory.  The  third  floor  was  ideally  equipped  as  to 
plumbing,  lighting,  etc.,  and  was  served  by  dumb-waiters  from  the  kitchen 
below.  Only  minor  alterations  were  necessary  to  adapt  this  building  to  Medical 
Department  use.  The  power  house,  producing  heat,  light,  and  power  for  all 
buildings,  was  situated  in  the  group,  and  was  not  altered  in  any  way.  The 
new  building  was  altered  by  temporary  partitions,  plumbing,  etc.,  so  as  to  cover 
all  general  hospital  activities  not  already  provided  for  in  the  old  hospital  build- 
ings in  the  rear.  As  originally  planned  it  was  to  have  private  rooms  for  500 
sick;  however,  the  majority  of  the  permanent  partitions  were  not  in  place  and 
it  was  possible  to  provide  over  20  wards  in  these  open  spaces,  each  with  a 
capacity  of  45  beds.  The  plumbing  already  in  place  did  not  adapt  itself  to  this 
plan,  however,  and  this  caused  the  largest  single  item  of  expense.  The  small 
rooms  already  in  place  were  utilized  as  they  stood  for  the  various  smaller  and  more 
isolated  activities  of  the  hospital.  Physical  reconstruction  shops  and  schools, 
some  additional  diet  kitchens,  and  treatment  rooms  were  installed  in  the 
building.  In  making  all  alterations  and  additions  the  chief  aim  was  to  find  a 
stopping  place  that  would  permit  the  final  construction  of  the  Ford  Hospital 
to  be  carried  out  without  the  necessity  of  tearing  out  a large  part  of  the  interior 
of  the  building  and  otherwise  entailing  considerable  expense  in  effecting  the 
readjustment  of  Government  construction  when  the  building  should  be  aban- 
doned as  a Government  hospital.  The  alteration  work  was  completed  late  in 
March,  1919,  and  its  total  cost  was  $91,000. 

After  all  work  was  done,  a careful  survey  was  made  jointly  by  representa- 
tives of  the  War  Department  and  the  owner,  and  it  was  estimated  that  about 
$48,000  would  be  required  to  undo  what  had  been  done  and  to  put  the  property 

in  its  original  condition  or  in  such  condition  that  the  owner  would  not  suffer 
© 

loss  as  a result  of  Army  occupancy.55 

The  hospital  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  36  on  October  24,  191S.56 
Organization  having  been  completed  and  some  space  being  available,  it  was 
opened  for  sick  on  February  1,  1919,  with  43  patients  and  a capacity  of  300.57 
By  May  1,  1919,  the  capacity  had  been  increased  to  1,000,  and  at  this  time  659 
sick  were  under  treatment.57  From  this  day  until  July  1,4919,  the  capacity 
remained  the  same  and  the  number  of  sick  constantly  under  treatment  did  not 
vary  materially.57 

Recommendation  was  made,  June  19,  191S,  that  the  hospital  be  abandoned 
August  1,  1919. 58  No  sick  were  sent  to  this  hospital  after  July  1,  1919.  On 
June  16,  1919,  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service  requested  that  this 
hospital  be  turned  over  to  that  service.59  As  the  owners  greatly  desired  to 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS 


603 


reestablish  this  hospital,  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service  withdrew 
its  request  for  the  property.59  On  August  10  60  the  hospital  was  abandoned, 
and  on  the  14th  the  property  was  turned  back  to  the  lessor.  Between  July  1 
and  15,  all  sick  requiring  further  treatment  were  transferred  to  General  Hospital 
No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich.,  from  November,  1918, 

to  July,  1919,  inclusive A 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

2 

2 

1 

1 

3 

December 

1 

35 

5 

3 

44 

26 

1 

17 

174 

1919. 

January 

17 

108 

9 

5 

139 

93 

3 

31 

12 

1,086 

351 

43 

55 

104 

6 

208 

63 

1 

4 

136 

4 

2 007 

57 

March.  .1 

140 

93 

302 

24 

559 

198 

2 

2 

4 

13 

340 

8 060 

April 

340 

74 

492 

32 

938 

234 

5 

1 

2 

7 

30 

648 

11 

5 081 

158 

May 

659 

59 

272 

38 

1,028 

305 

1 

48 

25 

33 

602 

14 

19  857 

1 077 

616 

43 

336 

38 

1,033 

258 

2 

81 

24 

41 

618 

9 

1 Ft’  480 

316 

July 

627 

29 

38 

ii 

705 

102 

1 

294 

17 

254 

37 

’ 801 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

November 

26 

13 

39 

114 

27 

141 

December 

23 

29 

106 

72 

178 

May 

149 

85 

234 

1919. 

145 

83 

228 

January 

26 

13 

39 

137 

60 

197 

February 

30 

24 

54 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

November 

4 

2 

5 

11 

40 

40 

December 

22 

7 

10 

39 

492 

33 

525 

42 

1919. 

January 

27 

8 

8 

43 

496 

58 

554 

46 

February 

32 

9 

8 

49 

501 

59 

560 

53 

March 

40 

8 

8 

56 

588 

56 

644 

51 

April 

42 

8 

6 

56 

500 

39 

539 

63 

May 

41 

8 

5 

54 

500 

37 

537 

76 

June 

40 

8 

4 

52 

484 

32 

516 

76 

July 

28 

4 

2 

34 

0 

74 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office,  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (liame  of  hospital). 


604 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  37,  MADISON  BARRACKS,  N.  Y. 

The  military  reservation  of  Madison  Barracks,  situated  immediately 
adjacent  to  the  town  of  Sachets  Harbor  and  lying  along  the  shore  of  Black  River 
Bay  in  the  northern  part  of  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  had  been  owned  and  used 
by  the  Government  as  a military  station  since  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  Prior  to  the  declaration  of  war,  it  had  been  used  as  a regimental 
Infantry  post,  and  when  war  was  declared  there  were  about  100  buildings  on 
the  reservation.01 

During  the  early  spring  of  1917  an  officers’  training  camp  was  established 
there  and  soon  the  military  popultaion  grew  so  that  it  was  necessary  to  erect 
20  additional  buildings  of  very  temporary  construction.  It  was  in  this  status 
when  the  post  became  converted  to  a general  hospital.61 

As  early  as  May,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  planned  to  create  a general 
hospital  at  this  station,  and  in  that  month  the  first  request  was  made  upon  the 
War  Department  for  the  use  of  the  permanent  barracks.62  On  June  30,  the 
Surgeon  General,  quoting  the  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War  of  June  23, 
directed  the  Surgeon  of  the  Eastern  Department  to  have  plans  prepared  and  to 
call  for  the  construction  of  additional  temporary  buildings,  if  required,  in  order 
to  create  a base  or  general  hospital  at  this  station.63  On  October  12,  1917,  the 
post  surgeon  submitted  plans  for  the  adaptation  of  the  post  for  general  hospital 
purposes.64  In  these  plans  he  proposed  to  use  only  the  permanent  buildings, 
stating  that  the  existing  temporary  buildings  were  of  an  entirely  too  temporary 
character,  particularly  for  that  climate,  and  that  money  spent  in  the  attempt  to 
fit  them  for  occupancy  by  the  sick  would  be  of  little  avail.  He  contemplated  a 
500-bed  hospital  in  his  plans  and  requested  the  allotment  of  $39,000  to  accom- 
plish the  work.  This  post,  however,  was  still  occupied  by  troops.  At  that  time 
about  2,000  recruits  were  under  training  and  it  was  expected  that  they  would 
be  there  for  some  time.  The  plan  could  not  be  proceeded  with. 

In  May,  1917,  three  temporary  ward  buildings  had  been  added  to  the  post 
hospital,  giving  it  a capacity  of  approximately  100  beds,  but  these  beds  were 
needed  for  the  care  of  the  sick  of  the  troops  constantly  stationed  at  the  post 
and  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  general  hospital  project.61 

For  practically  a year  nothing  was  accomplished  toward  the  development 
of  large  general  hospital  facilities  at  this  station,  for  from  October.  1917,  until 
September,  1918,  the  post  was  occupied,  containing  from  700  to  1,900  troops; 
consequently  the  buildings  could  not  be  made  available  for  hospital  purposes. 

On  September  11,  1918, 65  the  Surgeon  General  made  another  request  for 
the  use  of  this  post  for  general  hospital  purposes,  and  on  October  24,  191S,  it 
was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  37. 06 

The  plan  for  the  hospital  contemplated  the  conversion  of  the  permanent 
barracks  into  wards  by  the  installation  of  toilet  facilities,  nurses'  rooms,  utility 
rooms,  the  cutting  of  doorways,  thorough  renovation,  interior  painting,  and 
the  connection  of  the  buildings  by  inclosed  corridors;  it  included,  also,  the 
conversion  of  one  floor  of  the  administration  building  into  a general  mess  and 
kitchen,  and  covered  the  alteration,  for  hospital  use,  of  nine  temporary  canton- 
ment buildings,  by  the  installation  of  sheathing,  interior  lining,  better  heating, 
and  the  reinforcement  of  floors  to  conserve  heat.64  The  plan  was  approved  and 
was  partially  carried  out.  It  was  determined  that  it  would  be  unprofitable  to 
use  the  temporary  buildings  for  sick,  as  even  lavish  amounts  of  preparation  and 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


605 


renovation  would  not  render  them  satisfactory,  for  it  was  practically  impossible 
to  heat  them  during  the  cold  winters,  such  as  are  common  to  this  latitude. 
The  full  general  hospital  development  anticipated  at  this  station  was  never 
carried  out,  but  approximately  $50,000  was  spent  for  the  various  improvements 
and  repairs. 

When  the  station  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  37  in  October,  1918, 
it  had  a capacity  of  100  beds,  and  50  sick  were  under  treatment.67  A month 
later,  the  capacity  had  been  increased  to  300,  and  at  this  time  133  sick  were 
under  treatment.67  From  then  on,  the  number  of  sick  receiving  treatment 
increased  but  little.  After  the  middle  of  February,  1919,  no  more  sick  were 
sent  from  the  ports  of  embarkation  or  from  any  other  source,  and  on  March  l,66 
it  was  recommended  to  the  Secretary  of  War  that  this  hospital  be  changed 
to  a post  hospital.  The  above  recommendation  was  approved  March  4,  1919, 
and  went  into  effect  at  once.69 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  37,  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y,  from 
November,  1918,  to  March  4,  1919,  inclusive  a 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

40 

17 

62 

125 

25 

35 

185 

35 

13 

53 

125 

25 

185 

March. 

10 

8 

25 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

. 

1918. 

November.. .. 

17 

2 

6 

25 

242 

120 

362 

11 

December 

14 

3 

5 

22 

226 

102 

328 

11 

1919. 

January 

11 

4 

4 

19 

225 

9S 

323 

10 

February 

12 

4 

3 

19 

220 

99 

319 

15 

March 

2 

4 

3 

9 

1 

1 

0 Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


606 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  38,  EASTVIEW,  N.  Y. 

General  Hospital  No.  38,  formerly  the  Westchester  County  Almshouse 
and  Penitentiary,  was  situated  in  the  Pocantico  Hills,  Westchester  County, 
N.  Y.,  2 miles  east  of  Eastview  station  on  the  New  York  Central  & Hudson 
River  Railroad,  3 miles  east  of  Tarrytown,  and  4 miles  north  of  White  Plains. 
This  property  was  leased  from  the  county  of  Westchester  October  7,  1918, 
effective  October  10,  1918,  and  included  150  acres  of  farm  land,  part  of  which 
was  ready  for  cultivation,  and  the  following  buildings:  The  Westchester  County 
Almshouse,  the  Westchester  County  Penitentiary,  and  the  power  plant,  includ- 
ing the  laundry,  cold-storage  plant,  bakery,  and  storage  facilities.70  The  rental 
for  the  first  year  was  $190,000  and  thereafter  $140,000  per  year.70 

The  almshouse  was  a brick  and  stone  fireproof  structure  with  two  floors 
and  a high,  well  lighted  and  aired  basement.  The  buildings  were  arranged  in 
quadrangles  surrounding  three  large  courts  and  were  either  continuous  or  were 


Pig.  192. — General  Hospital  No.  38,  Eastview,  N.  Y. 


connected  by  wide  closed  corridors;  they  were  comparatively  narrow  and  there- 
fore very  light  and  airy.  The  construction  was  modern  in  every  way  and  the 
buildings  were  new,  white,  and  clean,  though  not  quite  complete,  especially  in 
regard  to  electric  installation,  cooking  equipment,  window  shades,  and  screen- 
ing, but  they  were  exceptionally  well  adapted  for  hospital  purposes.  The 
almshouse  contained  its  own  kitchens  (without  equipment),  dining  rooms, 
assembly  hall  and  chapel,  and  was  well  provided  with  large  dormitories,  wide 
hallways,  and  a moderate  number  of  private  rooms.71 

The  penitentiary,  situated  300  yards  from  the  almshouse,  was  a compara- 
tively new  building  and  had  been  occupied  about  one  year.  It  had  a capacity 
of  about  275  prisoners  and  a space  for  officers,  guards,  etc.  It  was  a handsome 
building  of  its  kind,  quadrangular  in  plan,  very  unlike  a prison,  and  of  high- 
class  fireproof  construction.  It  contained  its  own  little  hospital,  four  school- 
rooms, an  assembly  room,  a modern  kitchen  with  mechanical  equipment,  and 
dining  rooms.  The  apartments  for  the  officials  and  guards  were  excellent  in 
every  way,  and  the  cells  for  the  prisoners  were  equipped  each  with  its  own  cot, 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS.  607 

desk,  lavatory,  and  toilet,  and  each  was  individually  ventilated.  The  interior 
as  a whole  was  lavishly  appointed  and  of  pleasing  appearance  throughout.71 

The  power  house,  containing  also  the  bakeiy,  laundry,  cold-storage  plant, 
and  storage  rooms,  continued  in  use  during  the  Army  occupancy.72 

At  the  time  of  the  original  survey,  resulting  in  the  acquisition  of  the  prop- 
erty, it  was  estimated  that  1,300  sick  could  be  accommodated,  provided  that 
temporary  quarters  for  the  nurses  were  constructed.71  It  was  also  estimated 
that  the  capacity  could  he  extended  to  2,000  by  the  utilization  of  the  many 
wide  hallways  and  corridors  and  by  the  closing  of  many  open  porches,  and  that 
$235,000  would  be  required  to  do  this  work.71  There  was  some  thought  at 
that  time  that  the  property  might  he  used  for  the  treatment  of  mental  cases, 
as  at  this  particular  time  it  seemed  necessary  that  some  additional  space  be 


Pig.  193. — Recreation  room.  General  Hospital  No.  38,  Eastview,  N.  Y. 

provided  for  this  class  of  sick.  It  was  determined,  however,  not  to  construct 
new  temporary  buildings  for  nurses’  quarters  and  not  to  send  mental  cases  to 
this  hospital. 

The  personnel  for  the  development  of  the  hospital  began  to  arrive  in  late 
October  and  early  November,  1918,  and  the  work  of  alteration  and  occupation 
began.  In  the  meantime  a complete  study  had  been  made  of  the  property 
and  plans  prepared  for  the  necessary  alterations.73  The  work  was  carried  on 
through  the  winter  and  completed  in  March,  1919. 

The  folio  whig  alterations  were  made  in  the  almshouse:  In  the  basement 
there  were  installed  the  shops  for  reconstruction  activities,  the  schoolrooms, 
hospital  and  quartermaster  stores,  and  many  other  activities  similarly  adapted 
to  basement  space.73  The  kitchens  were  created  mainly  by  the  installation  of 


608 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


necessary  equipment  for  the  preparation  of  food  and  facilities  for  cooking  and 
dish  washing.  The  operating  suite,  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  section,  and 
other  specialties  were  easily  installed  in  the  small  rooms  which  contained 
running  water,  sinks,  and  other  necessary  plumbing  facilities.73  The  labora- 
tory, X-ray  rooms,  and  pharmacy  were  installed  in  a similar  way  where  the 
least  amount  of  alteration  was  necessary.73  Linen  rooms,  the  post  office,  the 
receiving  department,  treatment  rooms,  etc.,  were  installed  in  a similar  man- 
ner, but  as  the  number  of  small  rooms  was  not  sufficient  for  such  isolated  ac- 
tivities, a considerable  amount  of  partitioning  was  necessary.73  The  majority 
of  the  sick  were  provided  for  in  large  wards,  20  of  which  alone  gave  a capacity 
of  850.  Each  of  these  wards  was  provided  with  appropriate  ward  offices,  a 
utility  room,  a toilet,  and  a serving  room.73  The  provision  of  window  shades 
and  screening  was  a considerable  item,  but  was  very  necessary.73  The  essen- 
tial outside  work  comprised  the  construction  of  board  walks,  much  roadway — 
the  existing  roads  were  unsuitable  for  heavy  trucks — temporary  buildings  for 
stables,  and  a garage.  The  sewage  disposal  system,  not  being  sufficient  for 
the  increased  population  caused  by  military  occupation,  had  to  be  enlarged. 
The  water  supply  was  insufficient  too,  and  it  was  necessary  to  install  a pump- 
ing unit  near  the  Catskill  aqueduct. 

This  property  was  designated  “General  Hospital  No.  38”  by  War  De- 
partment orders  on  November  28,  1918.74  Though  alterations  had  not  been 
completed  in  many  respects,  it  was  opened  as  a general  hospital  in  January, 
1919,  with  a capacity  of  500,  and  a small  group  of  sick  was  received  at  once.75 
The  number  of  sick  increased  until  March,  when  it  had  risen  to  833.78  The 
capacity  in  the  meantime  had  been  increased  to  820.  Some  of  this  capacity, 
however,  was  not  realized,  as  nurses’  quarters  were  not  built,  and  the  nurses 
were  housed  in  the  hospital  building  proper;  the  maximum  capacity  for  the 
sick  was  therefore  about  750. 76  From  March  until  June,  1919,  the  number  of 
patients  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  1 ,000,  although  at  one  time,  in  May,  a maxi- 
mum of  1,133  was  being  treated  in  the  hospital.76  After  May  the  decrease  in 
the  number  treated  was  rapid  and  by  July,  1919,  it  had  dropped  to  519.76 
In  the  meantime,  on  June  18,  the  abandonment  of  this  institution  had  been 
recommended  to  take  effect  July  15, 77  and  the  War  Department’s  approval  was 
received  on  June  24.78  No  more  patients  were  sent  to  the  hospital  from  this 
time  on,  and  of  the  519  above  referred  to  only  189,  requiring  further  general 
hospital  treatment,  were  remaining  at  the  time  of  closure.  These  patients  were 
sent  by  hospital  train  to  General  Hospital  No.  2,  and  the  institution  was  closed 
on  July  15.79  Steps  had  already  been  taken  to  cancel  the  lease  and  to  return 
this  property  to  the  lessor.  This  was  effected  hi  September,  1919.S0 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


609 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  38,  Eastview,  N.  Y.,  from  December, 

1918,  to  July  15,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  he  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums . 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

1 

1 

1 

12 

1919. 

January 

29 

4 

33 

13 

20 

261 

February 

20 

54 

441 

515 

40 

2 

1 

472 

7,854 

March. -I 

472 

38 

319 

4 

833 

40 

78 

3 

5 

60 

647 

18, 556 

647 

35 

196 

4 

882 

37 

1 

10 

26 

180 

628 

21,6.53 

628 

17 

485 

3 

1,133 

37 

1 

44 

5 

28 

290 

728 

21^  183 

728 

19 

267 

lj  014 

120 

2 

63 

16 

313 

500 

2L510 

500 

13 

6 

519 

58 

87 

3 

202 

169 

6,067 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

1919. 

January 

1 

1 

5 

30 

35 

February 

2 

3 

5 

5 

30 

35 

March 

2 

8 

10 

July 

4 

21 

25 

April 

13 

28 

41 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


• 

Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q,  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

December 

5 

4 

2 

11 

21 

30 

51 

1919. 

January 

23 

6 

3 

32 

507 

67 

574 

50 

F ebruary 

31 

6 

5 

42 

492 

55 

547 

79 

March 

33 

6 

4 

43 

414 

46 

460 

79 

April 

28 

8 

11 

47 

374 

41 

415 

65 

May 

30 

9 

11 

50 

363 

32 

395 

64 

June . 

30 

7 

10 

47 

361 

27 

388 

59 

July 

1 

2 

4 

7 

1 

1 

“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  40,  ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 

The  City  Infirmary  of  St.  Louis  and  one  building  of  the  City  Isolation 
Hospital  were  leased  November  4,  1918,  effective  November  15,  1918,  at  $65,000 
for  the  first  quarter  and  $4,950  per  quarter  thereafter.81  The  $65,000  for  the 
first  quarter,  less  the  normal  rental  of  $4,950,  was  intended  to  reimburse  the 
city  for  the  reconstruction  of  Christian  Brothers’  College  Building,  which  had 
recently  been  partially  destroyed  by  fire  and  into  which  property  the  city 
45269°— 23 39 


610 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Fig.  194. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


611 


proposed  to  move  the  850  inmates  of  the  infirmary  when  the  War  Department 
was  given  possession  of  the  infirmary  buildings.81 

The  city  infirmary  was  located  in  the  southwestern  section  of  the  city,  4J 
miles  from  the  Union  Station.  The  property,  14  acres  in  all,  was  situated 
fronting  on  Arsenal  Street  and  was  a mile  from  Tower  Grove  Station  of  the 
Union  Pacific  and  Frisco  Railroads,  a spur  from  the  former  extending  into  the 
grounds.  There  were  12  brick  buildings  and  13  small  frame  buildings;  the 
former  housed  the  inmates,  personnel,  and  infirmary  offices,  and  the  latter 
were  used  for  storage,  recreation,  farming,  poultry,  and  gardening  purposes.81 

For  some  time  prior  to  this  period  the  city  of  St.  Louis  had  been  desirous 
of  a hospital  so  that  its  war  injured  might  be  treated  near  their  homes,  and 
with  this  object  in  view  had  suggested  Jefferson  Barracks.  However,  space 
had  not  been  available  on  the  post  for  a general  hospital  and  the  project  was 
never  consummated. 

Now  that  the  city  had  leased  its  infirmary,  to  which  possession  was  to  be 
given  November  15,  1918,  all  haste  was  necessary  to  rebuild  the  Christian 
Brothers  ’ College  and  move  thereto  the  old  people  from  the  infirmary. 

On  November  20,  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice  and  after  a thorough 
study  of  the  base  and  general  hospital  situation  in  the  United  States  had  been 
made,  in  reference  to  the  probable  return  of  overseas  sick  and  wounded,  the 
Surgeon  General  recommended  that  the  lease  of  this  property  be  canceled, 
stating  that  the  space  would  not  be  required.82  On  December  10,  however,  the 
Secretary  of  War  issued  instructions  to  develop  the  St.  Louis  infirmary.83  On 
December  12,  the  Surgeon  General  requested  reconsideration  of  the  matter  and 
gave  additional  reasons  why  he  thought  it  unnecessary  and  inadvisable  to  begin 
at  this  tune  the  alteration  of  the  property  for  general  hospital  use.84  Again 
the  project  rested  and  so  far  as  the  Government  was  concerned  nothing  was 
done.  The  city  of  St.  Louis,  however,  even  though  uncertain  of  what  the 
Government  was  going  to  do  ultimately,  proceeded  under  the  terms  of  the  lease 
and  began  the  reconstruction  of  the  Christian  Brothers’  College.  This  work 
progressed  slowly,  and  as  late  as  January  15,  1919,  it  was  far  from  complete 
and  the  infirmary  could  not  be  vacated.85 

It  might  have  been  possible  for  the  Government  to  have  done  some  repair 
work  in  the  infirmary,  but  until  all  the  inmates  could  be  removed,  and  espe- 
cially 30  old  people  who  were  sick,  the  more  necessary  alterations  required  for 
our  use,  especially  on  the  plumbing,  cooking,  and  operating  facilities,  could  not 
be  proceeded  with.85  This  briefly  was  the  status  when,  on  January  9,  1919,  the 
Secretary  of  War  informed  the  Surgeon  General  that  one  building  of  the  in- 
firmary was  emptied  and  ready  to  be  turned  over  to  the  War  Department,  and 
instructed  the  Surgeon  General  to  take  charge  of  the  St.  Louis  hospital  project 
and  put  it  in  condition  to  receive  patients.86 

In  compliance  with  the  above  instructions  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  and 
the  Construction  Division  proceeded  at  once  to  put  the  property  in  condition 
to  receive  patients.  Though  still  occupied  by  a majority  of  the  inmates,  all 
work  began  on  portions  still  occupied.  It  was  soon  apparent  that  the  $65,000 
allotted  would  not  complete  the  work;  that  the  Christian  Brothers’  College 
could  not  be  finished  before  late  February  or  March,  and  it  was  felt  that  the 
little  use  to  be  derived  from  the  new  hospital  would  not  repay  the  expenditure 


612 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


on  the  infirmary  and  the  college  and  the  moving  of  the  old  people  from  their 
home  and  hospital.87  The  Surgeon  General  was  informed  by  the  director  of 
pul  die  welfare  of  St.  Louis,  who  had  at  all  times  been  the  spokesman  for  the 
city,  that  Jefferson  Barracks  would  still  he  quite  acceptable  to  the  city,  and 
that  he  would  welcome  its  use  or  any  other  solution  that  would  curtail  expense. 

Though  essentially  good,  and  well  arranged  generally,  the  infirmary  build- 
ings were  old  and  the  toilet  fixtures,  plumbing,  steam  radiators,  electric  wiring, 
wood  floors,  sash  and  trimming,  and  hardware  were  in  an  unsatisfactory  con- 
dition and  required  repair  or  replacement.  The  infirmary  hospital  as  such  was 
satisfactory,  hut  it  was  necessary  to  make  considerable  changes  to  convert  it 
into  a surgical  suite  for  a 550-bed  hospital  with  special  facilities  for  maxillo- 
facial work,  and  to  utilize  the  remaining  space  for  surgical  wards.81  Much 
painting  was  done  throughout  to  remove  the  institutional  odor  so  common 
in  such  properties.  In  general,  the  character  of  the  alteration  work  con- 
sisted of  changes  throughout  to  provide  the  necessary  toilet,  diet,  kitchen, 


Fig.  195. — General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  JIo. 


utility-room,  and  treatment-room  facilities;  repairing  of  walls,  ceilings,  wood- 
work, floors,  radiators,  piping,  etc.;  installation  of  new  plumbing  fixtures, 
additional  radiation,  a new  hot  water  heating  plant,  electric  fixtures,  and  new 
hardware.  The  work  was  completed  late  in  March,  1919;  and  the  total  cost 
of  alteration  in  the  infirmary  buildings  was  $129,000. 

It  was  designated  General  Hospital  No.  40  on  February  4,  1919, ss  and  was 
opened  in  March  with  a capacity  of  550  beds.89  All  maxillofacial  injuries  belong- 
ing to  the  Central  West  and  all  general  medical  and  surgical  cases,  assignable 
to  the  St.  Louis  area,  not  already  covered  by  other  general  hospitals,  were 
ordered  to  this  hospital  and  50  such  cases  were  admitted  the  first  week  in  April. 
The  number  was  gradually  added  to  throughout  April  and  May,  1919,  and  by 
June,  265  were  receiving  treatment  here.89 

On  April  28,  however,  the  Surgeon  General  again  recommended  the  aban- 
donment of  this  hospital,  together  with  the  abandonment  of  five  or  six  other 
general  hospitals  no  longer  required.90  On  June  3 the  Secretary  of  TV  ar 
directed  that  it  be  abandoned  on  or  before  June  15  and  transferred  to  the 
United  States  Public  Health  Service.91  On  June  6 one  half  of  the  250  patients, 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


613 


including  all  maxillofacial  cases  under  treatment,  were  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Jefferson  Barracks,  where  there  was  sufficient  space  for  them  and  where  prepara- 
tions for  this  specialty  were  provided;  the  remainder  were  sent  to  the  hospital 
at  Fort  Riley,  Kans.92  On  June  12  the  hospital  was  transferred  to  the  United 
States  Public  Health  Service.93 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  from  March,  1919, 

to  June  15,  1919,  inclusive.0 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Men . 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

2 

2 

3 

7 

1919. 

May 

31 

26 

6 

63 

23 

8 

3 

34 

June 

31 

26 

6 

63 

April 

39 

26 

6 

71 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1919. 

26 

6 

32 

0 

0 

February 

1 

3 

4 

8 

1 

8 

March 

15 

3 

1 

19 

14 

11 

25 

1 

April 

32 

5 

2 

39 

152 

11 

163 

50 

May 

32 

4 

2 

38 

204 

12 

216 

43 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Ad- 
jutant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


REFERENCES. 


(1)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  commanding  general.  Eastern  Department,  June 

23,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of  permanent  barracks  at  certain  posts  for  general  and  base  hos- 
pital accommodations.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  176795  (Old  Files). 

(2)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  22,  1918.  Subject:  Trans- 

fer of  Plattsburg  Barracks  to  the  Medical  Department  as  a general  hospital.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Plattsburg  Bks.)  N. 

(3)  First  indorsement,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  2,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3 
(General  Hospitals)  K. 


614 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(4)  First  indorsement,  War  Department,  S.  G.  0.  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  Xo. 

30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  September  26,  1918.  Subject:  Allotments  for  construc- 
tion and  repair  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Plattsburg  Bks.)  X. 

(5)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  June  25, 1918.  Subject:  General 

hospital  facilities  for  nervous  and  mental  cases.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632 
(General). 

(6)  Extract  from  report  of  investigation  at  post  hospital,  Plattsburg  Barracks  N.  Y.,  made  by 

Maj.  Wm.  H.  Hobson,  Inspector  General’s  Department,  August  19  to  22,  1918.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  333  (Plattsburg  Bks.)  X. 

(7)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(8)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  September  3,  1919.  Subject: 

Discontinuance  of  General  Hospital  Xo.  30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  X.  Y.,  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3  (Gen.  IPosp.  Xo.  30)  K. 

(9)  First  indorsement  from  War  Department,  S.  G.  0.  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital 

Xo.  30,  Plattsburg  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  September  13,  1919.  Subject:  Transfer  of  patients 
on  closing  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3  (Gen.  Hosp.  Xo.  30)  K. 

(10)  Letter  from  the  Secretary  of  Interior  to  the  Secretary'  of  War,  July  16,  1918.  Subject: 

Indian  School  at  Carlisle,  Pa.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601-1  (Carlisle,  Pa.)  F. 

(11)  Letter  from  Lieut.  Col.  Edgar  King,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  July  27,  1918.  Subject: 

Carlisle  Indian  School,  Carlisle,  Pa.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Carlisle,  Pa.)  F. 

(12)  Third  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  September  6,  1918. 

Subject:  Condition  of  Carlisle  Indian  School.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  322.3  ( Gen. 
Hosp.  Xo.  31)  K. 

(13)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  August  15, 1918.  Subject:  Designa- 

tion of  hospital.  Also  fifth  indorsement  thereto  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon 
General,  September  24,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.  Xo.  31 ) Iv. 

(14)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  report.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(15)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  Xo.  32,  Chicago,  111.,  March  8,  1919,  by  Col. 

W.  P.  Chamberlain,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  721  (Gen.  Hosp.  Xo.  32)  K. 

(16)  Letter  from  committee  authorized  to  secure  hospital  sites,  to  Brig.  Gen.  H.  S.  Johnson,  Direc- 

tor of  Purchase,  Storage  and  Traffic,  October  9,  1918.  Subject:  Lease,  Cooper-Monatah 
Hotel,  Forty-seventh  Street  and  Drexel  Boulevard.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.  601 
(Cooper-Monatah  Hotel,  Chicago,  111.)  S. 

(17)  Shown  on  plans  of  General  Hospital  Xo.  32.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(18)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  5,  1918.  Subject: 

Designation  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.  Xo.  32)  K. 

(19)  Telegram  from  Darby  to  Surgeon  General,  January  11,  1919.  Subject:  Opening  of  hospital. 

On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  705  (Gen.  Hosp.  Xo.  32)  K. 

(20)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U1. 

(21)  Memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Director  of  Operations,  April  15,  1919.  Sub- 

ject: Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  Xo.  32,  Chicago,  111.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  481.1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  32)  II. 

(22)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  5,  1919.  Subject:  Aban- 

donment of  General  Hospital  Xo.  32,  Chicago,  111.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  602 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  32)  II. 

(23)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  2,  1919.  Subject:  Transfer 

of  General  Hospital  No.  32  to  Public  Health  Service.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0.,  602 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  32)  II. 

(24)  Telegram  from  Darby  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  15,  1919.  Subject:  Closing  of  hospital. 

On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  602  (Gen.  Hosp.  Xo.  32)  II. 

(25)  Memorandum  from  Lieut.  Col.  G.  F.  Juenemann,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  28, 

1918.  Subject:  Fort  Logan  II.  Roots,  Ark.  On  fde,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Fort 
Logan  H.  Roots)  X. 

(26)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  18,  1917.  Subject:  L’se  of 

permanent  barracks  of  certain  posts  for  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0. , 
632  (General). 

(27)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  commanding  general,  Southeastern  Department,  June 

23,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of  permanent  barracks  of  certain  posts  for  general  or  base  hospital 
accommodations.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old  Files). 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


615 


(28)  Night  letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  department  surgeon,  Southeastern  Department, 

June  25,  1917,  Subject:  Instructions  to  submit  hospital  plans.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old  Files). 

(29)  First  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General  for  the  officer  in 

charge,  cantonment  construction,  December  4,  1917.  Subject:  Approval  of  funds  for  reno- 
vation and  alteration  of  buildings  at  Fort  Logan  H.  Roots,  Ark.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  600.3  (Fort  Logan  H.  Roots)  N. 

(30)  Memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  January  11,  1918.  Sub- 

ject: Hospital  at  Fort  Logan  H.  Roots,  Ark.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  33)  K. 

(31)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  all  department  and  camp  commanders  and  all  bureau 

chiefs,  October  1,  1918.  Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospital.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  33)  K. 

(32)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(33)  First  indorsement  from  Post  Hospital,  Fort  Logan  H.  Roots,  Ark.,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

March  11,  1919.  Subject:  Closing  of  hospital  as  a general  hospital.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  33)  K. 

(34)  Letter  from  superintendent,  Norfolk  State  Hospital,  East  Norfolk,  Mass.,  to  Maj.  Frankwood 

E.  Williams,  Division  of  Neurology  and  Psychiatry,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  August 
21,  1918.  Subject:  LTse  of  Norfolk  State  Hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,601 
(Norfolk,  Mass.)  S. 

(35)  Report  on  Norfolk  State  Hospital,  Norfolk,  Mass.,  made  by  Lieut.  Col.  John  A.  Hornsby, 

M.  C.,  October  5,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Norfolk  State  Hospital, 
Norfolk,  Mass.)  F. 

(36)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk, 

Mass.,  November  19,  1918.  Subject:  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  652  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  34)  K. 

(37)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(38)  Memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  May  2,  1919.  Subject:  Aban- 

donment of  General  Hospital  No  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  34)  K. 

(39)  First  indorsement  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass., 

to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  24,  1919.  Subject:  Closing  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  602  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  34)  K. 

(40)  Letter  from  the  committee  authorized  to  secure  hospital  sites,  to  the  Director  of  Purchase, 

Storage  and  Traffic,  October  2,  1918.  Subject:  Lease  of  West  Baden  Springs  Hotel,  West 
Baden,  Ind.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (West  Baden,  Ind.)  F. 

(41)  Letter  from  the  committee  authorized  to  secure  hospital  sites,  to  the  Director  of  Purchase, 

Storage  and  Traffic,  October  2,  1918.  Subject:  Lease  of  Hotel  Sutton,  West  Baden,  Ind. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (West  Baden.  Ind.)  F. 

(42)  Letter  from  hospital  commission  to  construction  quartermaster,  West  Baden,  Springs  Hotel, 

West  Baden,  Ind.,  October  29,  1918.  Subject:  Conversion  W7est  Baden  Springs  Hotel 
into  a hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (West  Baden,  Ind.)  F. 

(43)  First  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  24,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (General 
Hospitals)  K. 

(44)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  35,  to  the  Surgeon  General, 

November  24,  1918.  Subject:  Arrival  of  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  705 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  35)  K. 

(45)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(46)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  March  1,  1919.  Subject:  Aban- 

donment of  General  Hospital  No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division, 
A.  G.  0.,  602.1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  35,  Misc.  Section). 

(47)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  12,  1919.  Subject: 

Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  35)  K. 

(48)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  35  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  8, 

1919.  Subject:  Abandonment  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7  (Gen. 
Hosp.  No.  35)  K. 


616 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(49)  Agreement  entered  into  on  the  14th  day  of  April,  1919,  between  the  West  Baden  Springs  Co., 

lessors,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Floyd  Kramer,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  Army,  lessee.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  481-1  (West  Baden,  Ind.)  F. 

(50)  Letter  from  E.  G.  Liebold,  secretary  and  treasurer,  Henry  Ford  Hospital,  Detroit,  Mich.,  to 

Lieut.  Col.  John  A.  Hornsby,  M.  C.,  June  3,  1918.  Subject:  Use  of  Henry  Ford  Hospital 
for  the  Government.  Onfile,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Henry  Ford  Hospital.  Detroit, 
Mich.)  F. 

(51)  Report  on  Henry  Ford  Hospital,  Detroit,  Mich.,  made  by  Lieut.  Col.  John  A.  nomsby,  M.  C., 

October  7,  1918.  On  tile,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Henry  Ford  Hospital,  Detroit, 
Mich.)  F. 

(52)  Letter  from  the  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  September  11,  1918.  Subject: 

Lease  of  Ford  Hospital  at  Detroit,  Mich.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601  (Detroit, 
Mich.)  S. 

(53)  Contained  in  lease.  Copy  on  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Detroit,  (Mich.)  F. 

(54)  Shown  on  plans  of  General  Hospital  No.  36.  On  tile,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(55)  Supplemental  agreement  between  Henry  Ford  Hospital  and  U.  S.  Army,  entered  into  (May 

15,  1920.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680  4-1  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  36)  K. 

(56)  First  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  24,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  General  Hospitals.  Onfile,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (General 
Hospitals)  K. 

(57)  Shown  on  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (U). 

(58)  Memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Director  of  Operations,  General  Staff,  June 

19,  1919.  Subject:  Cancellation  of  lease  of  General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  (Mich.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  36)  K. 

(59)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  August  14,  1919.  Subject: 

Abandonment  of  General  Hospital  No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
680.1  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  36)  K. 

(60)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  36,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  Au- 

gust 10,  1919.  Subject:  Report  on  closing  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
705-1  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  36)  Iv. 

(61)  Letter  from  surgeon,  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  22,  1917. 

Subject:  Report  on  the  post.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.7-6  ((Madison  Bks.)  N. 

(62)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  May  18,  1917.  Subject:  Use  of 

permanent  barracks  at  certain  posts  for  base  or  general  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (General). 

(63)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  department  surgeon,  Eastern  Department,  June  30, 

1917.  Subject:  Plans  for  base  hospital.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  176795  (Old 
Files). 

(64)  Plans  on  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0.  (Madison  Bks.). 

(65)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  September  11,  1918.  Assignment  of 

Madison  Barracks  for  hospital  purposes.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.3  (Madison 
Bks.)  N. 

(66)  First  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  October  24,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (General 
Hospitals)  K. 

(67)  Shown  on  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (LT). 

(68)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Adjutant  General,  March  1,  1919.  Subject:  Desig- 

nation of  General  Hospital  No.  37,  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  as  a post  hospital.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  37)  K. 

(69)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  4,  1919.  Subject:  Desig- 

nation of  hospital  at  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Gen. 
IIosp.  No.  37)  K. 

(70)  Letter  from  Mr.  Guy  M.  Rush  to  Maj.  James  S.  Holden,  Purchase,  Storage  and  Traffic  Divis- 

ion, General  Staff,  October  11,  1918.  Subject:  Report  on  Westchester  County  Hospital 
and  Penitentiary.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O.  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  38). 

(71)  Report  on  Westchester  County  Almshouse  and  Penitentiary,  White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  made  by 

Lieut.  Col.  John  A.  Hornsby,  M.  C.,  October  1,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
000.6  (White  Plains,  N.  Y.)  F. 


OTHER  GENERAL  HOSPITALS. 


617 


(72)  Report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  General  Hospital  No.  38,  Eastview,  N.  Y.,  made  on  February 

16,  1919,  by  Col.  W.  S.  Shields,  M.  C.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  721  (Gen.  IIosp. 
No.  38)  ,K. 

(73)  Shown  on  plans  of  General  Hospital  No  38.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  0. 

(74)  Second  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  28, 1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospital.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division  A.  G.  0., 
680.1  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  38)  Misc.  Section. 

(75)  Telegram  from  Connolly,  Eastview,  N.  Y.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  2,  1919.  Sub- 

ject: Opening  of  hospital.  On  fde,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  705  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  38)  Iv. 

(76)  Shown  on  weekly  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(77)  Memorandum  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Director  of  Operations,  General  Staff,  June 

18,  1919.  Subject:  Cancellation  of  lease.  On  file,  Mail  and  Record  Division,  A.  G.  0., 
481  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  38)  Misc.  Section. 

(78)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  23,  1919.  Subject:  Aban- 

donment of  General  Hospital  No.  38,  East  View,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.7-5  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  38)  Iv. 

(79)  Letter  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  38,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September 

1,  1919.  Subject:  Final  report  of  closing.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  602-1  (Gen. 
IIosp.  No.  38). 

(80)  Letter  from  the  Chief  of  Real  Estate  Service,  War  Department,  to  the  county  of  Westchester, 

N.  Y.  August  30,  1919.  Subject:  Notice  of  cancellation  of  lease.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  481  (Gen.  IIosp.  No.  38)  Iv. 

(81)  Letter  from  Guy  M.  Rush,  real  estate  expert,  to  the  Chief  of  Real  Estate  Section,  Purchase, 

Storage  and  Traffic  Division,  General  Staff,  November  5,  1918.  Subject:  Report  on  city 
infirmary  and  isolation  hospital,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601-1  (St. 
Louis,  Mo.)  F. 

(82)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  November  20,  1918.  Subject:  With- 

drawal of  hospital  projects.  On  file.  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (General). 

(83)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  10,  1918.  Subject: 

Hospital  accommodations  for  the  region  about  Philadelphia  and  St.  Louis.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  O.,  481  (Phila.  Pa.)  F. 

(84)  First  indorsement  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  December  12,  1918. 

Subject:  Request  for  reconsideration  of  matter.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481 
(Phila.,  Pa.)  F. 

(85)  Memorandum  from  Lieut.  Col.  Floyd  Kramer,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  1, 

1921.  Subject:  Reasons  for  verbal  request  for  reconsideration  of  cancellation  of  lease  on 
St.  Louis  Infirmary.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Jefferson  Bks.)  N. 

(86)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  January  9,  1919.  Subject:  Hos- 

pital at  St.  Louis,  Mo.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (St.  Louis,  (Mo.)  F. 

(87)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  40,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  Feb- 

ruary 12,  1919.  Subject:  Alterations  of  plans  and  retrenchment  in  connection  with  fitting 
these  buildings  for  a general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Gen.  Hosp. 
No.  40)  K. 

(88)  First  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  4,  1919. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322. 3(General 
Hospitals)  Iv. 

(89)  Shown  on  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(90)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  April  28,  1919.  Subject:  Abandon- 

ment of  General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  323.7 
(Gen.  Hosp  No.  40)  Iv. 

(91)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  3,  1919.  Subject:  Aban- 

donment of  General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  602 
(Gen.  nosp.  No.  40)  K. 

(92)  Telegram  from  Edgar,  commanding,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  3,  1919.  Subject:  Trans- 

fer of  patients.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  323.7  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  40)  Iv. 

(93)  Second  indorsement  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo., 

to  the  Surgeon  General,  June  14,  1919.  Subject:  Transfer  of  hospital  to  the  Public 
Health  Service.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  602  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  40)  K. 


SECTION  VI. 

OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

BASE  HOSPITALS,  CAMP  BEAUREGARD,  LA.,  FORT  BLISS,  TEX., 
CAMPS  BOWIE,  TEX.,  CODY,  N.  MEX.,  CUSTER,  MICH.,  DEVENS, 
MASS.,  DIX,  N.  J.,  DODGE,  IOWA,  AND  DONIPHAN,  OKLA. 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  BEAUREGARD,  ALEXANDRIA,  LA.® 

The  base  hospital  of  Camp  Beauregard  was  located  in  Rapides  Parish,  La., 
3J  miles  north  of  Alexandria,  a town  of  20,000  population,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Red  River.  The  site  was  once  that  of  the  first  University  of  Louisiana, 
and  later  of  Camp  Stafford,  the  Louisiana  National  Guard  encampment.  The 
hospital  site  was  at  an  altitude  of  120  feet  above  sea  level,  on  hills  which  were 
wooded  with  pine  and  oak. 

The  soil  is  somewhat  sandy ; but  forms  a great  deal  of  high-flying  dust  in 
dry  weather  and  sticky  mud  after  a rain.  The  climate  closely  borders  that  of 
the  Tropics.  The  weather  is  warm  most  of  the  time,  but  in  the  winter  months 
severe  cold  waves  are  frequently  experienced,  with  a drop  in  temperature  to 
about  15°  or  20°  above  zero,  followed  by  a sudden  rise.  The  hospital  was 
not  exposed  to  heavy  winds.  There  were  no  improved  roads  in  or  about  the 
hospital,  with  the  exception  of  the  road  leading  to  Camp  Beauregard,  about 
three  miles  away.  The  road  leading  to  Alexandria  was  very  bad,  at  times 
almost  impassable,  being  of  dirt  and  receiving  very  little  attention.  The 
hospital  grounds  were  well  drained,  and  the  sanitary  status  of  the  hospital 
was  very  good. 

The  hospital  was  organized  September  1,  1917,  with  22  officers  and  123 
enlisted  men.  The  first  patient  was  admitted  on  this  date.  One  barrack 
building  was  used  in  the  hospital  for  temporary  hospital  purposes,  and  as 
wards  were  completed  they  were  taken  over  and  occupied. 

The  function  of  the  hospital  was  to  treat  all  cases  arising  at  Camp  Beaure- 
gard, and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal  cases  from  overseas. 

The  buildings  constituting  the  hospital  were  arranged  in  the  following 
manner:  Looking  to  the  east  were  the  receiving  ward,  the  administration 
building,  and  the  sick  officers’  pavilion.  Directly  back  of  the  administration 
building  was  the  laboratory,  and  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  laboratory 
was  the  operating  pavilion.  On  the  north  side  of  the  operating  pavilion  was 
a row  of  wards  connected  by  corridors;  and  in  front,  setting  well  to  the  north- 
west of  this  row  of  wards,  were  four  wards  for  contagious  diseases.  On  the 
south  side  was  arranged  a row  of  wards  extending  from  the  front  line  back  to 
the  line  of  the  main  kitchen  and  the  patients’  mess  hall,  which  was  at  the  back 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Beuregard,  La.,”  by 
Lieut.  Col.  John  T.  Burrus,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used 
by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


619 


620 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IKT  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


part  of  the  hospital  looking  west.  This  left  a large  central  court  between  the 
operating  pavilion,  the  main  kitchen,  and  the  patients’  mess  hall. 

The  main  hospital  kitchen  and  mess  hall  were  located  at  the  rear  of  the 
hospital.  The  enlisted  men’s  kitchen  and  mess  hall  were  located  in  a barrack 
building  near  the  enlisted  men’s  barracks.  The  sick  officers’  kitchen  and  mess 
hall  were  located  in  the  building  for  sick  officers. 

The  officers’  quarters  and  the  quarters  for  the  nurses  were  situated  about 
200  yards  directly  in  front  of  the  administration  building,  and  across  the 
Jefferson  Highway.  The  quarters  for  both  officers  and  nurses  were  enlarged, 
when  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  increased. 

Three  buildings  situated  alongside  the  switch,  constructed  by  the  railroad 
to  supply  them,  constituted  the  storehouses  of  the  hospital. 

The  water  supply  was  from  a deep  well  near  the  hospital,  and  was  independ- 
ent of  that  of  the  camp.  The  water  was  forced  through  a filter,  into  a 
tank,  which  stood  about  150  feet  high,  on  the  central  court  between  the 
operating  pavilion  and  the  patients’  mess  hall. 

The  sewage  of  the  hospital  was  removed  by  a general  sewer,  which  emptied 
into  the  Red  River  about  a mile  and  a half  away.  At  first  latrines  were  used, 
then  the  cesspool,  and  then  toilets,  constructed  in  buildings  located  between 
two  wards. 

The  kitchen  refuse  was  disposed  of  by  a contractor,  who  hauled  it  each  day 
to  a hog  pen  some  distance  from  the  hospital.  If  the  garbage  accumulated 
at  any  time,  it  was  burned.  Manure  was  sold,  given  to  farmers,  or  burned. 

Shower  and  tub  baths  were  located  in  buildings  constructed  between  baths, 
and  were  connected  with  the  hospital  sewer. 

Heating  the  hospital  was  effected  by  means  of  open  stoves,  two  to  four 
stoves  being  necessary  to  obtain  a sufficient  amount  of  heat  in  each  ward. 

The  hospital  was  successfully  and  satisfactorily  lighted  by  the  electric  com- 
pany that  supplied  the  lights  to  the  city  of  Alexandria. 

The  hospital  laundry  work  was  done  by  a laundry  in  Alexandria.  This 
laundry  was  too  small  to  handle  the  enormous  amount  of  work  required. 

At  the  beginning  the  equipment  was  very  meager.  There  was  a great  short- 
age of  everything;  there  was  only  part  of  the  Wolfe  unit  for  each  ward  : and  the 
laboratory,  the  drug  room,  and  the  operating  room  were  seriously  handi- 
capped in  consequence  of  this  shortage.  These  difficulties  were  overcome  in 
time,  and  ultimately  the  entire  hospital  equipment  was  such  as  to  compare 
favorably  with  any  civil  or  military  hospital. 

The  post  exchange  was  operated  for  the  benefit  of  the  men,  commodities 
being  sold  at  a very  small  percentage  above  cost.  The  exchange  purchased 
and  operated  three  motor  buses  to  furnish  transportation  between  the  hospital 
and  the  city  of  Alexandria.  This  was  done  for  the  convenience  of  those  on 
duty  at  the  hospital  and  for  visitors  to  the  hospital,  there  being  no  other  means 
of  transportation.  The  nominal  tariff  of  25  cents  was  charged. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building,  which  was  centrally 
located,  was  well  patronized. 

Recreations  and  amusements  were  provided  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  directors.  These  included  boxing  matches,  wrestling  matches, 
and  other  indoor  games,  as  well  as  handball  games  and  baseball. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


621 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Beauregard,  Alexandria,  La.,  from  Sep- 
tember, 1917,  to  February,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  bo  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

if1 

"3 

'd 

0 

-d 

0 

a 

0 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

o 

16 

9 

1 

26 

23 

1 

2 

0 

167 

38 

2 

36 

234 

272 

77 

1 

194 

4, 24S 

194 

1,423 

1,617 

1,058 

45 

2 

512 

11,203 

512 

l'9S4 

2;  496 

l' 402 

84 

1 

32 

4 

973 

19^  203 

1918. 

973 

1,868 

0 

o 

2,841 

1,616 

62 

20 

51 

14 

1,078 

24, 002 

1,078 

1,679 

2,757 

1,633 

29 

38 

1 

7 

l'049 

20, 246 

1,049 

1, 602 

2,651 

1,564 

6 

34 

2 

15 

1, 030 

21,973 

1^030 

2,721 

3',  751 

2,329 

6 

22 

14 

1 ' 330 

24, 762 

May  ... 

1 , 380 

1,918 

47 

0 

.3,345 

2' 296 

11 

17 

18 

1,003 

23^420 

l’ 003 

1,507 

16 

1 

2,527 

l' 472 

2 

1 

1 

4 

1,047 

32',  923 

1,047 

2,09S 

16 

2 

3, 163 

2, 130 

6 

7 

65 

10 

'945 

36,083 

945 

l'  117 

2 

14 

2,078 

l'  259 

1 

57 

28 

733 

25,830 

733 

3, 790 

0 

6 

4, 529 

970 

17 

81 

52 

14 

3,395 

34, 455 

3,395 

2,356 

22 

5,773 

4, 530 

419 

46 

6 

32 

'740 

55, 981 

y 740 

'827 

37 

15 

1,619 

1, 035 

11 

29 

18 

19 

507 

22, 658 

507 

676 

46 

18 

l'  247 

'846 

8 

6 

1 

21 

365 

15, 116 

1919. 

932 

77 

13 

1,3S7 

996 

3 

3 

24 

361 

13,105 

361 

358 

99 

14 

'832 

573 

5 

15 

11 

228 

8,760 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total . 

1918. 

0 

0 

1918. 

September 

5 

0 

0 

October 

4 

4 

23 

10 

33 

November 

4 

4 

16 

6 

27 

December 

5 

5 

8 

0 

23 

8 

23 

1919. 

13 

0 

0 

13 

January 

7 

7 

13 

13 

February 

0 

0 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

22 

1 

1 

24 

123 

123 

30 

1 

1 

32 

123 

123 

41 

2 

1 

44 

201 

201 

26 

62 

2 

1 

65 

204 

204 

72 

1918. 

January 

78 

2 

1 

81 

213 

17 

230 

80 

February 

78 

2 

1 

81 

231 

17 

24S 

110 

March 

67 

2 

1 

70 

241 

20 

261 

110 

April 

81 

1 

1 

83 

551 

18 

569 

113 

May 

82 

1 

2 

85 

454 

17 

471 

118 

June 

70 

1 

2 

73 

451 

19 

470 

110 

July 

120 

2 

1 

123 

744 

19 

763 

111 

August 

120 

2 

1 

123 

714 

20 

734 

112 

September 

87 

2 

1 

90 

725 

16 

741 

95 

October 

94 

3 

1 

98 

609 

13 

622 

202 

November 

100 

3 

1 

104 

577 

20 

597 

212 

December 

99 

3 

l 

103 

552 

17 

569 

106 

1919. 

January 

49 

3 

1 

53 

525 

21 

546 

83 

February 

41 

2 

1 

44 

346 

17 

363 

46 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file  statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


622 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  FORT  BLISS,  TEX.' 

The  base  hospital  was  located  within  the  military  reservation  of  Fort 
Bliss,  about  6 miles  northeast  of  the  city  of  El  Paso,  Tex.,  at  an  elevation  of 
3,900  feet  above  sea  level.  The  reservation  constituting  Fort  Bliss  is  an 
immense  table-land  surrounded  by  mountains  at  all  points  of  the  horizon 
except  at  the  location  of  the  Pass,  from  which  the  city  takes  its  name.  East 
of  the  hospital,  extending  for  perhaps  30  miles,  is  a rolling  desert  covered  with 
mesquite  and  cactus.  The  soil  consists  of  a blanket  deposit  of  carbonaceous 
lime,  locally  called  “caliche,”  covered  by  light  sand.  Severe  sand  storms  are 
frequent  during  winter  and  spring,  the  three  or  four  rains  per  year  incident 
to  this  section  making  no  appreciable  difference  in  the  sand.  Two  hours  after 
a rainfall  the  ground  shows  no  signs  of  water  excepting  in  low  places  where 
it  may  have  pooled.  The  climate  is  semitorrid  in  character,  tempered  by  the 
high  elevation.  Summer  makes  its  appearance  suddenly  about  the  first  of 
May,  and  winter  about  the  middle  of  November,  the  seasons  being  marked 
by  no  gradual  changes  like  those  of  the  temperate  zones.  There  is  very  little 
snowfall.  The  nights  during  winter  are  very  cold  and  frosty,  of  a penetrating 
character  peculiar  to  high  altitudes.  The  summers,  while  hot,  are  endurable, 
the  nights  being  uniformly  cool.  Were  it  not  for  the  sand  storms,  the  climate 
would  be  ideal.  In  addition  to  filling  the  air  with  sand,  which  sifted  into  all 
buildings,  these  winds  damaged  several  of  the  hospital  buildings. 

The  roads  in  and  around  the  base  hospital  grounds  were  of  macadam 
construction,  developed  by  the  Quartermaster  Department,  and  they  were 
adequate  for  a unit  of  a provisional  character.  Fort  Bliss,  being  situated 
on  the  outskirts  of  El  Paso,  had  the  use  of  the  city’s  paved  streets,  which  were 
mostly  constructed  of  asphalt  or  concrete.  The  roads,  with  the  exception  of 
a short  section,  were  uniformly  good. 

There  were  no  streams  in  the  vicinity  of  this  hospital.  The  Eio  Grande, 
several  miles  southwest  of  the  post,  is  a slow,  sluggish  river,  full  of  sand  bars, 
the  water  of  which  is  largely  diverted  through  canals  and  ditches  for  irrigation 
purposes. 

On  March  15,  1916,  by  telegraphic  order  irom  The  Adjutant  General, 
the  post  hospital  at  Fort  Bhss  was  designated  a base  hospital  for  troops  in 
the  Southern  Department.  By  Bulletin  36,  Headquarters,  Southern  Depart- 
ment, dated  September  28,  1916,  the  station  was  designated  Base  Hospital 
No.  2.  By  General  Orders,  No.  35,  War  Department,  April  15,  191S,  the  name 
was  changed  to  United  States  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Bliss,  Tex. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  this  hospital  was  a development  and  an  extension 
of  the  old  post  hospital,  which  had  been  doing  more  than  the  work  assigned  to 
an  ordinary  post  hospital,  the  transition  period  was  not  marked  by  any  sudden 
emergencies  or  needs.  The  only  large  building  temporarily  used  for  base  hos- 
pital purposes  prior  to  construction  of  the  hospital  proper  was  a brick  barrack 
building,  the  lower  floor  of  which  was  used  for  offices  and  the  upper  floor  for 
convalescent  patients.  The  mess  hall  of  this  troop  barracks  was  also  used 
for  a short  time  for  Medical  Department  personnel. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  u History,  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Bliss,  Texas,”  by  Col.  H.  A. 
Webber,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the  com- 
pilation of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


623 


The  hospital  treated  all  cases  arising  at  Fort  Bliss,  and  medical,  surgical, 
tubercolosis  and  venereal  cases  from  overseas. 

The  construction  of  13  wards,  each  with  a capacity  of  30  beds,  and  a mess 
hall  with  a seating  capacity  of  about  400,  was  commenced  about  the  middle 
of  April,  1916,  and  was  rushed  to  completion  in  about  30  days.  The  wards 
were  assigned  to  various  services,  and  were  occupied  by  patients  as  rapidly  as 
construction  was  completed.  The  mess  hall,  the  last  of  the  buildings  to  be 
finished,  was  opened  for  use  about  May  15,  1916.  It  soon  became  apparent 
that  the  13  new  wards  would  not  provide  sufficient  facilities  for  the  care  of  the 
large  number  of  troops  mobilized  at  El  Paso.  Additional  construction  was 
then  provided,  including  a colony  of  14  superior  wards,  connected  by  covered 
walks,  a large  convalescent  officers’  ward,  a set  of  nurses’  quarters,  sufficient  to 
house  40  nurses,  a large  H-shaped  mess  hall  seating  about  600,  with  attached  gen- 
eral and  diet  kitchens,  and  an  administration  building  containing  a dispensary. 

The  main  hospital  building,  which  constituted  the  old  post  hospital,  faced 
west  on  the  main  road  in  Fort  Bliss,  which  ran  north  and  south.  The  canton- 
ment wards  first  constructed  ran  parallel  with  this  road  in  the  rear  and  to  the 
north  of  the  main  building;  the  wards  of  later  construction  were  south  of  the 
main  building,  in  two  rows  parallel  to  the  main  highway.  The  nurses’  quar- 
ters were  about  400  yards,  in  a southerly  direction,  from  the  main  building, 
and  the  administration  building  was  almost  opposite  the  main  building  on  the 
Fort  Bliss  Parade. 

Enlisted  patients  and  the  personnel  on  duty  were  provided  with  a large 
H-shaped  building  for  mess  purposes.  Two  large  dining  halls,  with  a seating 
capacity  of  about  300  each,  were  connected  by  the  kitchens  and  storerooms. 
Patients  used  one  of  the  dining  halls  and  Medical  Department  personnel  the 
other.  Patients  in  wards  were  served  from  the  diet  kitchens  attached  to  the 
H-shaped  mess  hall,  and  from  another  unit  located  in  the  main  brick  building. 
A separate  mess  for  officer  patients  was  maintained,  with  a kitchen  and  dining 
room.  Government  allowances  for  rations  kept  apace  with  the  rising  cost  of 
food  supplies,  and  on  the  whole,  this  service  was  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

Only  two  sets  of  quarters  were  provided  at  Fort  Bliss  for  the  use  of  officers. 
The  nurses  ’ quarters  consisted  of  several  one-story  cantonment  buildings,  divided 
into  small  rooms,  with  one  comfortably  large  assembly  parlor,  a kitchen,  and  a 
small  mess  hall.  No  regular  quarters  for  the  Medical  Department  personnel 
were  built,  the  men  occupying  such  wards  as  were  not  needed  for  patients; 
or  tents,  when  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  required  for  patients. 

No  storehouses  were  included  in  hospital  construction.  Rooms  in  the 
basement  and  attic  of  the  old  hospital  building,  and  other  buildings,  were 
utilized  for  this  purpose. 

The  water  supply  was  identical  with  that  of  Fort  Bliss,  and  was  obtained 
from  two  artesian  wells,  600  feet  deep,  the  pumping  capacity  of  the  plant 
being  about  500  gallons  per  minute.  The  tank  capacity  was  not  sufficient 
to  supply  the  demand  during  the  heaviest  stress  period,  and  the  result  was  an 
insufficient  pressure.  At  times  this  deficiency  interfered  with  the  service  of 
operating  room  No.  1,  iocated  on  the  second  ffoor  of  the  main  building.  The 
water  was  of  excellent  quality  and  required  no  treatment  for  general  use. 

The  sewage  of  the  hospital  was  carried  away  in  6-inch  pipes  which  con- 
nected with  the  municipal  system  of  El  Paso.  These  pipes  were  not  quite 


624 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1ST  THE  TOUTED  STATES. 


adequate  to  carry  away  the  sewage  when  the  hospital  was  filled  to  capacity, 
but  they  sufficed  for  700  patients.  Combination  baths  and  latrines,  connected 
with  the  sewerage  system,  were  conveniently  located  to  serve  each  set  of  about 
six  wards,  hut  they  were  insanitary  and  very  unsatisfactory.  One  toilet  was 
installed  in  the  newer  wards;  but  the  older  wards,  used  for  communicable 
diseases,  still  had  the  old  style  of  closed  stools,  which,  after  disinfection,  were 
treated  in  the  usual  manner.  This  condition  was  undesirable  and  was  remedied 
in  June,  1918. 

Kitchen  wastes  were  divided  into  three  classes:  The  ordinary  wet  garbage, 
which  was  disposed  of  to  civilians,  on  contract,  for  hog  feeding;  bottles  and 
cans,  which  were  turned  over  to  the  reclamation  section  of  the  Quartermaster 
Corps;  and  ordinary  dry  refuse,  which  was  burned  in  incinerators.  One 
incinerator,  located  behind  the  general  mess,  was  used  for  all  ordinary  purposes; 
another  unit,  located  behind  the  venereal  section,  was  used  for  the  destruction 
of  dressings,  etc.,  which  originated  in  that  department. 

The  plumbing  in  the  main  brick  building  was  connected  with  the  piping 
system  mentioned.  Combination  bathhouses  and  latrines  were  connected 
with  the  main  sewer  through  a large  cistern,  built  of  concrete,  which  acted 
as  an  equalizer  when  the  sewer  main  became  congested. 

The  main  building  was  heated  by  hot-water  furnaces,  which  were  very  effi- 
cient. The  cantonment  wards,  offices,  etc.,  were  heated  by  ordinary  soft  coal 
stoves,  which  were  very  unsatisfactory. 

The  electric  current  was  supplied  to  the  hospital  by  an  El  Paso  company, 
through  the  quartermaster.  The  apparatus  proved  satisfactory. 

The  laundry  work  of  the  hospital  was  done  on  contract  with  a civilian 
laundry  company  in  El  Paso,  and  the  service  was  very  efficient. 

The  nucleus  of  this  unit  being  the  old  post  hospital,  its  equipment  was 
inherited.  By  a system  of  decentralization  and  amplification,  each  depart- 
ment was  expanded  to  meet  enlarged  requirements.  The  operating  room, 
formerly  used  by  the  post  hospital  for  all  purposes,  was  used  only  for  major 
operations;  an  operating  and  dressing  room  were  provided  for  the  venereal 
section;  and  a similar  unit  was  provided  for  acute  surgical  cases.  The  eye,  ear, 
nose,  and  throat  department  had  its  own  treatment  room.  The  capacity  of  the 
hospital  was  increased  from  approximately  100  to  800.  Three  motor  ambu- 
lances, a motor  truck,  one  escort  wagon,  a Dodge  car,  and  motorcycles  were 
available. 

The  post  exchange  at  tins  hospital  was  started  in  the  spring  of  1916,  on 
credit  and  without  capital.  It  occupied  a superior  cantonment  building,  im- 
proved at  the  expense  of  the  exchange,  with  modern  fixtures,  soda  fountain, 
two  pool  tables,  cash  register,  etc.  A Dodge  car,  purchased  with  exchange 
funds,  was  a source  of  revenue  as  well  as  convenience.  On  May  31,  191S,  the 
balance  sheet  showed  nearly  83,000  cash  on  hand.  The  net  value  of  the  ex- 
change was  in  excess  of  $7,500.  The  management  was  always  liberal,  and  this 
exchange  was  one  of  the  conspicuous  successes  of  the  station,  both  financially 
and  from  the  standpoint  of  service. 

The  building  used  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  which  was 
completed  during  October,  1917,  was  of  excellent  construction  and  design,  and 
had  a seating  capacity  of  about  250.  The  management  was  in  the  hands  of 
well-qualified  secretaries,  who  took  an  altruistic  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


625 


patients  and  the  Medical  Department  personnel.  Programs  were  provided  for 
evening  entertainments,  which  included  moving  pictures  three  times  a week. 
Helpless  patients  were  visited  in  their  wards. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Bliss,  Tex.,  from  April,  1917,  to  December, 

1919,  inclusive ,a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

| Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

594 

173 

1, 152 

58 

1,977 

1,124 

25 

16 

3 

24 

782 

3 

20, 307 

83 

785 

247 

l'  489 

76 

2, 597 

1,904 

32 

17 

1 

5 

35 

603 

0 

23, 885 

27 

603 

205 

1, 214 

43 

2, 065 

1,385 

19 

1 

11 

24 

625 

0 

16, 198 

July 

625 

147 

798 

43 

1 613 

1, 158 

10 

17 

7 

21 

400 

15,616 

31 

400 

171 

556 

47 

1, 174 

694 

4 

22 

1 

7 

27 

418 

1 

13,258 

51 

419 

139 

424 

34 

l' 016 

494 

4 

34 

9 

IS 

457 

0 

13,884 

4 

457 

28 

472 

19 

976 

508 

134 

4 

19 

311 

311 

20 

614 

19 

964 

587 

0 

61 

1 

16 

299 

10,  222 

299 

21 

827 

22 

1,169 

714 

4 

24 

9 

418 

10,  745 

1918. 

418 

36 

1,023 

21 

1,498 

949 

9 

10 

10 

520 

15,086 

520 

26 

' 849 

14 

1^  409 

850 

9 

36 

1 

18 

495 

13,730 

495 

38 

1,029 

16 

1 578 

983 

3 

41 

4 

18 

529 

16, 225 

529 

33 

l'  091 

12 

l'  665 

1,142 

3 

25 

1 

13 

481 

16,079 

481 

18 

907 

11 

l’  417 

887 

6 

20 

2 

4 

13 

485 

14, 582 

485 

18 

901 

12 

1 , 416 

907 

1 

5 

9 

20 

473 

1 

15, 044 

474 

623 

19 

1, 161 

731 

3 

13> 

3 

19 

16 

375 

1 

43,504 

10 

376 

13 

611 

19 

1,019 

643 

10 

7 

4 

13 

340 

2 

11,107 

11 

342 

37 

852 

7 

1, 238 

581 

4 

1 

2 

16 

623 

11 

10,224 

634 

124 

2, 360 

137 

3'  255 

2,410 

171 

2 

9 

40 

623 

23;  556 

23 

623 

35 

'528 

20 

1 ' 206 

752 

25 

1 

1 

17 

25 

384 

1 

14, 861 

19 

385 

23 

580 

10 

'998 

633 

13 

7 

6 

12 

327 

11, 068 

36 

1919. 

327 

25 

885 

38 

1,275 

594 

12 

17 

10 

14 

628 

11,908 

628 

35 

594 

24 

l'  281 

538 

13 

10 

278 

19 

423 

423 

34 

533 

16 

1 ' 006 

641 

11 

17 

35 

2 

300 

11,250 

300 

29 

408 

22 

'759 

257 

2 

137 

20 

22 

320 

1 

9'  438 

321 

19 

265 

20 

625 

296 

23 

15 

22 

269 

9',  S04 

269 

18 

315 

27 

629 

305 

5 

10 

1 

10 

22 

276 

8^  532 

July  ..  . . . 

276 

18 

328 

13 

296 

1 

13 

10 

28 

286 

1 

8, 486 

287 

28 

444 

17 

776 

358 

3 

9 

6 

26 

374 

9',  913 

23 

374 

11 

325 

13 

723 

434 

2 

16 

6 

250 

9,320 

250 

13 

295 

14 

572 

271 

21 

13 

15 

252 

8,012 

252 

14 

298 

11 

575 

274 

1 

19 

5 

13 

263 

7,628 

25 

December 

263 

1 18 

228 

6 

515 

190 

1 

16 

8 

20 

277 

3 

7,548 

46 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

24 

37 

40 

101 

25 

30 

32 

87 

26 

30 

27 

83 

July 

26 

30 

27 

83 

25 

28 

24 

77 

23 

25 

22 

70 

1 

18 

9 

28 

1 

18 

9 

28 

1 

17 

7 

25 

1918. 

1 

17 

7 

25 

1 

32 

14 

47 

March . .. 

9 

37 

15 

61 

April. ....... 

9 

38 

16 

63 

9 

41 

17 

67 

3 

45 

20 

68 

July 

3 

48 

20 

71 

4 

49 

20 

73 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

September 

4 

50 

22 

76 

October 

4 

50 

22 

76 

N ovember 

4 

50 

22 

76 

December 

4 

50 

22 

76 

1919. 

January 

4 

50 

22 

76 

February 

4 

50 

22 

76 

March 

4 

50 

22 

76 

April 

4 

50 

22 

76 

May 

4 

50 

22 

76 

June 

4 

50 

22 

76 

July 

4 

50 

22 

76 

August 

4 

50 

22 

76 

September 

4 

50 

22 

76 

October 

6 

50 

22 

78 

November 

6 

30 

20 

56 

December 

6 

30 

20 

56 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

45269°—  23 


40 


626 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Bliss,  Tex.,  from  April,  1917,  to  December, 

1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

34 

34 

330 

330 

24 

24 

330 

330 

46 

29 

29 

292 

292 

23 

23 

287 

287 

22 

22 

245 

245 

44 

21 

21 

240 

240 

44 

25 

25 

274 

274 

43 

23 

23 

276 

276 

34 

26 

26 

212 

212 

39 

1918. 

26 

26 

202 

202 

35 

25 

1 

26 

202 

202 

37 

26 

26 

163 

163 

36 

30 

1 

31 

163 

163 

47 

31 

1 

32 

246 

246 

47 

37 

1 

38 

46 

July. 

38 

2 

40 

275 

275 

49 

35 

2 

37 

270 

270 

43 

33 

4 

1 

38 

263 

263 

47 

31 

5 

1 

37 

258 

258 

45 

32 

1 

38 

268 

268 

42 

30 

6 

1 

37 

250 

250 

42 

1919. 

January 

23 

5 

1 

29 

243 

1 

244 

41 

February 

26 

5 

2 

33 

283 

1 

2S4 

51 

March 

25 

5 

2 

32 

261 

l 

262 

46 

April 

21 

5 

2 

28 

252 

5 

257 

35 

May 

23 

5 

2 

30 

214 

5 

219 

34 

June 

23 

6 

2 

31 

194 

4 

19S 

34 

July 

24 

8 

2 

34 

1S4 

3 

1S7 

32 

August 

21 

6 

2 

29 

185 

3 

188 

30 

September 

20 

3 

2 

25 

177 

3 

ISO 

32 

16 

1 

17 

162 

3 

165 

37 

18 

2 

20 

162 

3 

165 

33 

December 

24 

2 

26 

159 

3 

162 

30 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  BOWIE,  TEX.® 

The  base  hospital  of  Camp  Bowie  was  located  in  Tarrant  County,  Tex.,  in 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  State,  4£  miles  from  Fort  Worth,  a city  of  110,000 
population.  The  city  of  Dallas  is  east  of  Fort  Worth,  28  miles  by  interurban 
railroad  and  32  miles  by  automobile  road.  The  hospital  site  was  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  camp  and  embraced  70  acres  of  slightly  and  gradually  rolling 
land,  which  was  not  wooded  but  which  had  flat  expanses  throughout. 

The  soil  of  that  locality  is  of  a clay-loam  mixture  overlying  a limestone  rock 
to  a depth  varying  from  a few  inches  to  4 or  5 feet,  and  there  was  very  little 
high-flying  dust  about  the  hospital  in  dry  weather.  Bams,  when  they  occur, 
are  excessive,  resulting  in  considerable  extremely  sticky  mud,  which  soon 
disappears.  Board  and  gravel  walks,  constructed  several  months  after  the 
organization  of  the  hospital,  eliminated  the  carrying  of  mud  into  the  hospital 
buildings. 

The  summers  are  exceptionally  warm,  but  the  humidity  is  not  great;  and. 
despite  the  heat  of  the  day,  the  nights  are  cool  as  a result  of  a continuous 


a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Bowie,  Texas,”  by  Maj. 
James  C.  Greenway,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


627 


breeze,  ancl  are  conducive  to  restful  sleep.  The  winters,  as  a ride,  are  not 
severe.  The  ‘‘northers,”  however,  which  occur  during  the  fall  and  winter, 
bring  extreme  cold,  with  verv  abrupt  changes,  the  temperature  sometimes 
falling  70  or  80  degrees  in  a day.  The  gradation  of  spring  into  summer  and 
fall  into  winter  is  not  noticeable.  At  times  the  wind  is  strong,  but  the  location 
of  the  hospital  was  such  that  the  full  force  of  the  wind  was  not  received. 

Several  gravel  and  asphalt  roads  of  good  condition  and  leading  to  Fort 
Worth  skirted  the  hospital. 

The  hospital  was  organized  on  August  21,  1917,  as  an  emergency  hospital, 
and  the  first  patient  was  admitted  on  the  day  following. 

Prior  to  the  construction  of  the  hospital  proper,  several  small  buildings, 
similiar  to  the  ones  subsecjuently  used  for  the  company  mess  pavilion,  were 
utdized  for  hospital  purposes,  and  tents  were  employed  for  the  housing  of  the 
hospital  corps  men.  During  the  construction  of  the  hospital  a small  wooden 
building  was  used  as  an  emergency  hospital  for  construction  employees. 
This  contained  a dispensary  and  a dressing  station,  but  no  ward. 

The  buildings  of  the  hospital  were  systematically  arranged  over  an  area  of 
70  acres.  With  the  exception  of  six  two-story  convalescent  wards,  all  buildings 
were  of  one-story  frame  construction,  built  on  concrete  footings.  The  ward  build- 
ings were  distributed  according  to  a block  scheme,  there  being  six  blocks. 
One  of  these  blocks  was  isolated,  and  was  used  for  the  housing  of  contagious 
patients.  All  other  ward  buildings  were  connected  by  a system  of  covered 
corridor  runways. 

The  following  scheme  was  adopted  for  designating  the  wards:  The  four 
principal  rows  of  wards  were  designated  “A,”  “B,”  “C,”  and  “D,”  from 
north  to  south.  The  six  wards  in  each  row  were  numbered  1.  2,  3,  etc.,  from 
east  to  west.  The  wards  in  the  isolation  section  were  numbered  serially,  from 
east  to  west,  E— i being  the  neuropsychiatric  ward.  The  F section  comprised 
two-story  ward-barrack  buildings,  situated  in  two  rows  of  three  buildings  each. 
Ten  of  the  wards  of  the  main  part  of  the  hospital  had  porches  inclosed  by 
temporary  siding,  which  was  removable,  and  was  fitted  with  windows  at 
appropriate  distances.  The  space  thus  provided  afforded  room  for  about 
24  additional  beds,  should  an  emergency  recprire  additional  bed  space.  This 
corridor  was  continuous  with  the  porch  at  the  rear  of  the  ward  and  had  two 
entrances.  The  ward  known  as  D-l  was  fitted  up  as  an  office,  with  treatment 
rooms,  waiting  rooms,  etc.,  for  the  venereal  diseases  section  of  the  hospital; 
and  it  was  here  that  the  orthopedic  clinic  was  held. 

The  two  sets  of  officers'  quarters  were  at  the  extreme  northeast  portion  of 
the  hospital,  and,  like  the  remainder  of  the  hospital,  they  were  of  frame  con- 
struction. The  nurses’  quarters  were  located  to  the  southeast  of  the  hospital 
grounds  and  were  practically  of  the  same  plan  and  construction  as  the  quarters 
for  officers. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  hospital,  before  the  warehouses  were  completed, 
supplies  for  the  hospital  and  for  the  36th  Division  were  stored  in  warehouse 
No.  10,  quartermaster  depot.  At  that  time  no  shelving  was  supplied,  and 
different  articles  had  to  be  issued  from  the  boxes  in  which  they  were  shipped. 
Five  warehouses  were  completed  in  October,  1917.  measuring  24  by  150  feet, 
on  a portion  of  the  hospital  site.  Two  of  these  warehouses  were  shelved,  and 
one  was  used  as  a storehouse  for  medical  supplies  of  the  hospital,  the  other  for 


628 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


medical  supplies  for  the  36th  Division.  One  half  of  a third  warehouse  was 
used  to  store  the  surplus  stock  and  unserviceable  property  of  the  hospital, 
the  other  half  was  used  by  the  camp  medical  supply  depot.  Another  ware- 
house was  turned  over  to  the  Red  Cross,  and  the  remaining  one  to  the  quarter- 
master. Two  rooms,  8 by  14  by  11  feet,  were  built  in  the  opposite  ends  of 
each  warehouse.  In  one  room  of  warehouse  No.  1 was  built  a partition  with 
a door  and  lock  and  the  room,  being  shelved,  served  as  the  narcotic  drug  and 
liquor  room.  Three  refrigerators  were  used  in  this  warehouse  for  the  storing 
of  serums. 

When  the  base  hospital  was  started,  and  while  it  was  housed  in  tents,  it 
was  equipped  with  whatsoever  could  be  borrowed  from  the  field  hospitals  of 
the  36th  Division. 

Most  of  the  buildings,  which  subsequently  constituted  the  base  hospital, 
were  received  in  an  unfinished  condition  on  September  24,  1917.  At  that  time 
the  medical  supplies  on  hand  were  for  a 548-bed  hospital.  The  various  wards, 
though  unfinished,  were  equipped  with  these  supplies  to  meet  the  demand  of  a 
beginning  epidemic.  There  was  no  heating,  water,  lighting,  or  sewerage  in 
connection  with  any  building,  and  only  an  absolutely  necessary  equipment  was 
installed  from  the  Medical  Department  supplies.  From  time  to  time  supplies 
were  furnished  on  the  basis  of  increased  capacity,  until  an  equipment  was 
finally  received  for  a hospital  of  1,750  capacity.  During  December,  1917,  the 
wards  were  ceiled  and  plumbing  was  installed  in  them. 

During  October,  November,  and  December,  1917,  several  epidemics 
occurred,  causing  approximately  1,800  patients  to  be  continuously  in  the  hos- 
pital. This  necessitated  equipping  all  buildings  with  medical  supplies,  whether 
they  had  been  finished  or  unfinished,  and  included  the  warehouses,  the  laundry, 
and  the  chapel.  It  also  necessitated  the  transferring  of  these  various  supplies 
from  building  to  building,  and  it  resulted  in  an  unusual  loss  of  breakable  non- 
expendable property.  Subsequently  each  ward  was  equipped  according  to  the 
Wolfe  unit  plan. 

Two  days  before  the  hospital  was  to  be  occupied  the  kitchen  and  mess  hall 
were  destroyed  by  fire.  The  kitchen  was  then  installed  in  what  was  subsequently 
used  as  a bathroom,  and  the  mess  hall  in  a room  that  later  became  a medical 
ward.  The  kitchen  was  equipped  with  two  field  ranges,  on  winch  three  meals  a 
day  were  prepared  for  about  1,000  persons.  Officers,  nurses,  enlisted  men,  and 
patients  ate  in  the  improvised  mess  hall;  the  patients  and  enlisted  men  messing 
at  the  same  hour,  but  at  separate  tables,  followed  by  the  officers  and  nurses. 
These  difficulties  were  soon  overcome,  however,  and  a large  mess  hall  was  opened 
for  the  convalescent  patients  in  the  center  of  the  hospital  grounds.  Adjacent 
to  this  was  a special  diet  kitchen,  in  charge  of  a dietitian,  where  every  possible 
special  diet  could  be  prepared.  The  mess  hall,  which  was  one  of  the  brightest 
spots  in  the  hospital,  could  comfortably  care  for  about  1,000  patients.  The  mess 
for  the  detachment  , Medical  Department,  was  separately  located  and  had  its  own 
cooks;  likewise,  the  nurses  had  a neatly  arranged  mess  of  their  own.  The  offi- 
cers’ ward  had  its  separate  mess,  supervised  by  a special  dietitian;  and  a large 
mess  hall  for  convalescent  officers  was  located  in  the  same  building  in  which  they 
were  placed. 

No  laundry  was  established  in  the  hospital,  all  laundry  work  for  the  institu- 
tion being  handled,  at  great  expense  and  at  much  inconvenience,  by  outside 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


629 


laundries.  From  September  1 to  December  31,  1917,  a total  of  $5, 507. SI  was 
expended  on  laundry  work.  Because  of  the  delays  in  delivery  and  excessive 
charges,  a six  months  contract  was  made  with  another  concern.  From  January 
1 to  April  30,  1918,  inclusive,  the  cost  was  $9,020.18.  The  stock  room  for  laun- 
dry was  installed  in  a central  building  where  the  soiled  laundry  was  collected  in 
a separate  room  and  clean  laundry  was  distributed  to  the  wards  from  another. 
In  this  building  was  installed,  for  the  purpose  of  sterilizing  mattresses,  blankets, 
etc.,  an  American  steam  sterilizer  and  an  electric  sewing  machine,  a seamstress 
being  hired  to  repair  the  torn  linen  and  garments. 

The  hospital  received  its  water  supply  from  Lake  Worth,  about  14  miles 
distant.  The  water  was  conveyed  by  gravity  through  12-inch  cast-iron  water 
pipes  into  the  Fort  Worth  pumping  station,  whence  it  passed  through  a filtration 
process  into  a reservoir,  where  it  remained  until  settled.  At  the  hospital  8 and 
6 inch  wrought  and  cast-iron  pipe  was  used,  the  individual  supply  for  each  build- 
ing having  a separate  shut-off  outside  the  building  and  one  at  the  main. 

All  sewage  from  the  hospital  buildings  was  carried  off  in  6-inch  tile  mains, 
branching  into  an  8-inch  main  sewer,  which  runs  through  the  center  of  the  hos- 
pital grounds,  into  the  disposal  plant,  a modified  Imhoff  septic  tank.  After 
purification  the  sewage  emptied  into  the  west  branch  of  the  Trinity  River.  The 
ward  latrines  were  situated  between  the  wards,  in  double  wards.  Each  was 
equipped  with  five  vitreous  china  water-closets,  one  vitreous  urinal,  and  one 
shower,  with  hot  and  cold  water  supply  and  a floor  drain.  All  latrines  had 
concrete  floors. 

Each  single  ward  had  a separate  lavatory  and  bath  in  either  the  south  or 
the  north  end  of  the  building.  Each  was  equipped  with  one  white  enameled 
cast-iron  bathtub,  three  white-enameled  washbasins  with  hot  and  cold  water  sup- 
ply, and  three  water-closets  with  low  flush  tanks.  The  rubbish  was  burned  in  a 
number  of  incinerators  located  about  the  hospital  grounds.  Prior  to  the  instal- 
lation of  the  sewer  system,  dishwater  was  evaporated  over  the  incinerators,  and 
the  solid  residue  was  then  burned.  The  garbage  was  collected  in  large  cans 
each  day  and  sold  by  the  quartermaster  to  stock  raisers.  Each  ward  was  heated 
with  two  hot-air  furnaces.  Coal  and  wood  were  used  as  fuel. 

The  electrical  installation  of  the  hospital  was  laid  out  excellently,  from  the 
converters  to  the  main-line  switches.  Here  there  was  evidence  of  contract  rush 
and  a disregard  of  National  Code  rules;  but,  in  spite  of  this,  the  electrical  effi- 
ciency was  brought  to  the  point  where  trouble  calls  averaged  less  than  one  per 
diem.  A heavy-duty  electrical  potato  peeler,  a 3,000-watt  electrical  dry-bath 
cabinet,  and  a 1,200-watt  baking  apparatus  for  rheumatic  ailments  were  installed. 
Many  snap  switches  in  the  diet  kitchen  and  a complete  electrical  outfit  for 
the  venereal  clinic  formed  part  of  the  electrical  equipment.  Six  two-story  ward 
and  barrack  buildings  were  electrically  equipped,  in  which  all  wires  were  concealed 
and  the  ceiling  lights  were  of  the  shallow-bowl  canopy,  pull-chain  type.  The 
entire  electrical  system  of  the  hospital  was  pronounced  over  90  per  cent  efficient. 

The  post  exchange  was  organized  during  the  latter  part  of  September,  1917, 
without  capital,  with  a limited  stock,  and  in  temporary  quarters.  It  was  soon 
permanently  located  at  the  entrance  to  the  patients’  mess  building,  where  it 
gradually  expanded  in  stock  and  the  scope  of  its  activities.  A modern  five- 
chair  barber  shop,  baseball,  tennis,  and  volley  ball  equipment,  hat  blocking, 
clothes  pressing,  a recreation  room  with  billiard  tables,  were  features  of  the 


630 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


exchange.  It  finally  reached  a maximum  of  stock  valued  at  $2,000,  and  the 
fixtures  were  valued  at  $1,700. 

A Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  was  established  in  December,  1917, 
across  the  hall  from  the  post  exchange  and  in  the  same  building.  It  occupied  one 
room  and  offered  a common  reading,  writing,  and  meeting  place  for  patients  and 
Medical  Department  men.  Y arious  kinds  of  instructive  entertainments  were  given 
daily.  In  May,  1918,  the  association  moved  into  the  chapel,  where  newspapers, 
books,  magazines,  games  (such  as  checkers,  chess,  and  dominoes) , phonographic 
music,  singers  from  the  city,  and  other  pleasures  and  comforts  were  provided. 

Because  of  the  crowded  condition,  in  consequence  of  the  epidemics  of  the 
winter  of  1917-18,  Red  Cross  supplies,  which  had  been  kept  in  a warehouse  pro- 
vided by  the  Government,  had  to  be  removed  to  and  distributed  from  the  base- 
ment of  the  chamber  of  commerce,  Fort  Worth.  Later,  a warehouse,  centrally 
located,  was  provided  and  placed  in  charge  of  an  associate  field  director.  The 
Red  Cross  House  for  Convalescents  was  dedicated  on  May  18,  1918. 

The  field  director  visited  the  hospital  one  to  three  times  daily,  and  an  associate 
director  was  stationed  at  the  hospital  to  notify  parents  not  only  of  the  condition 
of  patients  from  time  to  time,  but  when  they  were  discharged  from  the  hospital. 

In  addition  to  the  amusements  provided  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  and  the  Red  Cross,  croquet  sets,  indoor  baseball  outfits,  magazines, 
and  books  were  available.  The  personnel  had  for  their  amusement  baseball, 
tennis,  handball,  and  basket  ball. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Bowie,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  from  August 

22,  1917,  to  July  21,  1919,  inclusive .° 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

From  command. 

> 

Q. 

missio 

From 

soar 

d 

c3  ^ 

© 

ns. 

other 

ces. 

© 

© 

O 

1917. 

4 

9 

37 

September 

28 

11 

322 

170 

October 

220 

9 

1,170 

102 

703 

5, 071 

2 

1,459 

2,529 

2 

191S. 

599 

1, 4S2 

2 

921 

1,262 

2 

713 

1,083 

8 

April 

728 

1,308 

29 

7 

May 

640 

1,110 

30 

2 

.1  urie 

3S7 

1,138 

45 

7 

July 

479 

395 

15 

5 

August 

206 

234 

25 

8 

September 

162 

1,452 

13 

7 

October 

1,164 

3,512 

19 

IS 

November 

1,212 

443 

1 

3 

December 

291 

379 

6 

18 

1919. 

January 

219 

417 

423 

10 

February 

449 

585 

400 

9 

March 

652 

422 

656 

2 

April 

647 

342 

1,000 

6 

May 

750 

219 

741 

10 

J urie 

232 

221 

6 

7 

July 

128 

120 

1 

3 

s 

o 

© 


C3 

© 

-O 

o 


o 

H 


50 
531 
1,501 
5, 776 
3,990 

2, 0S3 
2, 185 
1,804 
2,072 
1.7S2 
1,577 
894 
473 
1,634 
4,713 
1,659 
694 


1,069 

1,443 

1,732 

1,995 

1,720 

466 

250 


Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals . 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

Hospital. 

o3 

22 

2S 

308 

3 

220 

0 

794 

2 

2 

703 

0 

4, 273 

40 

1 

1 

2 

1,456 

3 

191 

2 

132 

599 

1,121 

19 

17 

921 

1,175 

20 

2 

19 

256 

713 

776 

16 

5 

2 

277 

72S 

1,041 

20 

1 

2 

7 

361 

640 

1,092 

14 

1 

288 

387 

4 

2 

1 

59 

279 

479 

614 

4 

3 

2 

42 

23 

206 

248 

3 

18 

10 

32 

162 

423 

1 

3 



9 

34 

1,16? 

3,315 

110 

2 

1 

3 

70 

1,212 

1,283 

47 

10 

2S 

291 

436 

3 

6 

30 

217 

2 

5S7 

7 

2 

2 

10 

12 

449 

746 

3 

1 

31 

10 

652 

1,055 

2 

1 

1 

6 

20 

647 

l , 209 

2 

1 

1 

17 

15 

750 

1,233 

1 

3 

3 

240 

s 

232 

7 234 

97 

9 

126 

169 

1 

76 

4 



Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


205 
3,610 
12,564 
913 
3S,  069 


31 


17.992 
24,243 
21, 50S 
21,370 
10,290 
16.843 
10.  835 
5,080 
8, 956 
41, 381 
17, 562 


10, 597 
16, 525 
20.  511 
24. 474 
19, 623 1 
8. 156 
4.760 


a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


631 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Bowie,  Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  from  August 
22,  1917,  to  July  21,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.;. 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

10 

10 

143 

143 

September 

28 

2 

1 

31 

139 

139 

October 

36 

2 

1 

39 

142 

142 

8 

36 

2 

1 

39 

299 

299 

53 

December 

54 

2 

2 

58 

303 

303 

87 

1918. 

63 

2 

2 

67 

303 

303 

89 

66 

2 

1 

69 

306 

306 

March. .'. 

68 

2 

1 

71 

359 

20 

379 

85 

April 

76 

2 

1 

79 

361 

20 

381 

94 

May 

64 

2 

1 

67 

552 

20 

572 

94 

June. 

69 

2 

1 

72 

559 

20 

579 

93 

July 

88 

2 

1 

91 

418 

20 

438 

104 

August 

88 

3 

1 

92 

411 

20 

431 

85 

September 

67 

3 

1 

71 

672 

19 

691 

90 

October 

64 

3 

3 

70 

660 

18 

678 

97 

November 

59 

3 

4 

66 

657 

18 

675 

118 

December 

51 

3 

5 

59 

589 

16 

605 

80 

1919. 

January 

44 

3 

5 

52 

530 

16 

546 

78 

February 

42 

3 

4 

49 

412 

15 

427 

76 

March 

43 

3 

3 

49 

392 

13 

405 

58 

April 

39 

3 

3 

45 

380 

13 

393 

58 

May 

39 

2 

2 

43 

275 

4 

279 

58 

June 

17 

2 

2 

21 

275 

4 

279 

23 

July 

17 

2 

2 

21 

63 

63 

10 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  CODY,  DEMING,  N.  MEX.a 

The  base  hospital  was  situated  at  the  extreme  western  part  of  Camp  Cody 
about  3^  miles  to  the  northwest  of  Denting,  N.  Mex.,  a town  of  approximately 
3,000  population.  Denting,  and  the  surrounding  country  for  many  miles  to 
the  east  and  west,  lie  in  the  Mimbres  Valley,  which  at  this  place  is  about  30 
miles  wide  and  is  flanked  on  either  side  by  mountain  ranges,  all  fully  visible 
from  the  base  hospital.  The  mountains,  with  the  cloudless  skies  and  wonderful 
sunsets,  furnished  a restful  and  serene  outlook  for  the  convalescent  patients. 
The  Mimbres  Valley,  level  and  unbroken,  is  practically  a desert.  To  the  eye 
of  the  casual  observer,  however,  this  arid  character  is  partly  concealed  by  the 
green  of  the  soapweed,  the  yucca  and  the  cactus.  It  is  traversed  from  west 
to  east  by  the  Mimbres  River,  which,  in  the  part  of  its  course  adjacent  to  Camp 
Cody,  is  a river  in  name  only,  its  channel  being  cpiite  dry  except  following  a 
cloudburst  or  the  rapid  melting  of  the  snows  in  the  mountains.  The  water  in 
the  river,  except  at  flood  time,  sinks  and  disappears  in  the  sand  at  the  head  of 
the  valley,  only  to  reappear  at  the  surface  some  miles  beyond  the  Mexican 
border.  This  phenomenon  is  supposed  to  account  for  the  high  level  of  the 
underground  water  in  the  valley. 

The  soil  is  sand,  ofttimes  mixed  with  an  alluvium,  which,  under  irrigation, 
is  exceedingly  fertile. 

During  the  period  of  high  winds  (from  the  latter  part  of  October  to  May) 
violent  sand  and  dust  storms  are  common.  It  is  from  this  characteristic  of  the 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Cody,  N.  Mex.,”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  A.  O.  Davis,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


632 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


camp  that  the  34th  Division  acquired  its  sobriquet  of  “The  sand  storm 
division.”  Fortunately,  the  base  hospital  suffered  less  from  the  sand  and 
dust  than  other  parts  of  the  camp  by  reason  of  its  location  to  the  windward 
side.  The  dust,  much  of  which  originated  in  the  camp  itself,  was  carried  away 
from  the  hospital. 

The  climate  may  be  considered  as  agreeable  and  salubrious.  The  altitude 
of  Deming  is  4,215  feet.  This  combination  of  latitude  and  altitude,  together 
with  the  cloudless  sky  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  favors  an  extreme  diurnal 
range  of  temperature,  which  is  especially  noticeable  in  the  fall  and  winter.  In 
midsummer,  however  hot  the  day,  the  night  is  sufficiently  cool  for  refreshing 
sleep.  During  the  spring  and  summer  seasons  violent  electrical  storms  occa- 
sionally occur.  From  September  1,  1917,  to  September  1,  1918,  five  soldiers 
were  struck  by  lightning  and  two  of  them  were  killed. 

The  roads  about  the  hospital  and  camp  were  constructed  of  gravel,  which 
packed  almost  to  the  consistency  of  macadam.  The  highways  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  were,  for  the  most  part,  rather  primitive,  but  by  reason  of 
the  dry  and  sandy  soil,  were  rather  easily  kept  in  fair  condition.  The  com- 
plete absence  of  waterways,  except  for  the  so-called  Mimbres  liiver,  has  already 
been  noted;  but  irrigation  plants,  the  pumps  of  which  were  usually  operated 
by  wind,  were  numerous  and  made  the  surrounding  tracts  present  the  aspects 
of  an  oasis.  Except  for  the  absence  of  running  streams,  which  rendered  sewage 
disposal  unusually  difficult,  the  location  of  the  hospital  was  almost  ideal  from 
a sanitary  point  of  view. 

The  base  hospital  had  its  beginning  in  1916,  growing  out  of  the  necessities 
of  a camp  occupied  by  a brigade  engaged  in  the  border  service  incident  to  the 
Mexican  trouble  of  that  time.  With  the  cooperation  of  the  town  of  Deming, 
there  was  constructed  within  its  limits,  on  the  west,  a hospital  building  con- 
sisting of  administration  offices,  an  operating  room,  a patients’  kitchen  and 
mess  hall  and  eight  wards,  all  built  around  a central  court.  The  collection  of 
buildings  was  partially  steam  heated,  and  was  electrically  lighted.  Its  normal 
capacity  was  200  patients.  This  institution  performed  the  functions  of  a camp 
hospital  throughout  the  construction  period  of  the  camp.  On  August  25, 
1917,  the  34tli  Division,  consisting  of  22,000  National  Guard  men  from  Iowa, 
Minnesota,  Nebraska,  and  South  Dakota,  began  mobilizing  at  Camp  Cody,  and 
in  the  course  of  events,  on  September  1,  1917,  the  camp  hospital  was  officially 
designated  as  the  base  hospital.  Coincident  with  the  mobilization  and  estab- 
lishment of  the  34th  Division,  the  construction  of  a new,  more  extensive 
and  complete  hospital  was  in  progress,  but  by  reason  of  the  remoteness 
from  a large  center,  and  the  difficulties  encountered  in  obtaining  material  and 
labor,  the  new  hospital  was  not  ready  for  occupancy  until  November  4,  1917. 
Even  then  the  accommodations  were  far  from  being  complete.  The  urgent 
necessities  of  the  medical  service,  however,  permitted  no  further  waiting  for  a 
greater  degree  of  completion.  Beginning  with  45  patients  on  September  1,  by 
October  the  service  had  increased  to  130,  and  to  566  by  November  1.  The 
capacity  of  the  original  camp  hospital  (now  known  as  ‘old  base  ) was  increased 
by  about  140  beds  by  the  use  of  seven  hospital  tents.  In  the  meantime,  four  of 
the  new  wards  had  been  casually  occupied  by  convalescent  patients  and  those 
awaiting  discharge  for  physical  disability.  Finally,  the  administrative  offices 
and  all  of  the  medical  patients  were  moved  to  the  new  quarters,  the  surgical 
patients  remaining  in  the  “old  base.” 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


633 


As  finally  completed,  the  new  base  hospital  included  52  buildings.  Facing 
toward  the  east,  on  the  main  north  and  south  road,  were  three  buildings,  the 
receiving  office  and  ward,  the  administration  building,  and  the  officers’  ward. 
Extending  to  the  west  from  the  receiving  ward  were  wards  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  andlO; 
extending  to  the  west  from  officers’  ward  were  wards  11,  12,  13,  14,  15  and  16. 
These  two  groups  of  wards,  with  the  main  building,  surrounded  a central  court, 
in  which  was  located  in  line  with  the  administration  building,  and  extending 
from  it  to  the  west,  the  X-ray  and  pathological  laboratories,  the  operating 
pavilion,  the  post  exchange,  and  the  patients’  and  enlisted  men’s  kitchen  and 
mess  hall.  To  the  rear  of  each  of  the  two  rows  of  wards  mentioned  was  an 
additional  row  of  four  wards;  to  the  south  were  wards  1,  2,  3 and  4;  and  to 
the  north  were  wards  17,  18,  19  and  20.  All  these  wards  and  buildings  were 
connected  by  covered  walks,  furnishing  ready  access  from  one  to  another. 
Additional  buildings  were  grouped  around  this  central  body  of  buildings,  stand- 
ing separate  and  distinct.  Across  from  the  main  road,  and  facing  the  admin- 
istration buildings  were  the  nurses’  quarters;  to  the  southwest  was  the  psychi- 
atric ward;  to  the  west,  the  isolation  wards,  the  medical  property  building, 
the  morgue,  the  guardhouse,  the  garage,  the  quartermaster  supply  building, 
the  enlisted  men’s  barracks;  to  the  north,  additional  barracks  (two  story),  the 
Red  Cross  Hall  and  Library;  and,  to  the  north  and  facing  the  main  road,  the 
pavilion  for  head  surgery. 

At  the  time  the  camp  hospital  was  organized  as  a base  hospital,  and  until 
the  new  buildings  were  completed,  the  officers  were  quartered  in  tents.  As  the 
personnel  increased,  2 hospital  tents  were  pitched  end  to  end,  and  occupied  by 
25  medical  officers.  The  cold  nights,  the  sand,  and  various  other  discomforts, 
rendered  the  tent  quarters  decidedly  unsatisfactory  for  men  just  from  civil  life, 
but  it  was  not  recorded  that  anyone  suffered  from  this  mode  of  living.  The 
new  quarters  were  supplied  with  modern  conveniences,  one  officer  to  each  room. 
Enlargements  of  these  accommodations  were  necessary.  The  nurses’  quarters 
were  at  first  inadequate,  but  this  inadequacy  was  rectified  in  time. 

The  medical  stores  of  the  hospital  were  kept  in  a frame  warehouse,  situ- 
ated at  the  western  edge  of  the  hospital  grounds.  The  office  of  the  base  hos- 
pital property  officer  was  located  at  this  warehouse.  Property  was  arranged 
on  the  shelves  according  to  the  Manual  for  the  Medical  Department,  which  calls 
for  the  separating  of  medicines,  stationery,  miscellaneous,  X-ray,  laboratory, 
and  additional  articles.  Surgical  instruments,  narcotics,  poisons,  and  liquors, 
were  kept  under  lock  at  all  times.  A refrigerator  was  used  to  store  all  biolog- 
ical and  perishable  articles.  A clean  and  orderly  warehouse  was  maintained. 

The  family  style  of  service  in  the  officers’  mess  and  nurses’  mess  was  used 
at  the  patients’  mess — one  service  to  eight  patients.  The  food  was  properly 
cooked  and  the  variety  was  the  best  possible  under  the  conditions  of  the  market. 
The  mess  was  supervised  by  the  mess  officer  and  a sergeant  first  class.  A 
daily  inspection  of  the  food  served  at  the  three  meals  was  made  by  the  mess 
officer,  who  tasted  all  food  served.  The  kitchen  personnel  consisted  of  a 
sergeant  in  charge,  five  cooks,  three  cooks’  helpers,  and  the  "kitchen  police.” 
Patients  who  were  able  to  do  so  marched  to  the  mess  hall  from  their  respective 
wards,  accompanied  by  an  attendant.  They  entered  the  hall  single  file 
and  stood  at  their  places  until  seated  by  command.  They  were  required  to 


634 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


remain  at  the  table  at  least  20  minutes,  but  they  were  permitted  to  remain 
longer  if  they  desired. 

The  diet  kitchen  connected  with  this  mess  was  in  a separate  room.  The 
personnel  connected  with  it  consisted  of  2 dietitians,  2 cooks,  and  6 kitchen 
police.  The  food  going  out  to  the  wards  was  served  in  tins  or  containers, 
each  of  which  had  a cover.  The  containers,  tilled  and  ready  for  transportation 
to  the  wards,  were  placed  in  large  trays  containing  hot  water. 

The  baking  for  the  different  messes  was  done  by  two  bakers,  at  night, 
in  the  patients’  mess. 

The  family  style  of  service  was  employed  in  the  detachment  mess,  as  in 
the  other  messes,  one  service  to  eight  men;  and  this  mess  was  supervised  by 
the  mess  officer  and  a sergeant  first  class,  as  in  the  patients’  mess.  The  kitchen 
personnel  consisted  of  six  cooks,  two  cooks’  helpers,  and  kitchen  police.  The 
men  marched  into  the  mess  hall  in  single  file,  standing  at  their  places  until 
seated  by  command. 

In  connection  with  these  messes  a training  department  was  conducted  at 
the  “old  base,”  the  mess  of  which  was  supervised  by  the  mess  officer  and 
furnished  with  supplies  as  in  the  case  of  the  others.  The  personnel  of  this 
kitchen  consisted  of  tlu*ee  cooks  and  four  kitchen  police. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  derived  from  a deep,  drilled  well,  situated 
about  500  feet  south  of  the  hospital  grounds,  and  ecpiipped  with  a turbine  pump 
driven  by  a 50-horsepower  electric  motor.  The  capacity  of  the  pump  was  200 
gallons  per  minute,  filling  a tank,  located  on  a 50-foot  tower  built  on  high  ground, 
and  having  a capacity  of  200,000  gallons.  Tins  tank  furnished  the  necessary 
pressure  and  afforded  a direct  supply  of  water  to  the  hospital.  There  was  no 
filter  and  no  sterilization  process;  the  bacteriological  analysis  of  the  water 
showed  a very  small  count.  This  well  was  for  the  hospital  use  alone,  but 
before  it  was  completed  the  hospital  received  its  water  supply  from  wells 
that  supplied  the  remainder  of  the  camp. 

The  sewer  system,  which  was  independent  of  the  camp  sewer  system, 
consisted  of  a 10-inch  main,  1 mile  in  length,  running,  with  a drop  of  about 
12  feet,  to  the  Mimbres  River.  A large  septic  tank  partially  purified  the 
sewage  before  it  entered  the  river.  The  hospital  buildings  were  connected 
with  the  10-inch  main  by  6-incli  laterals. 

The  waste  from  the  kitchen  was  disposed  of  by  the  reclamation  service. 
The  trash  and  other  waste  was  placed  in  galvanized  iron  containers  and  burned 
at  a dump,  together  with  manure  from  the  stable. 

Before  the  sewer  system  was  constructed  bathing  facilities  were  furnished 
by  means  of  shower  baths  in  small  buildings  adjoining  the  wards,  the  waste 
water  running  out  into  ditches.  Because  of  the  low  temperature  in  the  morn- 
ings and  late  afternoons,  and  the  lack  of  hot  water,  bathing  was  limited  to 
the  middle  of  the  day.  While  somewhat  uncomfortable,  it  was  not  shown  that 
shower  bathing  under  such  circumstances  was  injurious  to  health.  Subse- 
quently each  ward  had  its  own  lavatory,  with  well-equipped  tub  and  shower 
baths,  and  the  other  buildings  had  ample  facilities  of  this  kind. 

When  the  hospital  buildings  were  first  occupied  the  heating  facilities 
were  exceedingly  primitive.  A small  sheet-iron  stove,  officially  designated  as 
“ wood  No.  18,”  was  placed  in  each  end  of  the  ward.  Being  entirely  inade- 
quate, these  were  soon  replaced  by  large  drum  stoves  (room  heaters.  No.  IS 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


635 


and  No.  20).  These  added  to  the  difficulty  in  keeping  the  wards  clean,  but 
they  served  the  purpose  of  keeping  them  warm.  Steam  heat  was  never 
installed. 

The  hospital  was  electrically  lighted  from  the  beginning,  being  served 
by  the  Deming  Electric  Light  Co.  The  service  at  first  was  not  very  satisfac- 
tory, but  improved  with  time. 

The  laundry  work  of  the  hospital  was  formerly  done  by  outside  laundries. 
In  May,  19 IS,  a full  steam  laundry  equipment  was  donated  by  a resident  of 
Silver  City,  N.  Mex.,  for  the  use  of  the  base  hospital  for  the  duration  of  war. 
He  also  gave  his  services  as  manager.  After  July  1,  1918,  the  laundry  washed 
all  the  hospital  linen  and  never  missed  delivering  clean  linen  to  each  ward 
daily,  except  Sundays.  In  addition,  large  quantities  of  work  were  done  for 
the  camp  quartermaster  and  the  conservation  and  reclamation  branch  of  the 
Quartermaster  Corps,  at  a great  saving  to  them.  The  clothes  of  the  patients 
in  the  hospital  were  washed  every  day  free  of  charge.  Judging  from  the  prices 
that  would  have  been  charged  by  an  outside  firm,  the  hospital  laundry  showed 
a saving  of  $4,260.44  for  the  first  three  months  of  its  operation. 

During  the  period  (prior  to  September  1,  1917)  when  the  hospital  was 
designated  a camp  hospital,  and  when  it  had  seven  wards,  the  hospital  equip- 
ment was  in  proportion.  One  end  of  the  ward  was  partitioned  off  as  a store- 
room for  both  medical  and  quartermaster  property.  Practically  the  only 
medical  stores  held  in  stock  were  the  bedding  and  patients’  clothing,  for  changes 
of  laundry,  and  a supply  of  stationery.  The  wards  were  fairly  well  equipped, 
and  the  surgical  department  had  just  such  instruments  and  appliances  as 
were  necessary  for  handling  incoming  cases. 

Pending  the  construction  of  the  new  base  hospital,  ward  tents  were  erected, 
greatly  taxing  the  limited  equipment  on  hand.  Some  of  the  necessary  drugs 
and  medicines  were  practically  unobtainable.  Later,  as  the  new  hospital  was 
completed,  and  the  work  of  moving  began,  the  hospital  equipment  became 
altogether  inadequate.  October,  November,  and  December,  1917,  were  un- 
doubtedly the  hardest  in  the  history  of  the  hospital.  Patients  not  seriously 
ill  brought  then’  own  cots  and  blankets.  Drugs  and  general  medical  supplies 
could  not  be  furnished  in  the  large  quantities  required.  Very  few  modern 
appliances  were  in  use,  and  it  was  necessary  to  introduce  many  methods  in 
order  to  obtain  the  desired  results  without  the  requisite  surgical  appliances 
and  modern  equipment.  But  with  the  beginning  of  the  year  1918  condi- 
tions began  to  improve,  and  ultimately  the  base  hospital  at  Camp  Cody  became 
modern  and  efficient  in  its  equipment  in  every  department  and  in  all  details. 

On  October  17,  1917,  the  post  exchange  was  started  on  credit  extended 
by  Deming  firms.  New  features  were  added  from  time  to  time,  until  the 
exchange  embraced  a store  department,  three  barber  shops,  a tailor  shop, 
pool  hall,  recreation  room,  and  laundry  at  the  new  base  hospital,  and  a general 
store,  pool  room,  and  barber  shop  at  the  “old  base.”  In  all  the  departments 
about  30  men  were  on  duty.  An  average  of  50  cents  a day  was  paid  them. 
The  average  monthly  business  of  the  exchange  was  about  $17,000,  with  a 
profit  of  about  $1,700.  The  exchange  was  free  from  debt,  but  did  not  declare 
a dividend,  although  from  time  to  time  a sum  was  set  aside  and  used  for  the 
benefit  of  the  hospital,  as  allowed  by  exchange  regulations. 


636 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  was  completed  and  ready 
for  occupancy  October  1,  1918.  It  had  an  auditorium,  110  by  45  feet,  and  a 
social  room,  36  by  36  feet.  It  was  painted  steel  gray  and  trimmed  in  light 
green,  the  colors  offering  a striking  contrast  to  the  groups  of  unpainted  barracks 
in  the  northeast  area  of  the  hospital  grounds,  near  which  the  building  was 
situated.  The  equipment  for  the  daily  entertainment  of  the  men  consisted 
chiefly  of  checkers  and  chess  boards,  pianos,  victrolas,  and  a moving-picture 
machine.  During  the  emergency  of  the  influenza  epidemic  the  building  was 
turned  into  a hospital  ward,  the  secretaries  giving  their  assistance  in  the  care 
of  the  patients.  After  the  epidemic  subsided,  weekly  programs  covering 
athletics,  social,  educational,  and  religious  activities  were  given,  which  did 
much  toward  keeping  up  the  morale  of  the  men.  At  regular  times  mass  services 
were  conducted  by  the  priest,  and  Sunday  services  were  conducted  by  the 
chaplains  in  the  auditorium. 

The  American  Red  Cross  building,  constructed  and  furnished  at  a cost  of 
$25,000,  was  a pleasing  variation  to  the  hospital  architecture.  It  was  a two- 
story  structure,  built  in  the  form  of  a cross.  The  main  part  of  the  lower  floor 
was  occupied  by  an  auditorium,  with  a stage,  where  various  entertainments 
were  given  for  convalescent  patients  and  their  friends.  Here  the  patients,  the 
men,  and  officers  might  read,  write,  or  play  games  and  feel  perfectly  at  home. 
The  hospital  branch  of  the  American  Library  Association  was  installed  here, 
and  there  was  a special  reading  room  with  professional  literature  for  the  medical 
officers  attached  to  the  hospital. 

Another  valuable  feature  of  the  institution,  especially  appreciated  because 
of  the  comparative  isolation  of  Deming,  was  the  arrangement  for  the  temporary 
housing  of  the  relatives  of  the  dangerously  sick  who  came  from  far  away. 
Twelve  rooms  were  available  for  this  purpose. 

The  Red  Cross  built  a nurses’  house  adjacent  to  their  quarters,  which  could 
be  used  for  a lounging  and  rest  room  or  for  dancing.  A weekly  dance  given 
by  the  nurses  served  to  break  the  monotony  of  their  routine  duties,  remote 
from  even  a small  city.  This  building,  furnished,  cost  $12,000. 

Opposite  the  administration  building  the  Red  Cross  built,  at  a cost  of 
$2,500,  a pass  and  information  bureau,  in  which  a part  of  the  administrative 
work  of  the  hospital  was  conducted. 

All  these  buildings  with  their  equipment  were  turned  over  to  the  Govern- 
ment and  were  directly  under  the  control  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
hospital. 

In  addition  to  the  recreation  activities  provided  by  the  Red  Cross  and  the 
Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  other  sports  were  fostered  and  supervised 
by  an  athletic  officer,  appointed  for  the  purpose,  who  had  charge  of  the  athletic 
training  of  the  men.  From  time  to  time  boxing  and  wrestling  tournaments 
were  held. 

A swimming  pool  was  built  by  the  hospital  corps  men  with  the  assistance  of 
the  Red  Cross.  The  pool,  which  was  of  reinforced  concrete,  was  90  feet  long,  40 
feet  wide,  and  9 feet  deep  at  the  lower  end.  A constant  change  of  water  took 
place,  and,  in  addition,  the  water  was  disinfected  with  chloride  of  lime.  All 
persons  were  obliged  to  take  a soap  and  shower  bath  before  entering  the  pool. 

There  were  five  cement  and  one  dirt  tennis  courts  at  the  hospital,  so  man- 
aged that  everyone  had  opportunity  to  play. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


637 


A baseball  and  football  field  was  located  to  the  extreme  east  of  the  grounds. 
The  boxing  and  wrestling  bouts  were  held  in  a regulation  16-foot  ring,  which 
was  well  made  and  so  placed  that  about  a thousand  spectators  could  enjoy 
the  sport. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Cody,  Deming,  N.  Mex.,  from  September, 

1917,  to  April  10,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICIC  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

■ From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term . 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
' fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

22 

312 

38 

372 

192 

2 

6 

39 

133 

2,423 

133 

19 

827 

73 

1 , 052 

479 

2 

43 

9 

20 

499 

8,321 

499 

2,708 

9 

3,216 

1,826 

10 

169 

9 

1,197 

28,646 

1,197 

2,264 

26 

3,487 

2. 164 

53 

253 

1 

2 

26 

988 

31,976 

1918. 

938 

1,198 

20 

2,206 

1,033 

44 

147 

40 

937 

29.893 

937 

863 

19 

1,819 

'785 

35 

117 

9 

46 

827 

25, 111 

827 

672 

16 

1,515 

618 

18 

142 

2 

24 

711 

23,859 

711 

581 

1,292 

615 

29 

92 

4 

19 

533 

12,464 

533 

606 

6 

1, 145 

551 

5 

59 

1 

6 

13 

510 

11,563 

510 

1,137 

11 

1,  658 

1,045 

15 

39 

3 

5 

9 

542 

23,990 

542 

591 

12 

1, 145 

579 

7 

11 

20 

10 

518 

16,427 

518 

620 

32 

1,170 

660 

13 

25 

28 

437 

20, 141 

437 

294 

13 

744 

318 

1 

45 

1 

3d 

343 

10,871 

343 

2,578 

72 

2,993 

792 

52 

12 

61 

2,076 

25,943 

2,076 

901 

13 

2,990 

1,944 

194 

9 

14 

49 

780 

35, 786 

780 

218 

24 

1,022 

755 

13 

23 

9 

23 

199 

13,082 

1919. 

199 

184 

16 

399 

207 

1 

22 

2 

14 

153 

5,405 

153 

192 

1 

3 

349 

218 

2 

9 

8 

112 

3,772 

112 

135 

16 

263 

151 

5 

18 

46 

4 

39 

1,865 

39 

6 

1 

46 

26 

18 

2 

279 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

25 

2 

27 

153 

153 

32 

2 

34 

153 

153 

13 

38 

2 

40 

267 

267 

22 

66 

3 

1 

70 

294 

294 

32 

1918. 

83 

2 

85 

358 

358 

78 

81 

3 

84 

358 

358 

92 

March 

84 

2 

86 

341 

20 

361 

92 

April 

77 

3 

80 

478 

20 

498 

91 

May 

71 

2 

73 

523 

20 

543 

90 

J une 

68 

2 

70 

519 

20 

539 

95 

.1  uly 

60 

5 

377 

19 

396 

101 

69 

5 

74 

369 

18 

387 

100 

September 

53 

6 

3 

62 

351 

18 

369 

89 

October 

57 

8 

3 

68 

373 

IS 

391 

80 

November 

61 

5 

1 

67 

395 

17 

412 

103 

December 

37 

4 

3 

44 

393 

16 

409 

102 

1919. 

January 

32 

2 

2 

36 

357 

7 

364 

96 

February 

31 

2 

2 

35 

221 

7 

228 

31 

9 

1 

10 

110 

7 

117 

6 

April 

5 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


638 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


BASE  HOSPITAL.  CAMP  CUSTER,  MICH.a 

The  base  hospital  of  Camp  Custer  was  favorably  located  in  the  county  of 
Kalamazoo,  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  and  approximately  7 miles  from  the 
civic  center  of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.  The  country  is  rolling,  with  scattered 
wooded  tracts.  The  soil  is  loam  and  fine  gravel  and  sand,  the  latter  predominat- 
ing. The  site  is  located  on  the  medial  moraine  of  glacial  drift.  There  is  almost 
no  mud,  but  much  wind  which  stirs  up  a good  deal  of  the  sand,  making  con- 
siderable dust.  The  winters  are  quite  severe  for  about  three  months  of  each 
year,  the  temperature  not  infrequently  dropping  as  low  as  20°  below  zero. 
The  prevailing  winds  are  from  the  southwest.  Spring  often  begins  early,  but 
the  frequent  relapses  of  winter,  and  often  cold,  rainy  days,  with  occasional 
mild  days  interspersed,  necessitate  some  fire  for  comfort  until  June.  Through- 
out the  spring  and  well  into  summer  hot  sultry  days  may  alternate  with  chilly 
and  windy  ones.  The  autumns  have  many  beautiful  days,  but  there  may  be 
several  weeks  of  rainy  chilly  weather.  The  summer  days  are  warm;  the  nights 
are  generally  cool.  The  hospital  was  on  a hill  directly  overlooking  Eagle  Lake, 
and  was  subjected  to  moderately  high  winds  in  winter  and  spring.  The  roads 
were  of  earth,  gravel,  and  cinders.  A concrete  road  extended  from  just  beyond 
the  hospital  receiving  ward  to  the  camp. 

The  hospital  was  opened  for  patients  on  September  5,  1917,  a tent  being 
used  near  the  temporary  headquarters  of  the  camp.  On  September  17,  two 
partially  completed  ward  buildings  of  the  new  hospital  were  available ; and  the 
base  hospital,  its  detachment,  Medical  Department,  and  24  patients,  were 
moved  into  these  wards.  Cases  of  contagious  diseases  were  temporarily  cared 
for  in  tents  erected  contiguous  to  the  ward  buildings.  As  rapidly  as  new  build- 
ings were  completed  they  were  occupied,  for  the  patients  arrived  as  fast  as 
adequate  space  for  their  reception  was  obtainable. 

The  fimetion  of  this  hospital  was  to  treat  all  cases  arising  at  Camp  Custer, 
and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal  cases  from  overseas.  Hie  training  of  per- 
sonnel for  further  duty  at  home  and  overseas  was  a part  of  the  function  of  the 
hospital  before  the  armistice. 

The  hospital  wards,  38  in  number,  conformed  to  the  standard  designs  for 
a northern  climate.  During  1918  the  following  construction  was  completed: 
Additional  nurses’  quarters  and  4 dormitories,  10  two-story  ward-barracks,  a 
refrigerating  plant,  a kitchen  and  mess  hall  for  the  enlisted  men;  2 barracks  and 
two  additions  to  the  general  mess.  At  the  end  of  the  year  there  were  in  course  of 
construction  an  addition  to  the  administration  building,  the  laboratory,  the 
operating  pavilion,  a garage,  nine  new  wards,  a prison  ward,  and  an  umbrella 
corridor  connecting  the  nurses’  quarters  and  the  main  hospital.  A Red  Cross 
house  for  convalescents  and  a Toung  Men  s Christian  Association  hut  were 
also  added. 

Officers,  enlisted  men,  and  nurses  were  quartered  in  the  regulation  buildings 
provided  for  the  purpose.  The  crowded  conditions  which  obtained  in  the 
earlier  days  were  overcome  by  the  construction  of  additional  quarters  during 
1918.  

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Custer,  Mich.,”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  Ernest  E.  Irons,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  stafl  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C —Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


639 


The  storehouses  were  completed  promptly,  hut  great  difficulty  was  encoun- 
tered because  of  the  lack  of  shelving  at  first,  and  only  a minimum  amount  of 
shelving  was  obtained.  The  storehouses  were  the  last  buildings  to  be  equipped 
with  steam  heat. 

The  hospital  kitchen  was  not  ready  for  occupancy  at  first;  consequently, 
the  cooking  for  both  enlisted  men  and  commissioned  personnel  was  done  in  the 
open  on  a field  range,  underneath  a tent  fly.  Later,  the  cooking  for  both  classes 
was  done  in  one  kitchen;  still  later,  the  portion  of  the  main  kitchen  designed 
for  a diet  kitchen  was  used  in  which  to  cook  for  the  officers’  mess;  and  the  detach- 
ment mess  was  separated  from  the  patients’  mess.  Subsequently,  the  officers’ 
mess  was  moved  to  the  officers’  quarters. 

The  following  criticisms  were  made  of  the  construction  and  equipment  of 
the  patients’  kitchen:  The  floor  was  not  impermeable;  on  the  contrary,  it  was 
made  of  green  6-inch  lumber  which  shrank  and  warped  after  short  use.  It  was 
impossible  to  keep  it  clean.  The  wing  off  the  kitchen,  shown  in  the  original 
plans  as  a bakery,  was  never  built  at  this  hospital,  although  it  was  built  at  other 
camps  and  used  as  a kitchen  storeroom.  The  storage  space  in  the  patients’ 
kitchen  at  this  hospital  was  inadequate  from  the  beginning. 

The  laundry  building  was  equipped  with  a drying  room,  a steam  disin- 
fector, and  a few  laundry  baskets.  The  incomplete  equipment  of  the  hospital 
laundry  was  met  by  daily  service  by  the  camp  laundry.  It  was  necessary, 
however,  to  send  nurses’  uniforms  which  required  ironing  to  Kalamazoo.  A 
double  check  was  kept  on  all  linen  and  an  inventory  taken  each  week. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  received  from  the  water  system  installed 
in  Camp  Custer.  The  water  was  piped  across  Kalamazoo  River  from  deep 
wells  in  Marshall  sandstone.  This  is  a water-bearing  stratum  30  or  more  feet 
in  thickness,  situated  below  a layer  of  sand  and  fine  gravel  varying  in  thickness 
from  30  to  50  feet.  The  average  depth  of  these  walls  was  approximately  110 
feet.  The  water  rose  in  them  to  within  a few  feet  of  the  surface,  so  that  elec- 
trically driven  centrifugal  pumps  were  successfully  used.  The  water  was  of 
high  quality,  but  the  pipes  were  fouled  during  the  crossing  of  the  river  and  the 
laying  of  the  mains,  and  liquid  chlorine  prophylaxis  under  laboratory  control 
was  employed  at  first. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  water  borne  and  passed  through 
sedimentation  tanks  into  the  Kalamazoo  River,  which  received  also  the  sewage 
from  Battle  Creek,  Kalamazoo,  and  Augusta. 

A garbage  house  8 by  20  feet,  with  cement  floor  and  screened  windows, 
was  constructed  in  the  rear  of  the  kitchen.  To  this  house  garbage  was  brought 
from  each  ward  and  mess,  weighed  by  an  inspector,  sorted  over,  and  weights 
and  contents  noted.  This  report  was  then  typewritten  and  sent  to  the  desk 
of  the  mess  officer,  the  dietitian,  and  the  commanding  officer.  Undue  waste 
from  any  ward  or  mess  was  noted  and  comment  made  locally,  or  at  officers’  call. 
By  thus  fixing  individual  responsibility  the  daily  waste  of  edible  food  was 
reduced  to  as  low  as  0.17  ounce  per  ration  per  day.  The  waste  in  the  detach- 
ment mess  was  as  low  as  0.06  ounce  per  person.  The  garbage,  except  that  from 
the  contagious-disease  wards,  was  hauled  away  in  cans  and  turned  over  to  a 
contractor.  Sputum  cups  and  articles  containing  discharges  of  a similar  nature 
were  collected  in  a pail,  lined  with  newspaper,  and  burned  in  the  furnace,  as 


640 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


were  the  infected  dressings.  Garbage  from  isolation  wards  was  separated  and 
burned. 

Lavatories  and  baths  were  connected  with  the  sewer,  all  fixtures  being: 
separately  trapped  and  provided  with  cast-iron  soil  piping,  which  connected 
with  the  trunk  sewer. 

The  heating  plant  consisted  of  10  shell  boilers  150  horsepower  each.  The 
buildings  were  all  steam  heated  by  a one-pipe  low-pressure  system  with  no 
returns.  The  system  was  adequate  to  give  ample  heat  throughout  the  hospital, 
with  the  exception  of  the  new  nurses’  quarters  and  the  two-story  barracks. 
The  inadequacy  of  the  system  in  this  respect  was  said  to  be  due  to  the  fact  that 
there  was  no  return  system.  Without  exception  the  original  hospital  buildings 
were  provided  with  more  radiation  than  was  essential. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  throughout  by  electricity,  commercially  obtained, 
the  system  proving  satisfactory. 

The  initial  equipment  was  incomplete  as  regards  instruments,  dental 
apparatus,  and  ward  equipment.  Since  it  was  possible  to  treat  patients  and 
administer  to  their  needs  by  the  use  of  emergency  equipment  purchased  locally, 
all  patients  were  cared  for  satisfactorily.  Sufficient  equipment  was  eventually 
obtained. 

On  September  20,  1917,  the  base  hospital  exchange  was  started  on  Har- 
monia  Road,  in  the  east  end  warehouse,  with  a lot  of  goods,  costing  S100. 
The  exchange  proper  was  opened  in  building  1836  on  October  1,  1917.  The 
exchange  prospered,  the  business  transacted  being  satisfactory  as  to  both 
profits  and  patronage.  It  was  a distinct  asset  to  the  hospital  and  filled  a real 
want  in  satisfying  the  needs  of  soldiers,  patients,  and  their  relatives. 

During  the  early  winter  of  1917  ward  20  of  the  base  hospital  was  opened 
for  recreational  purposes  and  was  in  charge  of  a private  detailed  for  the  purpose. 
On  December  26  a secretary  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  assumed 
charge.  The  work  was  carried  on  in  this  ward  until  January  24, 1918,  when  it  was 
necessary  to  move  to  the  base-hospital  exchange,  on  account  of  the  crowded 
condition  of  the  hospital.  Subsequently  a new  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associa- 
tion building  was  opened.  It  proved  extremely  valuable  and  was  much  used. 

The  Red  Cross  house  for  convalescents  was  opened  in  April.  1918. 

Through  the  cooperation  of  the  Red  Cross  and  Knights  of  Columbus, 
Edison  and  Victor  graphaphones  were  placed  in  nearly  all  wards.  Sunday 
afternoon  entertainments  were  given  in  the  wards  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  by 
visiting  groups  of  interested  entertainers.  Afternoon  band  concerts  in  the 
patients’  mess  hall  were  frequently  given,  and  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  furnished  at  least  three  evening  entertainments  a week,  in  addi- 
tion to  their  Sunday  evening  religious  concert  and  service.  Quoits,  checkers, 
chess,  and  other  games  were  distributed;  and  in  favorable  seasons  the  enlisted 
men  played  baseball. 

An  orchestra  was  organized  in  the  early  days  of  the  hospital  and  proved 
so  successful  as  to  warrant  official  recognition  and  encouragement.  Assistance 
was  given  it  from  post  exchange  funds,  instruments  were  purchased,  and  time 
off  was  allowed  the  members  for  practice.  A band  of  26  instruments  was 
developed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


641 


The  Daily  Bulletin,  a single  sheet,  mimeographed  daily  paper,  was  issued, 
with  some  intervals,  from  August  5,  1918.  Its  object  was  to  keep  the  patients 
and  the  personnel  informed  as  to  official  news,  announcements  of  the  Red 
Cross,  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  and  Knights  of  Columbus,  to  improve 
the  morale,  and  to  stimulate  an  esprit  de  corps. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Custer,  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  from  Septem- 
ber, 1917,  to  March,  1919,  inclusive.a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1917. 

September 

0 

16 

156 

1 

173 

80 

4 

October 

80 

420 

39 

1 

540 

270 

2 

November 

263 

574 

15 

4 

856 

493 

2 

December 

347 

843 

12 

7 

1,209 

679 

3 

1918. 

January 

379 

1.782 

49 

2 

2.212 

1.083 

10 

February 

944 

1.378 

59 

7 

2.38S 

1.345 

19 

March 

83C 

1 . 229 

56 

11 

2. 126 

1.304 

21 

April 

729 

1.524 

60 

3 

2,316 

1.281 

35 

May 

806 

1.323 

23 

4 

2,156 

1.153 

24 

June 

671 

1. 132 

13 

1C 

1,826 

940 

6 

July 

647 

1,232 

32 

4 

1.915 

910 

6 

August 

665 

1,083 

4 

8 

1,  <58 

1. 186 

5 

391 

3, 114 

9 

3,514 

929 

8 

2,487 

7,781 

10, 268 

7,926 

661 

U581 

847 

3 

2,431 

1.830 

19 

531 

1, 157 

92 

1,780 

1. 120 

8 

1919. 

612 

1. 196 

734 

2, 543 

1.777 

10 

645 

463 

1,823 

1,017 

772 

616 

189 

1,577 

922 

Completed  cases. 


o 


T3  ^ 

g o 


■s.  o 


1 


103 


115 

187 

51l 

1691 

281' 

194! 

301 

1481 

48| 

23 


20 

15 

12 


o 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

’Z) 

V) 

73 

2 

O 

-2 

o 

-2 

© 

M4 

p4 

P4 

o 

§ 

o 

w 

Of 

s 

5 

79 

i 

900 

9 

3 

262 

l 

5.499 

41 

12 

347 

11,862 

38 

374 

5 

12, 995 

43 

55 

944 

24,210 

46 

2 

821 

9 

25.343 

133 

19 

725 

4 

22,531 

132 

15 

796 

10 

24.296 

130 

8 

666 

5 

24, 896 

140 

23 

640 

7 

22,302 

122 

10 

659 

4 

20.225 

106 

10 

388 

3 

16, 407 

29 

10 

2.483 

4 

IS, 130 

40 

60 

1.569 

12 

10.864 

8. 651 

36 

513 

18 

2.876 

1.457 

24 

605 

8 

16, 824 

386 

7 

708 

7 

16,345 

239 

11 

767 

5 

20.347 

172 

23 

618 

13,205 

CHILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Y^ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

September 

0 

0 

7 

11 

18 

October 

0 

0 

0 

13 

13 

November 

1 

4 

0 

5 

0 

14 

14 

December 

4 

4 

0 

8 

3 

137 

1 

141 

0 

13 

13 

1918. 

0 

10 

01 

January 

4 

4 

8 

February 

4 

4 

8 

1919. 

March. .'. 

4 

4 

8 

0 

15 

April 

4 

4 

8 

0 

21 

0 

21 

May 

0 

8 

0 

8 

0 

31 

31 

June 

7 

11 

0 

IS 

“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


45269°— 23- 


41 


642 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Custer,  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  from 
September,  1917,  to  March,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

46 

2 

1 

49 

132 

132 

46 

2 

1 

49 

132 

132 

11 

69 

2 

1 

72 

268 

268 

48 

69 

2 

1 

72 

268 

268 

48 

1 

1918. 

3 

1 

69 

411 

17 

428 

67 

February 

67 

3 

1 

71 

409 

17 

426 

105 

1 

March 

80 

2 

2 

84 

398 

20 

418 

105 

1 

April 

79 

2 

2 

83 

503 

20 

523 

105 

1 

May 

82 

2 

2 

86 

570 

19 

589 

144 

1 

68 

2 

1 

71 

553 

19 

.Tilly... 

83 

2 

1 

86 

519 

18 

167 

84 

3 

1 

88 

511 

18 

529 

173 

September 

66 

3 

i 

70 

466 

17 

483 

138 

1 

107 

4 

2 

113 

845 

860 

191 

100 

4 

2 

106 

708 

17 

725 

212 

73 

2 

80 

688 

17 

705 

206 

1919. 

5 

2 

74 

651 

24 

117 

71 

3 

80 

28 

6S1 

103 

March..  I 

59 

8 

3 

70 

428 

27 

455 

95 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  DEVENS,  MASS.a 

The  hospital  was  located  in  Middlesex  County,  Mass.,  14  miles  from  Fitch- 
burg and  24  miles  from  Ayer.  The  country  is  rolling,  and  wooded  with  second- 
growth  trees,  mostly  hardwood  of  small  size.  The  soil,  for  the  most  part,  is 
gravelly,  hut  shows  the  variety  common  to  glacial  drift.  There  was  no  high-fly- 
ing dust  about  the  hospital  in  dry  weather,  nor  sticky,  easily  carried  mud  after 
rains.  The  climate  is  characteristic  of  New  England,  moderately  cold  in  winter, 
moderately  warm  in  summer,  with  frequent  changes  and  considerable  sunshine. 
The  hospital  site  was  not  exposed  to  excessive  wind.  The  roads  about  the 
base  hospital  were  well  kept.  The  main  highways  were  of  the  best  construction 
under  State  control;  the  county  roads  were  of  gravel  or  dirt. 

The  Nashua  River  bordered  the  hospital  grounds  on  the  west,  at  a distance 
of  a quarter  of  a mile.  This  stream  was  polluted  by  sewage  from  towns  above. 
There  was  some  low-lving  land  on  the  border  of  the  stream,  and  there  were 
several  small  ponds  within  half  a mile  of  the  hospital. 

The  base  hospital  was  organized  the  last  week  in  August.  1917.  and  the 
first  building  was  occupied  August  10,  1917. 

The  hospital  treated  all  cases  arising  at  Camp  Devens,  and  medical,  sur- 
gical, and  venereal  cases  from  overseas. 

A building,  located  near  the  center  of  the  cantonment,  was  maintained 
by  the  insurance  company  as  a first-aid  station  and  infirmary  for  construction 
employees.  It  had  six  beds.  Serious  cases  were  sent  to  Boston. 

The  buildings  constituting  the  base  hospital  were  distributed  in  the  form 
of  a Ian,  radiating  from  the  administration  building  toward  the  northwest. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Devens,  Mass.,”  by  Maj. 
W.  B.  Lancaster,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


643 


There  were  three  rows  of  medical  wards,  one  row  of  isolation  wards,  and  a 
psychiatric  group  toward  the  left  of  the  administration  building,  and  three 
rows  of  surgical  wards  to  the  right,  with  the  administration  building,  the  post 
exchange,  and  the  main  kitchen  between  the  medical  and  surgical  groups. 
The  enlisted  men’s  barracks,  the  storehouses,  garage,  shops,  and  heating  plant 
were  to  the  northwest  of  the  surgical  group.  Twelve  two-story  wards  were 
added  on  the  east  of  the  surgical  wards.  Other  construction  was  added  from 
time  to  time,  in  various  parts  of  the  hospital. 

At  the  beginning,  officers  as  well  as  enlisted  men,  were  quartered  in  buildings 
which  were  subsequently  used  as  the  men’s  barracks  and  the  storehouses. 
The  building  primarily  intended  for  the  officers’  quarters  was  converted  into 
a building  for  head  surgery,  necessitating  the  construction  of  a new  building 
for  officers’  quarters.  Additional  quarters  were  constructed  as  the  commis- 
sioned personnel  increased  in  number.  The  nurses’  quarters  were  inadequate 
at  first,  but  additional  quarters  were  provided  later.  The  enlisted  men  of  the 
detachment  were  quartered  in  eight  barracks. 

The  cooking  for  the  patients  was  done  in  a central  kitchen,  which,  with  an 
auxiliary  diet  kitchen,  had  a capacity  for  1,500  or  more.  An  additional  dining 
room  was  built,  so  that  it  would  not  be  necessary,  as  in  the  beginning,  to  have 
first  and  second  tables.  The  kitchen,  however,  was  too  small,  having  been 
designed  for  a much  smaller  mess.  There  was  a kitchen  and  mess  for  the 
hospital  detachment,  Medical  Department,  in  a building  adjoining  their  bar- 
racks, which  had  a capacity  of  about  200,  but  at  which  300  or  400  were  fed 
under  satisfactory  conditions. 

The  nurses  maintained  a separate  kitchen  and  mess.  This  also  was  over- 
crowded at  first  because  the  number  of  nurses  on  duty  was  considerably  larger 
than  either  the  nurses’  quarters  or  the  nurses’  kitchen  and  mess  were  planned 
to  accommodate. 

The  officers’  ward  had  a separate  kitchen  and  mess,  with  a capacity  con- 
siderably larger  than  the  requirements  of  the  sick  officers  demanded;  so,  for 
many  months,  all  officers  of  the  hospital  were  fed  at  a mess  maintained  in  the 
officers’  ward.  Subsequently  a new  wing  was  added  to  the  officers’  quarters 
with  a larger  kitchen  and  a seating  capacity  of  120. 

The  messes  for  the  patients,  the  hospital  detachment,  and  the  nurses 
were  maintained  on  the  Government  ration,  but  the  enlisted  men’s  mess 
received  a liberal  addition  from  the  hospital  fund  and  the  post  exchange, 
bringing  it  up  nearly  to  the  ration  for  the  patients. 

The  building  intended  for  the  hospital  laundry  was  not  used  for  this  pur- 
pose because  it  was  not  equipped  with  laundry  machinery.  All  the  laundry 
for  the  hospital  was  done  outside  the  camp  by  firms  in  cities  30  or  40  miles 
distant.  The  laundry  was  collected  in  a central  building  in  the  camp  from 
which  it  was  distributed.  This  arrangement  was  very  unsatisfactory. 

There  were  four  storehouses,  one  of  which  was  used  for  the  hospital  medical 
supply,  the  other  three  for  the  camp  medical  supply.  They  were  buildings 
similar  in  dimensions  to  the  wards  and  barracks,  but  were  arranged  with  shelves 
inside  and  each  had  a wide  platform  outside,  running  the  full  length,  for  con- 
venience in  loading  and  unloading. 

Shower  and  tub  baths  were  connected  with  each  ward.  There  were 
several  shower  baths,  but  no  tubs,  in  each  of  the  enlisted  men’s  latrines.  The 


644 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


water  for  the  shower  baths  in  these  latrines  was  heated  during  the  winter  by 
steam  from  the  heating  plant.  High-pressure  steam  was  connected  later  with 
these  lavatories.  The  officers’  quarters  were  equipped  with  shower  baths  and 
tubs,  and  the  nurses’  quarters  with  tubs  hut  no  shower  baths. 

A central  boiler  house,  located  at  the  lowest  part  of  the  hospital  area,  had 
a capacity  of  14  or  more  boilers.  The  steam  was  conducted  by  overhead  piping, 
well  insulated,  to  all  parts  of  the  hospital,  with  the  exception  of  the  12  two- 
story  wards,  for  which  a separate  heating  plant  was  constructed.  The  system 
provided  for  conveying  the  steam  from  the  boilers  to  the  radiators,  and  the 
water  of  condensation  was  allowed  to  escape  through  exhaust  pipes  which 
emptied  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground,  just  without  the  buildings.  The  heating 
system  worked  well  and  proved  entirely  adequate  even  during  an  unusually  severe 
winter.  The  consumption  of  coal  was  as  high  as  85  tons  a day  in  winter  and 
about  5 tons  a day  in  summer.  The  building  for  surgical  operations  had  an 
independent  heating  unit,  installed  to  provide  heat  for  warming  the  building  and 
for  sterilizing  materials  before  the  central  plant  was  constructed,  ft  also  pro- 
vided against  a possible  breakdown  in  the  central  heating  arrangements.  This 
auxiliary  plant  proved  very  satisfactory.  Without  it  the  surgical  service  would 
have  been  seriously  handicapped  during  the  early  months  of  its  existence. 

The  water  supply  of  the  base  hospital  was  identical  with  that  of  the  camp. 
It  was  derived  from  a group  of  wells  in  a favorable  location  northeast  of  the 
camp.  Owing  to  the  possibility  of  surface  water  finding  its  way  into  some  of 
the  wells,  chlorination  was  adopted  as  a precautionary  measure. 

The  hospital  had  a complete  gravity  system  of  sewerage.  There  were 
water  closets  in  all  the  wards,  and  three  latrines  adjacent  to  the  men's  barracks. 
Pit  latrines  were  temporarily  established  at  various  points  on  the  hospital  area 
for  the  use  of  the  construction  employees  and  also,  in  the  days  before  the 
sewerage  system  was  completed,  for  the  use  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  hospital. 
There  was  a filtration  system  near  the  river  for  the  purification  of  sewage  before 
its  final  outlet  into  the  river. 

Garbage  from  the  various  kitchens  and  wards  was  divided  into  edible  and 
inedible  waste,  and  was  weighed  so  as  to  keep  track  of  the  waste  from  each  ward 
and  kitchen.  The  garbage  was  collected  daily  and  transported  to  a central  station 
where  all  the  garbage  of  the  camp  was  handled  by  a contractor.  Manure  from 
the  stables  was  hauled  away  daily  and  loaded  upon  a car  at  the  railroad  siding. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity  obtained  from  the  general  camp 
supply,  which,  in  turn,  was  derived  from  a hydroelectric  station  on  the  Con- 
necticut River,  about  75  miles  distant.  The  supply  was  steady  and  adequate. 
The  current  was  60-cycle,  alternating  110-220  volt,  to  which  it  was  stepped 
down  by  means  of  transformers  placed  where  the  high  tension  lines  entered  the 
hospital  grounds.  Lighting  was  accomplished  by  standard  watt  volt  mazda 
lamps,  with  a few  larger  lamps  where  extra  light  was  required.  In  the  library 
the  recreation  rooms  and  the  ophthalmic  department,  special  units  of  larger 
power,  properly  shaded,  were  installed. 

During  October,  1918,  a building  was  erected  by  the  American  Red  Cross 
Society  for  the  conduct  of  occupational  therapy  for  convalescent  patients.  In 
December  the  first  group  of  reconstruction  aides,  14  in  number,  arrived.  Prog- 
ress was  made  in  the  work,  especially  among  those  confined  to  bed.  but  lack  of 
teaching  personnel  hindered  the  full  development  of  this  branch  of  the  work. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


645 


In  August,  1917,  the  post  exchange  was  opened.  Owing  to  the  large 
number  of  workmen  who  patronized  it  during  the  construction  period  a fund 
was  rapidly  accumulated  and  the  exchange  placed  on  a staple  basis. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  was  located  opposite  the  enlisted 
men’s  barracks,  and  was  connected  with  the  wards  by  a covered  corridor. 
This  building  was  used  by  both  the  enlisted  men  and  the  patients.  Basketball 
and  other  indoor  sports  were  carried  on  during  the  winter;  an  hour,  twice  a 
week,  being  reserved  for  the  officers.  Entertainments  of  some  sort,  such  as 
moving  pictures,  addresses,  concerts,  or  dramatic  entertainments,  were  given 
there  nearly  every  evening.  On  Sundays  religious  services  were  held,  by  the 
chaplain  or  some  visiting  clergyman,  in  this  building. 

The  Red  Cross  building  adjoined  the  part  of  the  hospital  where  convales- 
cent wards  were,  and  was  intended  for  the  use  of  patients  of  the  hospital. 
The  Red  Cross  aided  the  hospital  in  many  ways.  A representative  called 
biweekly  on  the  commanding  officer  to  afford  financial  or  other  assistance. 
The  patients  were  visited  in  the  ward  and  were  assisted  with  their  corre- 
spondence, the  Red  Cross  representative  serving  as  a medium  of  communication 
between  patients  and  their  homes. 

Baseball  and  tennis  games  afforded  the  principal  forms  of  amusement. 

The  American  Library  Association  furnished  the  material  and  equipment 
with  which  to  convert  the  chapel  into  a library  for  the  use  of  the  enlisted  men 
and  the  patients.  A librarian  was  placed  in  charge  and  3,000  volumes  and  a 
large  number  of  periodicals  were  filed.  The  library  association  also  supplied 
games,  puzzles,  etc.,  for  the  patients. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Devens,  Ayer,  Mass.,  from  September, 

1917,  to  July,  1919,  inclusive.11 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Y ear  and  month . 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

i 

From  command.  1 

> 

missio 

From 

SOUI 

2 s2 

(£> 

& 

ns. 

other 

rces. 

s 

o 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

1917. 

September 

58 

162 

260 

480 

October 

368 

9 

58 

533 

968 

November 

351 

1,192 

41 

5 

1,589 

December 

446 

.2,112 

3 

19 

2, 580 

1918. 

January 

617 

2,030 

1 

13 

2, 661 

February 

838 

1,660 

4 

13 

2,515 

March 

852 

2,  623 

10 

28 

3,  513 

April 

1,015 

2,  335 

25 

39 

3,414 

May 

1,001 

1,789 

7 

29 

2,  S26 

June 

1,075 

1,654 

10 

39 

2,778 

July 

1,171 

1,468 

7 

21 

2,667 

August 

985 

2,059 

10 

66 

3,  120 

September 

1,245 

10,  951 

3 

119 

12,318 

October 

4,180 

2,  200 

1 

20 

6,401 

November 

1,720 

1,460 

2 

12 

3,194 

December 

859 

1, 164 

300 

14 

2,  337 

1919. 

January 

83S 

1, 165 

499 

13 

2,  515 

February 

913 

840 

253 

10 

2,016 

March 

678 

658 

530 

5 

1,871 

April 

787 

1,136 

225 

16 

2,164 

May 

945 

461 

232 

17 

1,655 

June 

615 

301 

2 

13 

931 

July 

266 

395 

10 

671 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

o 

1 

if 

II 

£° 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

104 

1 

3 

3 

1 

368 

971 

610 

3 

3 

1 

351 

5,479 

1,122 

4 

9 

1 

3 

4 

446 

12,136 

1,928 

4 

13 

1 

17 

617 

20'  109 

1,769 

9 

33 

12 

838 

21,  570 

1,615 

10 

21 

1 

1 

15 

852 

23, 579 

2,202 

15 

44 

215 

22 

1,015 

24,  347 

1,987 

31 

IS 

344 

33 

1,001 

26' 828 

1,259 

17 

20 

433 

22 

1 , 075 

25, 238 

1,318 

13 

33 

229 

14 

1, 171 

23,943 

1,324 

8 

25 

302 

23 

'985 

25'  255 

1,607 

11 

34 

199 

24 

1,245 

30'  538 

6,924 

652 

15 

427 

120 

4'  180 

92'  538 

1,994 

135 

15 

2, 483 

54 

l'  720 

50, 603 

1,597 

23 

10 

7 667 

38 

'859 

26, 961 

1,363 

19 

10 

87 

20 

838 

25'  076 

1,520 

7 

5 

61 

9 

913 

24, 235 

1,282 

6 

6 

37 

7 

678 

13^  876 

1,004 

9 

8 

57 

6 

787 

is;  163 

1,111 

14 

3 

78 

13 

945 

21, 676 

'949 

3 

3 

71 

14 

615 

24',  084 

516 

2 

129 

18 

266 

13',  492 

427 

1 

7 

39 

23 

174 

5,733 

° Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


646 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Hevens,  Ayer,  Mass.,  from  September. 
1917 , to  July,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

September. . 

2 

2 

2 

_ _ 

October 

5 

46 

51 

1 

November 

4 

53 

57 

1 

26 

December 

8 

57 

1 

10 

11 

1918. 

1919. 

January 

9 

68 

77 

1 

10 

February 

0 

83 

89 

February 

10 

March 

4 

131 

135 

March. 

11 

April 

4 

134 

138 

April 

11 

May 

4 

134 

138 

1 

June 

4 

146 

150 

1 

31 

July 

4 

154 

158 

July 

o 

10 

10 

August 

e 

164 

170 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

48 

48 

249 

249 

October 

48 

48 

257 

257 

November 

50 

4 

1 

282 

282 

52 

December 

70 

3 

1 

74 

392 

392 

51 

1918. 

January 

75 

3 

1 

79 

377 

17 

394 

February 

71 

6 

l 

78 

545 

17 

562 

March 

72 

3 

2 

77 

433 

17 

450 

119 

April 

75 

2 

2 

79 

422 

17 

439 

160 

May 

70 

2 

2 

74 

428 

17 

445 

134 

June 

74 

3 

2 

79 

472 

17 

4S9 

124 

July 

85 

5 

1 

91 

540 

22 

562 

135 

August 

66 

4 

1 

71 

6S3 

IS 

701 

128 

September 

146 

6 

3 

155 

940 

19 

959 

126 

October 

86 

4 

3 

93 

924 

17 

941 

507 

November 

88 

4 

3 

95 

916 

18 

934 

241 

December 

70 

9 

3 

S2 

617 

18 

635 

160 

1919. 

January 

70 

7 

3 

SO 

590 

17 

607 

120 

February 

63 

7 

3 

73 

556 

16 

572 

112 

March 

52 

5 

4 

61 

519 

17 

536 

109 

April 

58 

5 

5 

6S 

500 

17 

517 

93 

May 

47 

6 

6 

59 

410 

2 

412 

S9 

June 

35 

5 

5 

45 

259 

2 

261 

62 

July 

22 

3 

2 

27 

170 

170 

31 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  DIX,  N.  J.u 

Camp  Dix,  together  with  the  base  hospital,  which  it  included,  was  located 
at  Wrightstowm,  N.  J.,  21  miles  southeast  of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  31  miles  north- 
east of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  The  site  of  the  camp  is  slightly  rolling,  surrounded  by 
farming  country,  with  some  woodland  to  the  east. 

The  soil  is  sand,  mixed  with  clay,  with  strata  of  loam.  There  is  no  high- 
flying dust  in  dry  weather.  The  soil  is  white  and  muddy  after  about  two  days 
of  rain,  but  dries  up  in  three  or  four  days.  The  mud  formed  is  not  sticky. 


o The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dix,  N.  J., " by  Maj . Andrew 
F.  McBride,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  Thematerialusedbyhim  in  the  com- 
pilation of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  Ceneral’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ei. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


647 


The  climate  is  moderate.  It  is  warmer  in  winter  than  that  of  either 
Philadelphia  or  Yew  York,  with  less  snow  and  rain  than  falls  in  these  cities. 
The  summers  are  pleasant.  The  prevailing  wind  during  spring  and  summer  is 
from  the  west;  during  the  remainder  of  the  year,  from  the  southeast.  The 
hospital  was  not  exposed  to  high  winds. 

The  roads  in  the  hospital  grounds  were  of  concrete;  but  previous  to  June, 
1918,  there  were  no  roads,  and  great  difficulty  was  experienced  during  the  part 
of  the  winter  of  191S  in  bringing  supplies  into  the  hospital,  as  no  motor  vehicles 
could  enter  the  grounds.  Roads  in  the  surrormding  neighborhood  were  of  dirt, 
with  the  exception  of  one  service  road  to  Trenton  and  one  to  Philadelphia. 
All  roads  were  in  very  bad  condition.  There  were  no  streams  of  any  size  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood.  The  sanitation  of  Wrightstown,  N.  J.,  the 


nearest  village,  was  very  bad,  until  the  town  was  closed  to  soldiers  by  a camp 
order,  in  the  spring  of  191S.  A sewer  system  was  installed  subsequently, 
macadamized  roads  were  laid,  and  concrete  sidewalks  built.  The  condition 
of  the  town  then  became  satisfactory. 

The  medical  activities  of  this  camp  began  with  the  arrival,  on  August  27, 
1917,  of  Ambulance  Company  and  Field  Hospital  Yo.  22,  together  with  several 
casual  medical  officers,  all  from  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.  At  the  time  of  their 
arrival  a hospital  for  the  care  of  sick  civilians  was  in  operation  in  one  of  the 
temporary  buildings.  This  hospital  continued  to  care  for  civilians  and  later 
for  soldiers  until  a temporary  field  hospital  was  established  in  another  camp 
building.  It  functioned  as  a hospital  until  October  22,  1917,  when  the  base 
hospital  was  opened. 


648 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  base  hospital  plan,  as  issued  by  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  was 
followed  exactly:  the  character  of  the  site  permitted  this  arrangement. 

On  October  29  the  first  patients  were  received,  and  the  patients  at  the  tem- 
porary hospital,  then  numbering  249,  were  transferred  to  the  base  hospital. 
At  that  time  the  north  and  south  wings  and  central  section  were  still  under 
construction;  there  was  no  steam  heat;  there  were  no  connecting  corridors; 
and  all  cooking  was  done  in  the  main  mess  kitchen  and  in  the  kitchen  of  the 
officers’  ward. 

The  original  plans  showed  26  rooms  in  the  officers’  quarters.  As  early  as 
September,  1917,  the  commanding  officer  began  sending  requests  for  larger 
officers’  quarters.  These  were  persistently  refused  for  several  months.  Addi- 
tional quarters  were  finally  authorized,  construction  was  commenced  in  March, 
1918,  and  the  quarters  completed  the  latter  part  of  April.  They  were  not 
sufficient,  however,  and  a number  of  officers  still  had  to  be  quartered  in  the 
officers  ’ ward.  At  times  these  two  buildings  were  not  sufficient  to  accommodate 
all  officers,  and  one  hospital  ward  was  used  for  the  purpose.  The  original  nurses’ 
quarters  were  not  sufficiently  large,  and  two  Avards  were  used  until  the  new 
nurses’  quarters  were  completed,  in  May,  1918.  The  original  nurses’  quarters 
Avere  then  occupied  by  the  nurses’  training  school,  and  the  graduate  nurses 
were  housed  in  the  five  nurses’  dormitories  erected  between  March  and  August, 
1918.  The  original  plans  shoAved  six  barracks.  Two  additional  barracks 
Avere  built,  but  one  of  the  original  buildings  was  converted  into  a mess  hall. 
Each  of  these  barracks  held  74  men,  but  by  instructions  from  the  Surgeon 
General ’s  Office,  this  capacity  was  reduced  to  60,  making  a housing  capacity 
of  420  men.  The  authorized  strength  of  a detachment  for  this  hospital  was 
650;  the  barracks,  therefore,  were  entirely  inadequate.  The  surplus  men  were 
housed  in  tents,  in  warm  weather,  and  in  the  two-story  barracks  in  cold  weather, 
when  these  were  not  required  for  patients. 

The  large  hospital  kitchen  Avas  completed  October  28,  1917;  and  from  that 
time  until  February  15,  1918,  all  the  food  for  patients,  enlisted  men,  and  nurses 
was  prepared  here.  This  mess,  which  was  designed  to  cook  for  1,000,  frequently 
had  to  serve  2,500,  and  hardly  proved  equal  to  the  task.  Conditions  were 
improved  by  adding  a large  number  of  steam  cookers  and  roasters.  The  en- 
listed men’s  mess  was  opened  on  February  15,  1918,  but  was  large  enough  to 
accommodate  only  the  remainder  of  the  detachment  continuing  to  be  served  in 
the  main  hospital  mess.  An  additional  mess  was  authorized  in  the  spring  of 
1918,  but  was  not  completed  until  August.  The  arrangement  was  very  poor, 
as  the  mess  Avas  composed  of  two  buildings  connected  by  a narrow  corridor, 
only  one  building  having  a kitchen.  The  nurses’  mess  was  opened  February  1. 
1918. 

Four  storehouses  Avere  erected  according  to  the  original  plans,  and  they 
proved  sufficiently  large  for  the  use  of  the  base  hospital  alone;  but  Avhen  the 
division  and  camp  supplies  Avere  moved  into  them  they  were  decidedly  crowded. 
Additional  storehouses  were  constructed  later. 

In  the  hospital  proper,  the  t-Avo  central  rows  of  Avards  had  bath  and  closets 
in  the  wards.  The  tAvo  end  rows  had  bath  and  closets  between  wards,  making 
four  lavatories  for  each  toav  of  eight  wards.  The  lavatories  and  baths  were 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


649 


connected  with  the  sewer  by  ordinary  trap.  Latrines  for  enlisted  men’s 
barracks  were  outside  of  the  building. 

The  hospital  was  heated  by  means  of  stoves  until  December  12,  1917, 
when  a low-pressure  steam  heating  system  was  installed.  No  return  system 
for  water  of  condensation  was  authorized  or  installed  originally,  and  this 
made  heating  very  expensive,  as  much  as  75  tons  of  coal  being  used  in  a day. 
A return  system  was  finally  authorized  about  the  middle  of  the  winter.  When 
it  was  installed  the  ground  had  to  be  thawed  by  means  of  burning  fires  over  it. 
The  expense  of  installation  at  this  time  was  at  least  eightfold  what  it  would 
have  cost  when  the  original  plant  was  installed. 

The  hospital,  like  the  camp,  was  lighted  by  electricity,  purchased  from  the 
Public  Service  Corporation  of  New  Jersey. 

The  hospital  water  supply,  which  was  identical  with  that  of  the  camp,  was 
pumped  from  the  south  branch  of  the  north  fork  of  Rancocas  Creek,  4 miles 
distant,  and  was  treated  by  chlorination.  The  color  of  the  water  was  very 
high,  and  the  high  carbon  dioxid  content  made  it  worthless  for  use  in  high- 
pressure  boilers,  as  the  boilers  were  eaten  out  very  rapidly  and  the  hot-water 
supply  was  continually  red  with  the  iron  rust.  An  artesian  well  was  sunk 
beside  the  power  plant  to  supply  water  for  the  boilers. 

The  sewerage  system  was  the  same  as  for  the  rest  of  the  camp,  except  that 
on  account  of  a ridge  between  the  hospital  and  the  septic  tank,  it  was  necessary 
to  pump  the  sewage  to  the  tank. 

Kitchen  waste  and  garbage  were  removed  by  the  quartermaster  to  a 
central  disposal  plant. 

The  laundry  work  of  the  hospital  was  originally  done  by  a private  laundry 
company  of  Philadelphia;  later,  it  was  done  in  a more  satisfactory  manner  by 
the  quartermaster,  in  the  camp. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  organization  of  the  hospital  there  was  no  shortage 
of  beds,  bedding,  or  drugs.  There  was  a decided  shortage  of  mess  equipment 
and  surgical  instruments,  however,  but  they  later  became  adequate  and 
satisfactory. 

When  the  construction  of  the  hospital  was  begun  the  contractor  was 
requested  to  complete  the  commanding  officer’s  quarters  at  once,  with  the 
exception  of  the  inside  finish  of  the  walls  and  floors.  This  was  done,  and  the 
building  was  used  as  a post  exchange  during  the  construction  period.  The 
profit  on  sales  to  the  workmen  employed  was  sufficient  to  form  a good  fund 
for  starting  a hospital  mess  when  the  hospital  was  opened.  About  October 
15,  1917,  the  permanent  exchange  building  was  occupied.  It  proved  to  be 
satisfactory,  except  that  it  was  too  small.  In  emergencies,  when  necessary 
articles  of  equipment  and  supplies  could  not  be  obtained  within  a reasonable 
time,  they  were  purchased  with  exchange  funds. 

The  Young  Men 's  Christian  Association  building  was  completed  in  Septem- 
ber, 1918.  The  construction  of  this  building  had  been  proposed  and  authorized 
by  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  and  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 
authorities  a year  before;  but  its  immediate  construction  was  delayed  through 
the  opposition  of  the  Red  Cross  representatives  at  the  camp,  their  contention 
being  that  the  Red  Cross  should  handle  all  the  work.  This  opposition  was 


650 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


finally  overcome,  after  the  work  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 
whose  representatives  entered  the  field  ahead  of  the  Red  Cross,  was  seriously 
interfered  with  for  months.  Two  Young  Men ’s  Christian  Association  repre- 
sentatives were  assigned  to  the  hospital  and  were  doing  excellent  work  from 
the  time  of  its  opening.  Owing  to  the  strong  objection  on  the  part  of  the  local 
representatives  of  the  Red  Cross  to  having  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associa- 
tion encroach  upon  its  field  of  looking  after  all  that  pertained  to  the  patients, 
a hospital  order  was  issued  forbidding  all  patients  to  enter  the  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association  building.  This  left  the  building  free  for  the  use  of  mem- 
bers of  the  detachment. 

There  were  two  Red  Cross  buildings,  a large  one  for  the  patients  and  a 
small  recreation  building  for  the  nurses.  The  work  of  this  organization  com- 
prised chiefly  the  writing  of  letters  for  patients,  giving  entertainments  for 
convalescents,  and  obtaining  minor  supplies  for  the  hospital,  when  they  could 
not  he  obtained  immediately  by  requisition. 

Various  games  anti  drills  were  participated  in  by  convalescent  patients. 
Phonographs  and  records  were  placed  in  wards  where  it  seemed  desirable  to 
have  them. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dix,  Wrightstown,  N.  J.,from  October, 

1917,  to  June,  1919,  inclusive 


SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command . 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term . 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

o 

'cS 

t o 

c, 

2 o 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

L 

C2 

Hospital. 

| 

1917. 

10 

249 

8 

267 

104 

2 

2 

7 

152 

2 093 

152 

13 

61 

351 

577 

220 

4 

12 

2 

83 

256 

5’ 323 

256 

3*7 

50 

559 

898 

421 

3 

42 

123 

1 

306 

2 

10.341 

31 

1918. 

308 

44 

104 

1,015 

1,471 

3 

3 

223 

3 

683 

1 

16.750 

684 

55 

63 

1,082 

1 , 884 

805 

10 

371 

2 

690 

1 

18  925 

9 

691 

91 

1,842 

2, 6S9 

1,677 

12 

20 

256 

724 

724 

81 

74 

1,945 

2,824 

1.374 

13 

21 

1 

1.057 

30. 103 

1 , 057 

41 

35 

2,589 

3,722 

l . 975 

8 

39 

373 

8 

1,319 

40.S38 

1,319 

41 

1,851 

3,216 

9 

83 

314 

3 

1.230 

1,230 

36 

20 

2,563 

3,849 

1.816 

12 

108 

8 

237 

48  453 

1,668 

24 

10 

2,625 

4,327 

2,642 

3 

131 

3 

111 

1 

1,436 

40,  893 

1,436 

211 

14 

6,282 

7, 943 

3,222 

489 

97 

634 

0 

3,496 

3,496 

120 

4 

1,914 

5,. 534 

357 

63 

6 

195 

2 

1,352 

67.373 



1,352 

41 

55 

1,208 

2,656 

1 . 496 

14 

66 

35 

1.045 

24.277 

1,045 

24 

309 

1,183 

2,561 

1 . 184 

12 

27 

32 

4 

1,302 

30.313 

1919. 

January 

1,302 

37 

3 

2,459 

3,  SOI 

2.23S 

20 

15 

2 

i 

28 

6 

1,491 

31. 657 



1,491 

32 

12 

1 . 816 

3,351 

1,  791 

10 

1 

53 

6 

1.485 

42.S47 

1.485 

46 

31 

1,835 

3,397 

1, 716 

6 

6 

125 

1.534 

1, 534 

23 

54 

989 

2.600 

1.315 

2 

2 

194 

s 

1.074 

38.  408 

May 

1,074 

28 

26? 

9513 

2,317 

968 

4 

6 

173 

17 

1, 149 

34. 179 

June 

1,149 

20 

5 

S9S 

2,072 

1,141 

0 

2S 

15 

176 

16 

691 

52.01S 

o Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file. 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


651 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dix,  Wriglitstown,  N.  J.,  from  October, 
1917,  to  June,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q,  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

45 

5 

1 

51 

186 

186 

59 

1 

1 

61 

186 

186 

68 

71 

216 

216 

2 

1918. 

C9 

4 

1 

74 

330 

330 

48 

i 

1 

78 

340 

340 

95 

March. 

94 

2 

1 

97 

352 

17 

369 

97 

April 

1C6 

i 

2 

1C9 

360 

17 

377 

131 

95 

1 

2 

98 

431 

431 

133 

87 

2 

1 

90 

451 

451 

124 

July 

82 

3 

1 

86 

607 

607 

134 

85 

3 

1 

89 

590 

590 

120 

104 

3 

3 

110 

650 

650 

158 

89 

4 

3 

96 

650 

344 

76 

3 

5 

84 

546 

546 

272 

December 

G4 

4 

5 

73 

532 

45 

577 

197 

1919. 

January 

72 

7 

5 

84 

602 

43 

645 

170 

February 

C9 

6 

6 

81 

592 

16 

CC8 

144 

March 

82 

6 

5 

93 

544 

58 

6C2 

142 

April 

72 

6 

7 

85 

516 

55 

571 

158 

May 

C3 

6 

11 

80 

517 

38 

555 

168 

June 

57 

6 

7 

70 

399 

25 

424 

125 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  DODGE,  IOWA.« 

Camp  Dodge  was  located  on,  and  extended  for  about  3 miles  along,  the 
western  slope  of  a picturesque  ridge,  situated  just  west  of  the  Des  Moines  River 
valley.  Islands  of  hard-wood  trees,  scattered  here  and  there  on  both  the  east 
and  west  ridges,  as  well  as  along  the  reaches  of  the  near-by  Beaver  Creek,  added 
to  the  general  picturesque  appearance  of  the  location.  At  the  extreme  western 
extremity  of  the  cantonment,  the  base  hospital  was  constructed.  From  here 
to  Des  Moines  was  a distance  of  20  miles.  The  composition  of  the  soil  at  Camp 
Dodge  left  much  to  be  desired,  considered  from  the  viewpoint  of  comfort.  It  is 
composed  of  a thick,  heavy,  black  loam,  with  a substratum  of  gravel.  During 
wet  weather,  the  lower  levels  of  the  area  become  tenacious  in  quality,  and 
difficult  to  negotiate.  During  dry  periods,  however,  the  denuded  soil  was 
readily  metamorphosed  into  an  impalpable  dust,  which,  whipped  by  the  pre- 
vailing strong  winds  of  the  valley,  became  veritable  dust  storms  that  occasioned 
concern. 

The  hospital  was  surrounded  by  well-kept  concrete  roads;  but  aside  from 
these  cantonment  roads,  the  usual  dirt  country  roads  were  to  be  found.  South 
of  the  hospital,  and  immediately  adjacent  to  it,  was  the  village  of  Herrold,  the 
sanitary  condition  of  which  was  under  the  control  of  the  division  sanitary 
inspector. 

The  function  of  the  base  hospital  was  to  treat  all  cases  arising  in  the  camp 
and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal  cases  from  overseas. 


® Thestatements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dodge,  Iowa,”  by  Lieut.  Col. 
J.  R.  Shook,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


652 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


When  the  hospital  was  organized,  August  28, 1917,  the  division  commander 
(88th  Division)  gave  the  use  of  two  of  the  Government-constructed  two-story 
cantonment  barracks.  One  of  these  buildings  was  used  for  barracks  for  officers 
and  for  the  administrative  offices  of  the  hospital;  the  other  was  used  for  wards. 
This  ward  building  was  rapidly  filled,  and  a third  two-story  barracks  building 
was  added.  Patients  were  admitted  so  rapidly  at  this  time  that  a division  of 
the  buildings  into  special  wards  became  necessary;  and  within  a few  days  more 
buildings  were  added,  until  10  two-story  barrack  buildings  were  being  used 
exclusively  as  wards.  The  officers’  quarters  were  moved  out  of  the  barracks, 
the  officers  then  being  quartered  in  regular  officers’  quarters.  These  11  build- 
ings were  used  until  the  latter  part  of  October,  1917. 

The  cantonment  contractor  furnished  an  emergency  hospital  for  the 
employees.  It  consisted  of  a well-equipped  hospital  tent,  under  the  charge  of 
civilian  surgeons.  At  a later  date  it  was  moved  into  a brick  building,  and 
remained  under  the  charge  of  civilian  physicians  and  surgeons. 

On  October  28,  1917,  the  patients  were  moved  from  the  temporary  to  the 
permanent  base  hospital.  At  that  time  19  wards  were  completed.  Additional 
wards  were  equipped  and  occupied  as  need  arose. 

When  the  base  hospital  was  opened  the  officers  were  quartered  in  three 
officers’  barracks,  each  building  having  a capacity  of  31  officers.  These  build- 
ings had  independent  heating  plants  and  outside  latrines.  During  the  winter 
of  1917,  the  officers  suffered  much  inconvenience  from  the  cold  and  from 
insufficient  bathing  facilities  on  account  of  the  inadequacy  of  these  independent 
heating  plants.  Later,  a new  building  for  officers’  quarters  was  constructed, 
and  opened  in  January,  1918.  These  quarters  consisted  of  a main  building  160 
feet  long,  and  three  wings,  the  outside  two  of  which  contained  rooms  for  officers, 
the  central  wing  containing  the  assembly  hall,  dining  room,  kitchen,  and  toilets. 
This  building  was  heated  from  the  central  heating  plant,  was  well  lighted,  and 
was  very  comfortable.  It  contained  48  rooms  and  accommodated  about  100 
officers.  The  care  of  the  building  and  the  administration  of  the  mess  were  in 
charge  of  a house  committee,  made  up  of  three  field  officers  from  the  base 
hospital  organization. 

The  members  of  the  Nurse  Corps  were  quartered  in  a building  of  their  own, 
attached  to  the  hospital  proper  b}T  closed  corridors.  This  building  contained 
bedrooms,  a mess  hall,  and  kitchen,  and,  up  to  January,  191S,  proved  ample. 
As  the  hospital  grew  in  size,  and  more  nurses  became  necessary,  they  were 
placed  in  the  officers’  barracks  just  vacated.  In  April.  1918,  there  was  a rapid 
increase  in  the  number  of  patients,  necessitating  a rapid  and  large  increase  in  the 
Nurse  Corps  on  duty  in  the  hospital.  This,  in  addition  to  a fire  in  the  nurses’ 
quarters,  made  it  immediately  imperative  that  new  and  large  quarters  be  pro- 
vided. A building  was  erected,  a replica  of  the  new  officers’  quarters.  This 
was  soon  fdled,  and  additions  were  made  to  it.  The  original  nurses’  quarters 
were  rebuilt  after  the  fire,  but  even  this  did  not  provide  for  the  225  nurses  on 
duty,  so  that  it  became  necessary  to  reopen  the  old  officers’  barracks. 

The  enlisted  personnel  occupied  three  barracks  on  the  west  side  of  the 
hospital.  As  the  detachment  increased  in  size  it  became  necessary  to  house 
the  men  in  solaria,  in  vacant  wards,  in  the  chapel,  and  in  every  available  space. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


653 


Early  in  March,  1918,  the  situation  became  so  acute  that  five  new  barracks  were 
erected.  These  barracks  were  ready  for  occupancy  on  April  5.  Added  to  the 
original  three,  they  gave  adequate  accommodations  for  the  660  enlisted  men 
to  which  the  hospital  was  entitled. 

The  kitchen  building  for  the  enlisted  personnel  consisted  of  a regular 
standardized  structure,  24  feet  wide  by  156  feet  long,  with  the  storerooms  at 
the  east  end  and  the  kitchen  at  the  other.  It  was  situated  as  near  the  center 
of  the  hospital  as  construction  permitted,  and  was  connected  with  the  mess  hall 
and  wards  by  closed  corridors.  The  main  kitchen  equipment  consisted  of  two 
12-foot  ranges;  two  steam  roasters,  with  a capacity  of  125  pounds  of  boned 
meat;  two  steam  vegetable  cookers,  with  a capacity  of  4 bushels  of  prepared 
vegetables;  two  40-gallon  steam  cookers  for  soup,  etc.,  two  20-gallon  and  one 
40-gallon  steam  coffee  urns;  one  vegetable  peeler  with  a capacity  of  5 bushels 
per  hour;  one  electric  meat  cutter,  with  a capacity  of  150  pounds  of  boned 
meat  per  hour;  and  the  usual  auxiliary  kitchen  outfit  for  a kitchen  preparing 
meals  for  about  1,800  patients. 

The  liquid,  and  special,  therapeutic  diets  were  prepared  in  the  diet  kitchen 
situated  just  off  the  main  kitchen.  This  building  was  24  by  24  feet. 

The  general  mess  hall  consisted,  for  a time,  of  a single  room,  156  by  24  feet, 
with  two  rows  of  combination  bench  tables  running  the  entire  length  of  the 
room.  Later  this  mess  hall  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  three  wings,  24  by 
35  feet,  running  at  right  angles  to  and  opening  directly  into  the  main  hall  at 
each  end  and  in  the  middle,  making  a seating  capacity  of  620. 

The  kitchen  for  the  commissioned  patients,  which  was  well  equipped,  was 
attached  to  the  officers’  ward.  Its  administration  was  entirely  separate  from 
that  of  the  general  mess,  and  was  operated  with  its  own  funds.  The  mess  hall 
opened  directly  from  the  assembly  room  of  the  officers’  ward  and  seated  approxi- 
mately 100  persons.  The  tables  were  provided  by  the  Medical  Department; 
the  table  linen  was  furnished  from  the  officers’  hospital  fund. 

The  hospital  storehouse  consisted  of  a standardized  building,  24  by  150 
feet.  It  had  a cement  floor  throughout  its  entire  length,  and  was  partitioned 
into  five  rooms.  These  rooms  were  divided  into  a medical  property  department 
and  a quartermaster  department.  It  also  contained  the  hospital  carpenter 
shop.  It  was  well  lighted  and  steam  heated. 

The  building  originally  built  as  the  hospital  laundry  was  wholly  inadequate 
in  size  and  construction  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  intended.  It  was 
never  ecpiipped,  and  consequently  the  hospital  had  to  depend  upon  the  laundries 
of  Des  Moines.  The  laundry  was  used  as  a linen  room,  where  soiled  linen  was 
taken  by  the  ward  men,  and  exchanged,  piece  by  piece,  for  clean  linen.  There 
was  installed  in  this  building  a large  autoclave  for  the  sterilization  of  infected 
linen  and  for  the  sterilization  of  the  clothing  of  patients  coming  into  the  hospital 
with  infectious  and  contagious  diseases. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  ready  for  use  about  September  1,  1917.  Owing 
to  the  great  distance  of  the  chapel  from  the  center  of  activities  of  the  hospital, 
it  was  never  used  for  divine  services.  It  served  as  temporary  barracks  for 
enlisted  personnel  for  a number  of  months. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  from  open  and  tubular  wells,  loca-ted  on 
the  Des  Moines  River  bottoms,  situated  approximately  1,000  feet  west  of  the 


654 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  TOUTED  STATES. 


river,  and  directly  east  of  the  cantonment.  The  water  was  filtered  through 
a 15-foot  bed  of  sand  and  gravel,  then  chlorinated  and  pumped  to  a million- 
gallon  concrete  reservoir,  situated  on  a high  ridge  running  parallel  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  cantonment.  From  this  reservoir  it  was  distributed, 
by  gravity,  to  the  whole  camp,  including  the  base  hospital. 

Practically  all  the  toilets  of  the  hospital  were  placed  in  the  latrines  between 
each  two  wards.  They  consisted  of  flush  stools  and  enameled  bowl  urinals, 
with  open  plumbing,  and  were  modern  in  all  respects.  The  sewerage  system 
was  connected  with  the  general  camp  system,  which  discharged,  by  gravity, 
into  the  Des  Moines  River  3 miles  below  Camp  Dodge  and  8 miles  above  the 
city  of  Des  Moines. 

Kitchen  wastes  were  collected  by  civilians  in  Government-owned  trucks, 
under  charge  of  a Quartermaster  Corps  noncommissioned  officer.  They  were 
then  carried  to  the  railroad  and  removed  from  the  cantonment  by  a contractor. 
Garbage  from  the  infectious  disease  messes  was  carried  in  a like  manner  to 
the  incinerator,  and  burned.  Manure  from  the  picket  lines  was  conveyed  to 
a dump  and  burned. 

The  various  wards  and  buildings  of  the  hospital  were  heated  by  a vacuum- 
return  system  from  a central  heating  plant,  consisting  of  fourteen  150-horse- 
power boilers.  The  heating  of  the  individual  buildings  was  controlled  by 
automatic  gates.  The  system  proved  very  successful. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity  throughout.  The  current  was  a part 
of  the  general  camp  system,  and  was  obtained  from  the  Des  Moines  Electric  Co. 

The  first  equipment  of  the  hospital  consisted  of  the  standard  field  hospital 
equipment.  Later,  Gold  Medal  cots,  with  a field  mattress,  two  blankets,  and 
two  sheets  each,  were  issued.  One  pair  of  pajamas  was  given  to  each  patient. 
On  September  12,  1917,  Medical  Department  supplies  began  to  be  issued, 
and  as  these  increased  the  field  hospital  equipment  was  gradually  removed. 
The  hospital  eventually  became  fully  equipped  for  the  care  of  about  2,000 
patients. 

When  the  hospital  was  first  opened  the  enlisted  men  and  the  ambulatory 
patients  patronized  a contractor  s canteen  two  blocks  from  the  hospital. 
This  suggested  the  need  of  a hospital  exchange,  and  one  was  established,  being 
opened  for  business  in  one  of  the  barracks,  September  25,  1917.  Trade  was 
good  from  the  start,  and  rapidly  increased.  In  October  larger  quarters  were 
obtained,  making  it  possible  to  carry  a larger  variety  of  goods.  When  the 
new  base  hospital  was  finished  the  latter  part  of  October,  the  exchange  moved 
into  an  independent  wing,  24  feet  wide  by  75  long,  in  the  center  of  the  hospital. 
A still  greater  variety  of  goods  was  then  carried,  including  various  uniform 
accessories.  Three  barber  chairs  were  operated.  Later,  when  the  hospital 
had  increased  to  about  1,000  patients,  business  increased  to  such  a scale  that 
it  became  necessary  to  enlarge  the  exchange.  It  was  then  completely  reno- 
vated, an  office  was  fitted  out  for  the  exchange  officer,  new  counters  were  pur- 
chased, a temperance  bar  was  installed,  modern  office  equipment  was  bought, 
and  a modern  sanitary  barber  shop  was  installed.  Sales  increased  from  about 
$400  a week  to  $2,000,  and  the  personnel  from  2 to  17.  Dividends  to  the 
extent  of  several  thousand  dollars  were  paid  the  hospital  fund. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


655 


The  spirit  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  seemed  to  be  to  fill 
every  demand  made  upon  it.  Stationery  was  distributed  free  in  cpiantitv 
sufficient  to  write  850  letters  per  day.  Stamps  to  the  value  of  from  $25  to  $40 
were  sold  daily,  and  enough  money  orders  were  sold  monthly  to  average  more 
than  $12,000.  Some  months  as  many  as  300  telegrams  were  sent  for  patients. 

Educational  classes  were  held  in  all  subjects  for  which  there  was  a demand. 
Athletic  equipment  for  baseball,  indoor  baseball,  tennis,  volley  ball,  and  soccer 
were  furnished.  Nearly  200  testaments  were  given  to  patients  each  month, 
and  about  1,000  pieces  of  religious  literature  were  distributed  in  the  same 
length  of  time.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  attendants  spoke 
personally  to  not  less  than  1,000  persons  in  the  wards  daily,  inquiring  of  them 
their  needs,  and  supplying  for  them  the  obtainable  comforts. 

Great  quantities  of  supplies  and  equipment  were  furnished  by  the  Red 
Cross,  in  several  emergencies,  and  every  service  was  rendered  by  them  that 
would  aid  as  a contributory  to  the  rehabilitation  of  the  patients.  For  a time 
the  work  of  the  bureau  of  communications  and  other  activities,  operated  by 
the  Red  Cross,  were  seriously  handicapped  for  lack  of  room  and  other  facilities, 
but  these  difficulties  were  overcome  with  the  completion  of  the  Red  Cross 
house.  This  was  connected  with  the  hospital  by  closed  corridors,  and  served 
as  a place  of  amusement  and  diversion  for  convalescent  patients. 

The  nurses’  recreation  building,  constructed  by  the  Red  Cross,  with 
assembly  room,  library,  kitchenette,  shower  baths,  glass-inclosed  porch,  and 
other  comforts  and  conveniences,  added  much  to  the  welfare  of  the  nurses  on 
duty  in  the  hospital. 

Numerous  forms  of  carefully  planned  recreation  for  patients  were  available 
in  the  hospital.  No  matter  how  sick  the  soldier  or  what  form  his  malady  as- 
sumed, amusement  was  provided  for  him.  Books,  scrap  books,  magazines, 
in  quantities,  sent  in  as  gifts,  served  to  interest  and  amuse  the  patients.  Con- 
certs by  the  detachment  band  and  the  regimental  bands  were  given  several 
times  a week.  Visiting  entertainers  also  contributed  to  cheer  the  patients. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  Knights 
of  Columbus,  Red  Cross,  Lutheran  Brotherhood,  and  B ’nai  B Tith  Club  for 
Jews  contributed  to  their  share  of  entertainment  and  amusement. 

The  base  hospital  was  designated  a camp  hospital  on  July  5,  1919. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Array  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dodge,  Iowa,  from  September,  1917,  to 

July,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

£ 

c 

a 

tcS 

3 

p* 

Admissions. 

Total  to  bo  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

© 

© 

Vj 

O 

Q 

Discharged,  oxpi- 
ration  of  term . 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

othor  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

j Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

o 

§ 

& 

1917. 

September 

97 

779 

831 

365 

2 

3 

511 

4, 7S5 

October 

511 

53? 

1,045 

738 

1 

301 

11,009 

November 

301 

1, 195 

69 

1,000 

2 

14,282 

December 

559 

R537 

90 

2, 186 

726 

H 

is 

2 



1 

610 

81oj 

17, 755 

“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  .52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  G eneral,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section.  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


656 


MILITAKY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dodge,  Iovm,  from  September,  1917,  to 

July,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED— Continued. 


Year  and  month. 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Totaltobeaccounted  for. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

815 

2,611 

53 

3,479 

1,156 

2, 024 

82 

12 

3,274 

1,029 

3,086 

123 

18 

4, 256 

1,542 

2,893 

150 

13 

4, 59S 

1,820 

2,370 

141 

28 

4,359 

1,568 

1,785 

114 

39 

3,506 

1,445 

2,358 

52 

44 

3,899 

1,562 

1,762 

20 

27 

3,371 

1,402 

2,026 

29 

37 

3,494 

1,833 

9,694 

3 

96 

11,626 

1,909 

1,542 

12 

3,463 

1,092 

1,514 

730 

13 

3,349 

1,044 

1,838 

1,214 

13 

4,109 

1,346 

1,078 

6S2 

11 

3,117 

1,312 

82C 

1,128 

13 

3,273 

1,145 

566 

770 

21 

2,502 

557 

438 

765 

1C 

1,770 

507 

696 

1 

17 

1,221 

320 

360 

5 

6S5 

Completed  cases. 


o o 

tlj  ^ 

II 

w g 


n 3 
2 « 


£ 8 


Remaining. 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


1918. 
January. . . 
February.. 

March 

April 

May 

June; 

July 

August 

September 
October . . . 
November. 
December. 

1919, 
January. . . 
February.. 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 


666 

646 

1,630 

1,624 

1,209 

713 

434 


20 

18 

42 
108 

57 

16 

18 

18 

13 

705 

43 
20 


46 

39 

78 

162 

4 

3 

4 


4' 

225 

88 

120 

25 

126 


504 

586 

941 

856 

722 

599 

808 

648 

552 


39  8,383 
441,822 
41  1,494 


13  2,019  1,346 
411,061  1,312 


1,156 

1,029 

1,542 

1,818 

1,568 

1,445 

1.562 

1.402 

1,833 

1,909 

1.092 

1,044 


71 

105 

37 

164 

224 


340 
45 
10 
16 

-I  4 


1 145'. 
557  . 
507  . 
320  . 


29,496 
28,430 
44, 294 
62,567 
56, 383 
46,176 
38,904 
33; 840 
30,240 
141,289 
67,005 
32,483 


30,635’. 
22,063  . 
20,960  . 
17,993  . 
10, 10S  . 
11,312  . 
5,453  . 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

105 

105 

June 

14 

14 

July 

14 

14 

1918. 

September 

3 

3 

May 

14 

14 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1917. 

41 

2 

2 

225 

225 

41 

2 

2 

225 

225 

IS 

2 

1 

320 

320 

2 

1 

320 

320 

63 

1918. 

61 

2 

1 

64 

354 

354 

72 

69 

2 

1 

72 

449 

9 

458 

no 

79 

2 

81 

441 

17 

125 

102 

2 

104 

17 

191 

110 

1 

111 

643 

IS 

661 

239 

106 

1 

107 

632 

IS 

650 

242 

July .... 

97 

3 

1 

101 

6S6 

22 

70S 

265 

100 

3 

1 

104 

659 

21 

680 

233 

86 

4 

1 

91 

626 

20 

646 

207 

101 

4 

1 

106 

623 

23 

646 

324 

110 

3 

1 

114 

690 

22 

712 

376 

94 

3 

2 

99 

673 

19 

692 

341 

1919. 

71 

4 

2 

1,127 

19 

1,146 

120 

72 

S2 

* 812 

19 

Sol 

164 

69 

12 

17 

157 

13 

74 

504 

17 

521 

156 

40 

12 

317 

3 

320 

87 

39 

4 

48 

227 

227 

65 

OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


657 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  DONIPHAN,  FORT  SILL,  OKLA.<* 

The  military  reservation  of  Fort  Sill  comprised  67,713  acres.  Upon  a 
small  portion  of  it  had  been  constructed,  prior  to  the  World  War,  a permanent 
post  for  Field  Artillery  troops.  The  garrison  buildings  included  a post  hospital 
commensurate  in  size  to  the  adecpiate  care  of  the  sick  of  the  command  during 
peace  time.  As  was  the  case  at  Fort  Riley,  an  abundance  of  space  was  avail- 
able at  Fort  Sill,  when  war  was  declared,  upon  which  to  construct  a camp  for 
a division  of  the  National  Guard;  but  there  was  this  difference  between  the 
conditions  at  the  two  places:  the  permanent  post  of  Fort  Sill  was  to  continue 
in  use,  and  its  buildings  were  not  available  for  hospital  uses;  consequently, 
plans  had  to  be  formulated  for  the  provision  of  a complete  temporary  base 
hospital  as  an  integral  part  of  the  camp. 

Camp  Doniphan  was  situated  to  the  southwest  of  the  "new  post”  of  Fort 
Sill,  5 miles  from  Lawton,  and  about  90  miles  from  Oklahoma  City.  To  the 
north  of  the  “new  post,”  which  formed  the  northeast  corner  of  Camp  Doniphan, 
the  site  for  the  base  hospital  was  chosen. 

The  terrain  is  rolling.  To  the  west  of  where  the  hospital  was  situated 
there  is  a series  of  hills,  several  hundred  feet  high  and  bare  of  foliage  of  any  kind. 
On  the  east  and  north  is  a small  river  bed,  which  is  dry  practically  throughout 
the  year,  though  its  banks  are  wooded  for  several  yards  on  either  side,  giving 
the  semblance  of  an  oasis  in  the  desertlike  region.  These  trees  afforded  the 
hospital  a scant  but  nevertheless  appreciable  degree  of  protection  against  the 
cold  winds  of  winter.  Since  the  "oasis”  was  the  only  shaded  spot  for  miles 
around,  it  afforded  ample  protection  from  the  intensely  hot  rays  of  the  sun 
in  summer,  and  its  comfort  was  sought  and  welcomed. 

The  soil  is  loam.  The  atmosphere  is  extremely  dry  throughout  the  year 
and  is  heavily  laden  with  fine  dust.  It  was,  consequently,  wholly  impossible 
to  keep  the  hospital  constantly  clean  in  the  sense  of  the  term  as  usually  under- 
stood in  civil  hospitals.  During  the  year  1917-18,  there  was  very  little  rain, 
and  the  dust  storms  were  frequent  and  trying.  It  was  inevitable  that  during 
these  high  winds  particles  of  prairie  dust  should  penetrate  everywhere.  The 
dust  problem  at  the  hospital  was  greatly  relieved,  though  not  entirely  eliminated, 
by  oiling  the  dirt  roads  in  the  vicinity  and  around  the  hospital.  Rains,  as  a 
rule,  are  abortive,  the  parched  earth  receiving  but  a drop  or  two;  but  when 
rain  in  sufficient  amount  falls,  it  is  taken  up  by  the  soil  with  great  difficulty, 
and  in  consequence  much  sticky  and  tenacious  mud  results.  Numerous  puddles 
also  appear  and  stay  until  the  water  has  finally  evaporated.  The  summers 
are  intensely  hot  and  long.  During  the  summer  the  daily  temperature  ranges 
from  90  to  130°  F.  in  the  sun,  more  often  over  100°,  but  for  the  most  part  the 
nights  are  bearable.  The  winters  are  short  but  severe,  the  changes  in  tem- 
perature being  frequently  excessive  and  sudden;  and  cold,  icy,  penetrating 
winds  suddenly  appear  within  a moment’s  notice,  laden  Avith  dust  to  spoil  a 
mild  and  pleasant  day.  The  temperature  falls  and  zero  weather  and  loAver  is 
not  uncommon.  Snow,  however,  is  rare,  and  Avhen  it  does  fall  disappears  very 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Doniphan,  Okla.,”  by 
Capt.  Louis  H.  Nahum,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by 
him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is 
on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  AA'ashington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

45269°— 23 42 


658 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


quickly.  Aside  from  the  changing  spells,  the  weather  continues  pleasant  into 
December,  and  becomes  mild  in  February.  The  days  of  the  springs  and  falls 
are  very  warm,  but  the  nights  are  cool  and  livable. 

d he  hospital  roads  were  made  of  compressed  dirt.  They  were  well  kept 
and  were  oiled.  In  the  hospital  neighborhood  the  roads  were  all  of  dirt,  but 
were  smooth.  The  camp  road,  1 mile  away,  was  of  gravel  construction  at  first, 
then  of  concrete.  The  road  leading  to  Lawton,  the  neighboring  town,  was  of 
dirt  construction,  bumpy  and  very  uneven;  a poor  thoroughfare  for  travel, 
especially  that  of  an  ambulance  laden  with  sick. 

Though  there  were  two  railroads  to  Fort  Sill — the  Chicago,  Rock  Island 
& Pacific  Railroad,  and  the  St.  Louis  & San  Francisco  Railroad — both  were 
branch  lines;  they  were  badly  ballasted  and  poorly  equipped;  and  were  sub- 
jected to  frequent  and  prolonged  transportation  delays. 

The  base  hospital  was  organized  on  September  1,  1917.  At  this  time, 
however,  the  wards  of  the  hospital  were  not  ready;  so,  to  care  for  the  sick  of 
the  division,  it  was  necessary  to  employ  the  facilities  and  wards  of  the  post 
hospital,  where,  for  a time,  the  patients  of  the  post  and  camp  were  handled 
together  in  the  same  wards.  The  commissioned  and  enlisted  personnel  of  both 
the  base  and  the  post  hospitals  also  united,  working  side  by  side,  without 
regard  to  the  origin  of  the  case.  This  was  a very  fortunate,  even  if  clumsy, 
arrangement,  for  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the  base  hospital  were  green;  and 
had,  for  the  most  part,  never  seen  the  inside  of  a hospital,  nor  the  proper 
handling  of  a ward  and  its  patients;  whereas  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the 
post  hospital  had  at  least  an  average  of  three  months’  experience.  It  can 
thus  be  seen  how  important  a factor  this  combination  was  in  the  training  of 
the  personnel  in  the  proper  performance  of  then-  required  duties.  The  property 
also  was  in  part  pooled  in  the  common  interest.  As  the  size  of  the  command 
increased,  the  facilities  of  the  post  hospital  became  inadequate  to  meet  the 
needs,  and  10  new  temporary  wards  were  built  around  the  old  hospital  to 
accommodate  the  excess  in  the  number  of  the  sick.  The  construction  of  the 
base  hospital  meanwhile  was  progressing  very  slowly.  Delay  upon  delay 
occurred  that  could  be  directly  attributed  to  insufficient  building  supplies. 
At  one  time  in  October  construction  came  to  a standstill  because  of  the  lack  of 
concrete  for  the  foundations  of  the  buildings.  Somewhat  later,  construction 
stopped  because  most  of  the  laborers  were  removed  to  complete  buildings  for 
the  school  of  fire,  the  need  for  which  became  urgent.  And  still  later,  although 
many  of  the  wards  were  completed  externally,  the  absence  of  a sewerage 
system  and  a water  supply  made  them  totally  uninhabitable.  Owing  to  the 
pressing  need  of  these  buildings,  temporary  cesspools  were  installed  for  some 
of  the  wards,  pending  a special  appropriation  by  the  War  Department  for  the 
introduction  of  a water  supply  and  a sewerage  system.  It  appears  that  the 
plans  first  issued  had  provisions  neither  for  water  and  sewage  disposal  nor 
for  bathing  facilities.  On  November  17,  1917,  the  buildings  were  95  per  cent 
completed,  with  the  exception  of  a sewerage  system.  The  installation  of  the 
sewerage  system  was  begun  about  December  1,  1917. 

In  the  latter  part  of  October,  1917,  the  full  strength  of  the  division,  27,000 
men,  had  been  attained.  The  number  of  sick  was  increasing  daily,  and  the 
facilities  of  the  old  post  hospital,  including  the  10  new  wards,  were  entirely 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


659 


inadequate  to  meet  the  needs.  On  November  17,  there  were  40  cases  of  pneu- 
monia at  the  hospital,  and  the  cases  of  meningitis  and  measles  were  on  the 
increase.  It  therefore  became  urgently  necessary  to  occupy  the  new  base 
hospital  buildings,  about  a mile  away  from  the  post  hospital,  regardless  of  the 
lack  of  proper  sanitation.  So,  on  November  26,  the  transfer  of  all  the  medical 
cases  was  begun.  As  the  wards  of  the  base  hospital  were  completed  they 
were  at  once  occupied  by  patients  who  had  been  transferred  from  the  post 
hospital.  This  gradual  transfer,  continuing  during  the  months  of  December, 
1917,  and  January,  1918,  created  the  complex  situation  where  part  of  the  base 
hospital  patients  were  at  the  post  hospital  and  part  at  the  base.  Owing  to 
this  anomalous  situation  two  officers  of  the  day  were  required,  as  well  as  a 
constant  ambulance  service  between  the  new  and  old  hospital,  for  the  admission 
of  surgical  cases  to  the  old  place  and  the  transfer  of  patients  thence  to  the  new 
hospital.  The  operating  room,  at  the  base  hospital,  was  one  of  the  last  to  be 
completed.  The  original  plans  did  not  provide  for  the  installation  of  steam 
heat,  or  for  a proper  finish  to  the  walls,  to  permit  their  scrubbing  and  cleansing 
between  operations.  Until  these  improvements  were  provided  most  of  the 
major  operations  were  performed  in  the  operating  room  of  the  post  hospital, 
which  had  been  constructed  and  equipped  for  such  work.  The  very  last  part 
of  the  hospital  to  move  from  its  temporary  ward  at  the  old  post  was  the  genito- 
urinary section.  This  moved  into  a series  of  tents  within  the  convalescent 
camp  in  March,  191S. 

The  officers’  quarters  consisted  of  a long  one-story  building  the  size  of  a 
ward,  and  contained  22  rooms.  This  was  manifestly  too  small  for  the  personnel 
and  a building,  across  the  way,  intended  as  an  officers’  ward,  was  at  once  con- 
verted into  officers’  quarters.  About  April  1,  1918,  three  wings  were  added 
to  the  building  originally  intended  for  officers’  quarters,  which  increased  the 
capacity  to  62  rooms,  and  provided  a mess  hall  and  assembly  room.  This 
addition  was  altogether  sufficient  for  the  purpose.  The  nurses’  quarters  con- 
sisted of  a long  one-story  building  with  three  wings.  The  wings  at  each  end 
contained  sleeping  rooms,  the  middle  one  a mess  hall  and  kitchen.  It  was 
totally  inadequate  for  housing  all  the  nurses,  and  a dozen  tents  were  placed 
directly  behind  the  home  for  the  additional  nurses.  Finally,  another  similar 
home  was  completed  across  the  way  from  the  first-  one.  This  solved  the  prob- 
lem of  the  nurses’  home.  The  enlisted  men  were  quartered  in  five  one-story 
barracks  similar  in  size  and  construction  to  an  ordinary  ward.  There  were 
separate  rooms  for  the  noncommissioned  officers. 

There  were  four  storehouses,  the  dimensions  of  which  were  about  30  by 
120  feet.  Two  of  these  were  shelved. 

Until  April,  1918,  the  laundry  was  sent  to  Enid,  Okla.,  150  miles  away. 
This  meant  that  it  took  from  10  to  15  days  for  its  return  to  the  hospital. 
Under  such  conditions  it  was  inevitable  that  changes  of  hospital  linen  could 
not  be  made  as  frequently  as  desired  unless  several  times  over  the  supply 
of  linen  normally  needed  for  this  size  hospital  could  be  had  in  stock.  Inas- 
much as  there  was  not  this  supply  of  linen,  some  unjust  criticism  was  made 
against  the  hospital  for  conditions  of  which  it  was  innocent. 

The  water  supply  of  the  hospital,  in  common  with  that  of  Camp  Doniphan 
and  the  city  of  Lawton,  was  obtained  from  Lawtonka  Lake,  a body  of  water 


660 


MILITABY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


that  was  situated  about  8 miles  distant.  The  source  was  dependent  entirely 
upon  local  rainfalls;  and  since  these  were  infrequent,  the  amount  available, 
during  the  years  1917-18,  was  precariously  small.  The  situation  was  rendered 
doubly  acute  by  the  accretions  to  the  populations  of  both  Fort  Sill  and  Lawton, 
and  early  practices  of  conservation  had  to  be  instituted.  These  included  the 
prohibition  of  the  watering  of  lawns,  the  limitation  of  the  number  of  baths  one 
might  take,  and  every  other  known  method  to  cause  conservation.  In  these 
efforts  at  conservation  the  physical  characteristics  of  the  water  materially 
assisted:  suspended  in  it  were  more  than  appreciable  quantities  of  clay,  algae, 
and  protozoa.  It  frequently  required  a degree  of  real  fortitude  to  quaff  a glass 
of  water  within  which  there  could  readily  be  discerned  Crustacea  darting  about 
in  a world  of  their  own.  Then,  too,  there  emanated  from  the  water  a fishy 
odor,  which,  though  only  objectionable  when  the  water  was  cold,  became 
positively  repulsive  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  use  it  in  a hot  tub  within  a 
small,  closed  room.  Many  ineffectual  efforts  were  made  to  render  the  water 
palatable,  or  even  acceptable,  by  the  use  of  copper  sulphate  and  chlorine;  but 
it  was  not  until  after  a filtration  plant  had  been  installed,  during  the  early  part 
of  the  year  1919,  that  it  was  effected. 

It  has  been  related  that  the  installation  of  a water  supply  in  the  hos- 
pital was  much  delayed.  In  the  beginning,  though  the  wards  had  their  full 
quota  of  patients,  the  water  necessary  for  bathing  them  had,  perforce,  to  be 
carried  in  buckets  into  many  of  them.  It  was  not  until  December,  1917,  that 
a cold-water  tap  had  been  installed  within  the  wards.  But  even  then  running 
cold  water  only  was  available,  and  to  elevate  the  temperature  of  it  to  a point 
where  it  could  be  used  for  sponge  baths  it  was  necessary  to  heat  it  in  pails  placed 
on  the  tops  of  the  ward  heating  stoves.  In  the  isolation  wards,  this  state  of 
affairs  existed  until  so  late  as  January,  191S.  The  installation  of  boilers  in  the 
wards  was  begun  in  January  and  was  completed  the  end  of  the  following 
month.  It  was  then  only,  when  hot  and  cold  running  water  was  available  in 
the  wards,  that  conditions  began  to  approximate  those  which  are  accepted  for 
granted  in  civil  hospitals. 

The  necessity  for  them  made  it  desirable  to  occupy  some  of  the  wards  be- 
fore the  sewerage  system  was  installed.  Cesspools,  therefore,  were  constructed 
for  the  quarters  and  some  of  the  wards.  From  these  pools  the  water  was 
removed  by  water  wagons  on  alternate  days.  Later,  a complete  sewerage  system 
was  installed  which  emptied  into  a large,  main  sewer  that  discharged  into  a small 
creek  at  a point  over  a mile  from  the  hospital  grounds.  There  were  two  types 
of  wards  as  regards  toilets.  In  one  type  a common  bathhouse  opened  off  a 
corridor  that  connected  two  wards.  Tiffs  bathhouse  contained  five  toilets  and 
one  urinal  on  one  side,  five  basins,  a bath,  and  a shower  on  the  other  side.  There 
were  also  single  wards,  such  as  the  isolation  ward,  in  which  one  of  the  front 
rooms  was  a bathroom,  containing  a urinal,  two  toilets,  two  wash  basins,  a 
shower,  and  bathtub.  Unfortunately,  the  plumbing  in  the  isolation  wards  was 
so  constructed  that  only  one  toilet  room  was  at  first  installed.  To  prevent 
spread  of  contagion,  only  one  kind  of  communicable  disease  could  be  housed  in 
each  building.  This,  happily,  was  changed,  and  the  wards  later  contained  three 
different  rooms  with  toilets.  Until  the  plumbing  was  all  completed  the  hospital 
was  in  a sad  plight.  Baths  were  not  taken  as  frequently  as  was  desired;  for  a 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


661 


bathtub  the  officers  were  obliged  to  employ  a small  agate  pail  into  which  it  was 
impossible  to  get  even  the  foot  comfortably,  and  to  heat  water  for  bathing  pur- 
poses on  the  small  heating  stoves  in  each  room.  In  the  isolation  wards,  espe- 
cially, the  lack  of  plumbing  was  a hardship,  for  here  the  absence  of  hot  running 
water  was  tantamount  to  saying  that  there  was  no  proper  sanitation. 

The  garbage  was  sold  to  a neighboring  contractor.  It  was  distributed  in 
different  cans  according  to  the  nature  of  the  garbage.  The  contractors  then 
came,  removed  the  cans,  and  left  an  equal  number  of  cleaned,  dry  cans. 

The  heating  of  the  hospital  underwent  its  own  special  evolution.  No  gen- 
eral heating  system  was  installed.  Large  stoves  were  used,  at  first,  to  warm  the 
wards,  three  of  them  being  used  for  each  ward.  They  were  not  successful, 
they  consumed  large  quantities  of  fuel  and  gave  comparatively  little  heat. 
The  only  part  of  the  ward  that  was  warm  was  that  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  stoves;  the  separate  rooms  were  not  warm  at  all.  Finally  two  large  range 
heaters  per  ward  were  substituted  for  them,  and  separate  stoves  were  provided 
for  the  detached  rooms.  In  this  way  the  wards  were  kept  tolerably  warm. 
Besides  a greater  distribution  of  heat  the  range  heaters  had  another  advantage; 
water  could  more  readily  be  heated  over  them,  and  this  facilitated  the  meager 
bathing  facilities  before  the  boilers  were  installed. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity  which  was  obtained  from  the  neigh- 
boring town  of  Lawton.  It  was,  generally  speaking,  quite  successful.  On 
stormy  nights  the  power  was  interrupted,  but  such  an  occurrence  was  extremely 
rare.  Although  the  lighting  was  the  very  first  utility  to  be  installed,  the 
meningitis  ward  was,  for  a considerable  period  in  December,  1917,  and  January, 
1918,  without  electricity,  owing  to  a faulty  construction.  This  was  a great 
hindrance  in  the  proper  treatment  of  such  cases,  as  many  required  treatment, 
night  as  well  as  day.  Lanterns  and  candles,  although  inadequate  for  this  pur- 
pose, had  to  be  employed  until  proper  lighting  was  supplied.  The  reason  why 
it  was  not  installed  as  soon  as  required  was  that  the  contractor  could  not  over- 
come his  layman  fear  of  meningitis  and  for  a long  time  evaded  every  opportunity 
to  enter  the  ward.  However,  it  should  be  said  that,  in  spite  of  these  conditions, 
proper  treatment  was  never  delayed  because  of  such  hindrances  as  poor  lights, 
a fact  that  was  borne  out  by  the  low  local  mortality  rate. 

There  was  a paucity  of  facilities  for  recreation  at  the  hospital.  For  the  pa- 
tients, such  games  as  cards,  checkers,  etc.,  were  furnished  by  the  various  welfare 
organizations.  The  chapel  was  refitted  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associa- 
tion and  was  used  by  it  for  a recreation  room,  in  which  was  installed  a phono- 
graph, game  tables,  facilities  for  writing,  etc. 

On  July  24,  1918,  the  War  Department  authorized  the  abandonment  of  the 
camp. 


662 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Doniphan,  Okla.,  from  October,  1917,  to 

June,  1918,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Y ear  and  month. 


1917. 

October 

N ovember. . 
December. . 

1918. 

January 

February. . . 

March 

April 

May 

J une 


last 

Admissions. 

O 

from 

inth. 

'd 

a 

C3 

From  other 
sources. 

o 

o 

V 

Remaining 

m< 

O 

O 

0 

o 

£ 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

<x> 

& 

o 

o 

15 

744 

279 

36 

1,322 

1,637 

652 

70 

2,226 

2,948 

1,265 

1,534 

9 

2,808 

913 

1,434  

7 

2.  354 

1,017 

1,834 

22 

2,  873 

710 

1,320 

14 

2,  044 

352 

11 

675 

1,038 

217 

6 

396 

619 

Completed  cases. 


Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term . 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

423 

4 

7 

1 

730 

23 

22 

1,291 

32 

17 

1,325 

50 

23 

965 

36 

32 

1,721 

17 

34 

1,292 

21 

47 

3 

502 

3 

1.56 

1 

252 

4 

62 

45 

205 

5 

337 

6 

488 

9 

298 

6 

371 

2C 

313 

18 

146 

13 

102 

23 

Aggregate 
number  of 

Remaining. 

days  lost 

from 

sickness. 

■3 

« 

© 

3 

© 

g 

C3 

<5 

H 

5 

277 

2 

7, 395 

28 

650 

2 

1,264 

34 

1,259 

6 

31,690 

15 

921 

1 

25, 893 

60 

1,010 

7 

22.  245 

225 

703 

7 

24. 114 

228 

351 

i 

16. 647 

191 

212 

5 

10. 175 

100 

176 

4, 845 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1 

1 

3 

1918. 

9 

2 

1 

12 

1 

3 

4 

8 

February 

12 

1 

13 

1 

2 

1 

4 

March 

31 

9 

40 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

35 

2 

1 

38 

149 

149 

41 

2 

1 

44 

329 

329 

46 

2 

1 

49 

344 

344 

11 

1918. 

56 

2 

1 

59 

353 

3.53 

66 

57 

2 

1 

60 

453 

4.53 

81 

60 

4 

1 

44S 

44S 

78 

April 

63 

2 

1 

66 

432 

20 

452 

78 

May 

51 

2 

1 

54 

42S 

20 

44S 

74 

June 

50 

1 

1 

52 

31S 

20 

338 

21 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  ( F orm  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


BASE  HOSPITALS,  CAMPS  EUSTIS,  VA.,  FREMONT,  CALIF.,  GORDON, 
GA.,  GREENE,  N.  C.,  HANCOCK,  GA.,  A.  A.  HUMPHREYS,  VA.,  JACK- 
SON,  S.  C.,  JOS.  E.  JOHNSTON,  FLA.,  KEARNY,  CALIF.,  AND  LEE,  VA. 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  EUSTIS,  VA.a 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Eustis,  Lee  Hall,  Warwick  County,  Va.,  was 
opened  September  16,  1918,  before  the  completion  of  the  buildings.  The  work  of 
construction,  and  the  presence  of  the  workmen  in  the  buildings;  the  giving  up 
of  the  time  of  certain  officers  to  the  examination  of  recruits;  the  lack  of  adequate 
personnel  in  officers,  nurses,  and  enlisted  men;  and  the  rapid  increase  in  admis- 
sions were  difficulties  incident  to  the  development  of  a new  institution.  Certain 
deficiencies  in  the  work  resulted,  but  these  were  limited  to  records  and  investiga- 
tions, not  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  patients. 

The  original  bccl  capacity  was  500,  but  early  in  October  it  was  found 
necessary  to  provide  more  space  for  patients.  The  convalescent  barracks,  or 
the  hospital  annex,  as  it  was  called,  was  then  opened.  The  annex  consisted  of 
a block  of  buildings  used  to  house  the  troops  in  training  in  camp.  All  con- 
valescent and  minor  cases  were  treated  here.  Medical  officers  from  the  base 
hospital  were  in  charge,  but  the  nursing  and  clerical  work  connected  with  the 
operation  of  the  annex  had  to  be  taken  care  of  by  enlisted  men  of  the  Coast 
Artillery  Corps,  who  had  had  no  previous  training  in  the  duties  of  the  Medical 
Department. 

The  base  hospital  exchange  was  opened  October  8.  It  was  well  patronized 
by  the  personnel  on  duty  at  the  hospital,  as  well  as  by  the  patients,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  year  showed  a net  value  of  over  $4,000.  The  function  of  this  hospital 
was  to  treat  all  cases  arising  in  camp. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appealing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Eustis,  Va.,”  by  Maj.  P.  C. 
Riley,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  stall  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the  compilation 
of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the  Historical 
Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


663 


664  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Eustis,  Lee  Hall,  Va.,  from  September  16 

1918,  to  March  9,  1919,  inclusive ,a 


SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

September 

14 

4 

3 

21 

17 

9 

26 

31 

October 

22 

4 

1 

27 

408 

12 

420 

6S 

November 

27 

4 

1 

32 

459 

12 

471 

60 

December 

39 

4 

1 

44 

429 

12 

441 

70 

1919. 

January 

19 

5 

3 

27 

336 

9 

345 

55 

February 

17 

5 

3 

25 

310 

9 

319 

34 

March 

29 

4 

2 

35 

201 

5 

206 

24 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section'  Adjutant's  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Ad- 
jutant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  FREMONT,  CALIF.  ' 

The  base  hospital.  Camp  Fremont,  was  situated  in  San  Mateo  County. 
Calif.,  2 miles  from  Palo  Alto.  The  surrounding  country  is  flat  and  wooded. 
The  soil  is  loam,  forming  little  dust  and  a moderate  amount  of  sticky  mud 
after  rain.  The  climate  is  mild.  The  temperature  in  winter  ranges  from  50° 
to  70°,  and  there  is  no  snow,  except  on  the  mountains,  30  miles  away.  In 
summer  the  temperature  ranges  from  65°  to  95°  F.,  and  occasionally  there  is 
some  fog,  but  very  little  wind.  The  prevailing  winds  are  from  the  south. 
The  roads  in  and  around  the  base  hospital  were  of  oiled  gravel,  and  were  well 
kept.  The  only  stream  near  the  area  is  San  Francisco  Creek,  half  a mile  away, 
which  is  dry  all  summer.  The  sanitary  status  of  the  hospital  neighborhood 
was  satisfactory.  On  July  6,  1917,  the  hospital  at  Camp  Fremont  was  estab- 
lished. It  occupied  a small  building  which  was  erected  as  a regimental  in- 
firmary, and  was  totally  inadequate  for  the  sick  of  the  command;  so  the 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Fremont,  Calif.,  by  Col. 
E.  B.  Frick,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


665 


infectious  and  venereal  patients  were  quartered  in  tents  adjacent  to  the  hos- 
pital. All  important  cases,  both  surgical  and  medical,  were  transferred  to 
the  Letterman  General  Hospital,  Presidio  of  San  Francisco. 

On  November  13,  1917,  the  base  hospital  was  organized.  Its  function 
was  to  treat  all  cases  arising  in  camp;  and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal  cases 
from  overseas. 

The  hospital  was  constructed  on  the  standard  plan.  The  first  part  of 
it  completed  was  occupied  January  4,  1918;  gradual  occupation  followed. 

Officers  were  quartered  in  a separate  building  of  22  rooms.  This  building 
had,  in  addition,  2 baths,  4 lavatories,  and  4 toilets.  The  sleeping  rooms  were 
small,  each  accommodating  one  officer;  and,  as  the  commissioned  personnel 
increased,  it  became  necessary  to  pitch  tents  for  additional  officers. 

Nurses  were  quartered  in  24  single  rooms  and  in  2 dormitories,  each  of 
which  contained  12  beds.  There  were  2 baths,  6 washstands,  and  6 toilets 
for  the  nurses.  It  became  necessary,  as  was  the  case  with  the  officers,  to 
pitch  tents  to  accommodate  the  increase  in  the  number  of  nurses. 

The  barracks  for  the  enlisted  men  consisted  of  4 buildings,  each  containing 
40  beds,  4 noncommissioned  officers’  rooms,  a recreation  room,  and  a mess 
hall.  There  were  2 bathhouses,  each  containing  8 baths  and  8 toilets.  Later 
it  became  necessary  to  pitch  21  extra  tents  to  accommodate  the  overflow  of 
men. 

When  the  base  hospital  was  first  occupied,  the  patients,  the  detachment 
Medical  Department,  and  officers  all  messed  in  the  main  mess  hall.  Later  the 
detachment  messed  in  its  own  barracks,  the  patients  in  the  main  mess  hall, 
and  the  officers  in  a mess  maintained  temporarily  in  tents. 

The  hospital  storehouse  consisted  of  two  buildings,  25  by  150  feet;  they 
had  no  electric  lights,  no  running  water,  no  toilet,  and  no  sewer  connections. 

Because  of  lack  of  machinery  the  hospital  laundry  was  not  operated. 
The  work  was  done  outside,  by  contract.  This  arrangement  was  satisfactory, 
but  expensive. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  used  early  in  January,  1918,  for  religious  services. 
The  chaplain  maintained  an  office  in  the  chapel  where  he  could  be  consulted 
by  members  of  the  detachment.  The  building  was  furnished  through  con- 
tributions and  gifts. 

The  initial  hospital  equipment  consisted  of  approximately  one-tenth  of 
a 500-bed  base  hospital,  according  to  the  Wolfe  unit.  By  April  30,  1918,  the 
hospital  was  equipped  to  care  for  1,500  patients,  but  was  lacking  in  some 
things,  such  as  surgical  instruments,  for  all  services.  The  laboratory  equipment 
was  not  sufficient  to  meet  all  necessities.  On  the  whole,  however,  the  work 
ran  smoothly  under  all  conditions. 

On  September  13,  1918,  at  3 a.  m.,  fire  broke  out  in  the  building  of  the 
receiving  office,  and  the  whole  building  rapidly  burned  to  the  ground,  nearly 
everything,  including  patients’  clothing,  being  lost.  This  building  was  never 
rebuilt,  and  barracks  No.  1 was  used  at  first  as  a receiving  office,  and  later 
ward  B was  altered  and  answered  very  satisfactorily  for  that  purpose. 

The  origin  of  the  water  supply  was  Alemada  and  Contra  Costa  Counties, 
from  which  it  was  piped  across  San  Francisco  Bay.  Prophylactic  treatment 
of  this  water  supply  was  by  filtration.  The  entire  hospital  sewage  was  dis- 


666 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


posed  of  by  a sewer  main  which  passed  through  the  hospital  grounds,  emptying 
by  gravity  into  San  Francisco  Bay. 

The  unusable  part  of  the  kitchen  waste  and  other  forms  of  hospital  garbage 
were  incinerated ; the  usable  part  was  sold  to  hog  raisers. 

In  separate  wards  the  baths,  toilets,  and  latrines  were  rooms  directly 
connected  with  the  ward.  In  double  wards  the  baths,  toilets,  and  latrines  were 
in  small  separate  buildings  between  the  wards,  accessible  through  short  halls. 
They  emptied  into  the  main  sewer  which  passed  through  the  hospital  grounds. 

The  hospital  was  heated  by  means  of  coal  stoves,  of  which  there  were  about 
500.  This  seemed  to  be  a wasteful  and  inefficient  method,  and  inferior  to  a 
central  heating  plant.  The  wards  were  each  equipped  with  two  large  coal 
furnaces  (Lexington  No.  25).  These  furnaces  had  metal  jackets,  which  inter- 
fered with  conduction  and  radiation  of  heat,  and  were,  in  fact,  designed  for 
furnace  heating  rather  than  room  stoves.  Nearly  all  the  heat  rose  and  passed 
out  of  the  top  of  the  stove,  and  if  the  ward  ventilators  were  open,  passed 
through  them  out  of  the  ward.  The  stoves  occupied,  in  each  ward,  the  space  of 
four  beds,  meaning,  of  course,  a great  expense  in  waste  bed  space;  and  it  was 
extremely  difficult  to  regulate  the  temperature  of  the  wards  with  the  stove 
heating.  Hot  water  was  supplied  from  separate  small  coal-burning  water 
heaters,  one  for  each  ward. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity.  The  system  was  successful,  except 
that  porch  lights  were  on  the  same  switch  as  the  lights  in  the  corridors  of  wards. 
This  gave  rise  to  waste,  as  the  lights  in  the  corridors  and  porches  could  not  be 
turned  off  separately. 

On  January  S,  1918,  the  post  exchange  was  opened  for  business,  without 
funds.  The  business  increased,  until  by  April  30,  1918,  the  total  amounted  to 
more  than  $10,000.  At  that  time  there  was  on  deposit  with  the  Palo  Alto  Bank 
a balance  of  $4,235.37. 

The  Bed  Cross,  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  and  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus were  all  represented  at  the  hospital. 

The  usual  amusements  were  furnished  by  the  Bed  Cross,  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association,  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus.  Dances  were  held 
frequently  at  the  Red  Cross  building.  An  open-air  theater,  planned  and 
constructed  by  the  Ladies’  Garden  and  Hospital  Committee  of  Menlo  Park,  was 
an  important  factor  in  the  life  of  the  hospital.  Moving  pictures,  vaudeville,  and 
other  performances  were  given  here.  Baseball,  tennis,  basket  balk  volley  ball, 
and  other  games  were  encouraged. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


667 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Fremont,  Palo  Alto,  Calif.,  from  January, 

1918,  to  March  31,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  eases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals . 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1318. 

43 

41 

468 

11 

563 

275 

3 

6 

3 

276 

G 

276 

29 

623 

928 

431 

1 

1 

3 

492 

9 070 

March.. " 

432 

25 

1,140 

1 

1,658 

884 

2 

33 

8 

16 

712 

19, 521 

712 

65 

1,380 

0 

2, 157 

1,517 

5 

25 

13 

592 

22  471 

592 

69 

1,300 

1,961 

L 111 

9 

23 

5 

10 

803 

20  982 

803 

55 

1,238 

2,  096 

1,256 

9 

6 

59 

21 

745 

23 ! 890 

745 

27 

882 

937 

3 

78 

4 

632 

20  487 

632 

21 

1 , 378 

2,039 

993 

16 

6 

56 

11 

954 

22  967 

954 

35 

1, 147 

2,  136 

891 

5 

6S 

25 

5 

1,142 

30  294 

1,412 

229 

2,692 

4,063 

2,930 

141 

23 

105 

21 

843 

44  373 

843 

112 

224 

1,179 

881 

11 

19 

9 

24 

235 

14  702 

235 

77 

177 

4S9 

286 

3 

30 

11 

179 

6,292 

1919. 

179 

85 

513 

777 

257 

2 

25 

4S 

s 

49 

3S8 

9,742 

388 

118 

339 

845 

97 

1 

34 

1 

253 

12 

78 

366 

lO^SSS 

386 

90 

161 

617 

82 

173 

259 

3S 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

"Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1918. 

5 

5 

November 

10 

13 

23 

7 

7 

December 

10 

11 

21 

July 

8 

3 

11 

6 

12 

1919. 

13 

9 

22 

January 

14 

11 

25 

Otcober 

13 

10 

23 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

21 

1 

1 

23 

Ill 

Ill 

11 

February 

21 

1 

1 

23 

123 

123 

29 

March..  " 

37 

1 

2 

40 

122 

9 

131 

44 

April 

35 

1 

2 

38 

152 

9 

161 

66 

May 

40 

3 

2 

45 

273 

15 

288 

90 

June 

39 

3 

1 

43 

311 

15 

326 

99 

July 

42 

2 

1 

45 

363 

17 

380 

106 

August 

60 

3 

1 

64 

376 

16 

392 

79 

September 

49 

4 

1 

54 

364 

16 

3S0 

S3 

October 

59 

3 

3 

65 

366 

15 

381 

105 

November 

56 

4 

2 

62 

386 

15 

401 

147 

December 

45 

4 

3 

52 

377 

15 

392 

SO 

1919. 

January 

35 

6 

4 

45 

339 

14 

3S3 

36 

February 

28 

4 

3 

35 

353 

12 

385 

50 

March 

13 

3 

3 

19 

60 

12 

72 

55 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


668 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  GORDON,  GA.« 

The  base  hospital  was  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of  Camp  Gordon, 
about  a half  mile  from  Chamblee  Station,  De  Kalb  County,  Ga.,  and  about  14 
miles,  by  rail,  from  Atlanta. 

The  topography  of  the  surrounding  country  is  rolling  to  hilly.  Where  the 
camp  was  located  is  quietly  rolling  and  fairly  well  wooded,  with  small  growth 
of  oak,  hickory,  and  short-leaf  pine.  The  camp  lay  within  the  drainage  area 
of  the  Chattahoochee  River,  which  is  approximately  10  miles  to  the  west. 

The  soil  of  this  section  is  derived  primarily  from  a granite  gneiss  which 
breaks  down  to  a reddish  sandy  material  with  a comparatively  small  percentage 
of  finely  divided  substance  which  forms  dust  or  mud.  In  the  top  soil  that  has 
been  long  exposed,  practically  all  the  reddish  clay  has  been  washed  out,  leaving 
a comparatively  coarse  sandy  soil.  Where  the  top  soil  has  been  eroded  away 
and  the  subsoil  or  original  decomposed  material  is  exposed,  mud  forms  rather 
readily.  A portion  of  the  soil  is  derived  from  a hornblend  gneiss  which  yields 
a more  finely  divided  red  soil  and  which  forms  mud  very  easily.  In  dry  weather 
a comparatively  slight  current  of  air  will  float  the  fine  particles.  Practically 
the  entire  hospital  area  was  graded,  exposing  the  subsoil,  which  made  condi- 
tions worse  than  they  would  have  been  otherwise. 

The  climate  is  characterized  by  long  summers  and  short  winters.  The 
summers  are  marked  by  periods  of  oppressive  heat,  although  the  temperature 
seldom  reached  a maximum  of  100°  F.  The  winters  are  generally  mild  and 
open,  with  periods  of  damp,  penetrating  cold,  during  which  the  temperature 
seems  lower  than  is  shown  by  the  thermometer.  The  winter  of  1917-18  was 
of  unusual  severity,  characterized  by  a freeze,  with  snow  and  sleet  of  several 
weeks’  duration.  The  precipitation  is  ample  for  the  successful  production  of 
all  crops  common  to  this  region,  the  mean  being  49.47  inches.  There  is  a nor- 
mal growing  season  of  225  days.  The  average  date  of  the  last  killing  frost  in 
the  spring  is  March  23,  and  of  the  first  in  the  fall,  November  3.  The  mean 
temperature  for  winter  is  44°;  spring,  61°;  summer,  76.4°;  and  fall,  62.1°. 

The  roads  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  hospital  were  decidedly  inferior 
in  quality  to  others  in  the  camp.  The  main  thoroughfare  in  front  of  the  hos- 
pital was  bedded  with  crushed  stone  and  surfaced  with  soil,  but  not  otherwise 
improved.  The  other  roads  in  the  hospital  area  were  graded  but  not  surfaced, 
and  were,  therefore,  exceeding^  dusty  during  the  dry  season.  All  roads,  with 
the  exception  of  the  main  road  mentioned,  were  difficult  to  travel  after  a few 
hours  of  rain,  and  were  impassable  with  continued  rains,  or  with  intermittent 
showers  and  very  much  traffic. 

The  natural  drainage  of  the  hospital  section  was  excellent.  Two  small 
streams,  thoroughly  ditched,  transversed  the  grounds.  The  sanitary  status 
was  excellent,  save  in  the  matter  of  the  great  prevalence  of  dust  and  mud  in 
dry  and  wet  seasons,  respectively.  Mild  affections  of  the  upper  air  passages 
were  naturally  prevalent  at  all  times. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Gordon,  Ga.,”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  S.  J.  Young,  M.  C.  ,TJ.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


669 


The  hospital  was  officially  opened  September  7,  1917.  Its  function  was 
to  treat  all  cases  arising  in  Camp  Gordon,  and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal 
cases  from  overseas. 

Buildings  in  block  “0,”  designed  for  barracks,  were  used  for  temporary 
quarters.  The  first  hospital  for  the  camp  was  installed  on  a limited  scale — a 
small  infirmary,  in  fact — in  a building  which  subsequently  became  military 
police  headquarters.  Previous  to  the  official  opening  of  the  hospital  and  the 
transfer  of  personnel  with  patients,  the  equipment  was  that  of  Field  Hospital 
No.  25.  Four  buildings  of  barracks  type,  with  two  small  administration 
buildings  and  two  officers’  quarters,  were  utilized.  The  hospital  with  the 
field  hospital  equipment  in  the  buildings  described  constituted  the  camp  hos- 
pital, until  it  was  designated  the  base  hospital,  September  7,  1917. 

Such  of  the  equipment  in  block  ‘‘O”  as  belonged  to  the  base  hospital, 
with  records,  personnel,  etc.,  were  transferred  to  the  permanent  location  on 
October  2,  1917.  Very  few  of  the  buildings  were  complete  at  that  time.  The 
examination  of  recruits,  which  had  been  part  of  the  duties  of  the  hospital  per- 
sonnel in  block  “0,”  was  continued  there  for  several  weeks.  The  incompleted 
wards  were  used  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  incoming  draft  and  also  for 
the  housing  of  patients.  From  day  to  day  the  capacity  was  increased  as 
wards  were  either  finished  or  made  suitable  for  the  reception  of  patients.  Not 
for  several  weeks  were  the  buildings  of  the  first  unit  completed  in  the  full 
meaning  of  the  word;  in  fact,  all  the  winter  the  steam  fitters  were  found  daily 
engaged  putting  up  and  taking  down  pipe,  placing  new  connections  and  taking 
out  others.  The  runways  were  at  no  time  clear  of  plumbers  and  plumbing 
material  from  October  2,  1917,  to  May  31,  1918. 

The  plan  and  distribution  of  buildings  was  the  same  as  in  other  canton- 
ments, with  perhaps  slight  variations.  All  buildings  were  constructed  of  wood, 
and  were  ceiled  with  beaver  board. 

The  original  capa'city  of  500  was  soon  increased  to  1,000;  the  maximum 
capacity  attained  was  4,167. 

When  the  base  hospital  was  opened  the  officers  were  quartered  in  the 
building  to  be  used  as  nurses’  quarters.  On  November  15  the  nursing  staff 
began  to  arrive,  and  the  officers  moved  into  their  own  quarters,  which  were 
then  sufficiently  near  completion  to  be  occupied.  It  was  found,  however,  that 
these  quarters  were  not  adequate,  and  the  overflow  was  quartered  in  rooms  in 
the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  building,  in  the  sick  officers’  building,  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  hospital  in  which  equipment  had  not  been  installed.  This  over- 
flow state  of  affairs  applied  also  to  nurses. 

Five  separate  messes  were  maintained  in  the  hospital:  an  officers’  mess 
in  the  officers’  quarters ; a sick  officers’  mess  in  the  building  set  apart  for  their 
ward;  a nurses’  mess  in  the  nurses’  quarters;  a general  or  patients’  mess  in  the 
main  mess  hall;  and  the  enlisted  men’s  mess  in  the  barracks  provided  for  the 
detachment  of  the  Medical  Department. 

At  first  the  storehouse  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  ample  for  ordinary 
needs,  but  as  the  size  of  the  institution  increased,  the  storehouse  became  inade- 
quate. Four  buildings,  with  floor  space  aggregating  14,500  square  feet,  were 
occupied  by  the  hospital  supply  officer  and  the  camp  supply  officer  jointly. 


670 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  hospital  at  no  time  operated  its  own  laundry.  From  September  7, 
1917,  when  the  base  hospital  was  opened,  to  May  4,  1918,  the  work  was  done 
by  private  laundry  concerns  in  Atlanta.  On  May  4,  1918,  arrangements  were 
made  for  all  laundry  work  to  be  done  in  the  camp. 

The  chapel  was  completed  and  ready  for  use  about  November  20,  1917. 
It  filled  a very  useful  place  in  the  life  of  patients,  enlisted  personnel,  and  officers 
of  the  hospital.  Religious  services,  entertainments  for  patients,  and  lectures 
for  officers  and  enlisted  men  were  held  here. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  part  of  that  of  Camp  Gordon,  obtained  by 
contract  from  the  city  of  Atlanta.  The  source  of  supply  is  the  Chattahoochee 
River, which  has  its  origin  in  north  Georgia.  The  city ’s  storage  plant  consists 
of  two  large  reservoirs,  coagulating  basins,  and  pressure  filters.  The  water  was 
furnished  to  the  camp  through  an  18-inch  main.  The  character  of  the  water 
was  satisfactory  from  the  chemical  and  bacteriological  standpoint,  except  that 
at  times  when  an  overflow  was  placed  on  the  filters,  B.  coll  were  found.  At 
times,  when  the  camp  was  filled,  the  pressure  was  inadequate  for  fire-fighting 
purposes,  doubtless  due  to  wastage  of  water  in  the  camp.  The  bursting  of 
mains,  which  were  made  of  wood  wrapped  with  wire,  was  responsible  for  lack 
of  a water  supply  in  several  instances.  The  danger  of  shortage  of  water  was 
later  overcome  by  the  installation  of  intermediate  storage  reservoirs  in  the 
camp. 

A complete  and  adequate  system  of  sewerage  was  provided  for  the  hospital. 
The  mains  connected  with  those  of  the  camp  and  ended  in  a septic  tank.  The 
entire  hospital  was  fully  equipped  with  toilets  of  modern  type.  Latrines  were 
not  tolerated,  except  when  required  for  the  employees  of  const  ruction  companies, 
and  then  only  under  the  closest  supervision  of  the  hospital  sanitary  officer.  In 
the  first  unit  of  wards  constructed  some  of  the  “ double  wards”  had  joint  toilet 
rooms.  In  the  later  construction  each  ward  had  its  own  urinal,  toilet,  and 
bath.  It  was  generally  conceded  that  the  double-ward  arrangement  was  un- 
satisfactory, sanitary  conditions  and  discipline  being  more  difficult  to  maintain 
than  in  single  wards. 

The  garbage  of  the  hospital  Avas  disposed  of  through  the  garbage  transfer 
station.  Garbage  was  sorted  in  the  kitchens,  wards,  and  elsewhere  in  the 
hospital,  thereby  entailing  no  extra  labor  in  the  selecting  of  garbage.  Sufficient 
cans,  adequately  covered,  Avere  placed  at  each  mess  to  take  care  of  the  sorted 
garbage.  The  wagons  and  trucks  collected  the  garbage  daily,  and  more  often 
as  occasion  arose.  Paper,  pasteboard,  pieces  of  AA'ood,  cans,  fabrics,  etc.,  were 
separated  from  all  other  garbage  and  taken  to  the  incinerator.  At  the  transfer 
station  the  sorting  Avas  carried  further,  and  anything  of  value,  such  as  hog  feed, 
bones,  tin  cans,  bottles,  etc.,  Acas  salvaged,  and  disposed  of  by  contract. 

A central  heating  plant,  consisting  at  first  of  a series  of  10  batteries  of  Ioav- 
pressure  boilers  and  one  high-pressure  boiler,  supplied  the  heat  for  the  hospital. 
The  heating  system  was  inadequate.  During  the  severe  winter  of  1917-1S, 
there  were  times  Avhen  the  patients  would  have  endured  great  suffering  from 
poorly  heated  buildings  had  there  not  been  an  ample  supply  of  blankets.  The 
expense  of  repair  incident  to  freezing  and  the  bursting  of  pipes  was  almost  in- 
estimable. Because  of  the  lack  of  steam,  the  Avards  having  steam  tables  were 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


671 


•without  their  use  many  days  when  they  were  very  essential.  For  the  same 
reason,  sterilizers  in  the  operating  room  were  useless  at  times,  and  frequently 
when  most  needed.  A further  handicap  was  the  difficulty  with  which  coal  was 
delivered  to  the  steam  plant.  A railroad  spur  should  have  been  laid  for  the 
delivery  of  coal,  but  this  was  not  done.  For  a greater  part  of  the  cold  season, 
when  the  quantity  of  coal  used  was  the  greatest,  the  roads  were  practically 
impassable,  trucks  could  not  be  used,  and  mule  teams  had  to  be  resorted  to, 
working  day  and  night  to  keep  sufficient  fuel  on  hand.  Additions  to  the  heating 
plant  were  made  in  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1918;  and  by  December  these 
additions  were  90  per  cent  complete,  greatly  reducing  the  difficulties  of  heating 
the  hospital  buildings. 

Current  for  the  electric  lights  was  obtained  from  the  Georgia  Light  & Power 
Co.,  of  Atlanta.  The  grounds  and  buildings  were  Avell  provided  with  suitable 
lights,  and  the  electrical  equipment  for  other  purposes  was  adequate.  The 
only  disadvantage  experienced  in  this  connection  was  lack  of  provision  for  an 
electrician  to  be  on  hand  at  all  hours.  On  many  occasions  such  services  were 
urgently  and  promptly  needed,  but  could  be  obtained  only  after  waiting  in- 
definitely for  the  arrival  of  an  electrician  from  the  utilities  branch  of  the  Quarter- 
master Department. 

In  the  early  days  the  equipment  was  practically  that  of  a field  hospital. 
Temporary  quarters  were  being  occupied;  there  were  no  water  or  sewerage 
connections;  and  the  buildings  were  not  suitable  for  the  installation  of  equip- 
ment of  a permanent  nature.  Later,  the  equipment  was  satisfactory  in  the 
main.  There  was  a shortage  of  sphygmomanometers,  and  a few  instruments 
were  badly  needed  for  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department.  The  messing 
arrangements  of  the  convalescent  wards  were  inadequate,  a kitchen  and  mess 
hall  being  badly  needed. 

The  post  exchange  was  opened  January  13,  1918,  with  a stock,  the  value  of 
which  was  $1 ,374.75.  Sales  for  the  first  day  were  $110.  Dividends  for  the  first 
month  were  $95.56;  in  February  they  were  $800.73,  and  in  March,  $1,103.96. 

There  was  no  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  on  the  hospital 
reservation  at  first,  but  two  “Y”  men  were  on  duty  in  the  hospital  practically 
all  the  time,  and  in  an  adjoining  block  the  “Y”  building  was  open  to  the  men 
of  the  hospital  detachment. 

The  Red  Cross  erected  a commodious  building  adjoining  the  hospital 
grounds  for  the  use  of  patients  during  the  day  and  for  entertainments  in  the 
evenings.  Valuable  assistance  was  rendered  the  hospital  in  the  matter  of 
correspondence  with  relatives  of  sick  soldiers,  and  in  many  other  ways.  Several 
rooms  were  so  equipped  that  relatives  visiting  the  patients  might  remain  over 
night. 

The  activities  of  the  various  clubs,  societies,  etc.,  in  the  city  of  Atlanta 
were  very  beneficial  to  the  patients  in  the  hospital.  Many  of  the  wards  were 
adopted  by  these  organizations,  whose  representatives  made  at  least  one  visit 
a week  to  the  patients,  bringing  flowers,  reading  matter,  etc.,  for  the  men.  A 
recreation  room  under  the  auspices  of  a Red  Cross  Chapter  was  fitted  up  in  the 
exchange  building,  and  here  ambulatory  patients  were  allowed  to  congregate 
at  certain  hours.  Practically  all  of  the  wards  were  supplied  with  phonographs 
and  a goodly  number  of  records. 


672 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Gordon,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  from  December, 

1917,  to  June,  1918,  inclusive.0- 


SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums . 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals . 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

c/5 

3 

3 

Hospital. 

v5 

q 

1917. 

430 

1,967 

56 

3 

2, 456 

621 

17 

7 

392 

643 

775 

1 

18, 174 

1918. 

January 

776 

1,391 

77 

5 

2,249 

380 

63 

12 

347 

768 

679 

21  910 

February 

679 

1,202 

91 

8 

1,980 

370 

20 

11 

305 

441 

830 

3 

e?7>  45v5 

March..  I 

833 

l’  804 

132 

6 

2,  775 

691 

9 

7 

238 

727 

1 099 

4 

31  743 

April 

1,103 

2, 564 

114 

i 

3,  782 

1,099 

39 

5 

1 

533 

761 

1,341 

3 

36*  694 

1,344 

3, 186 

71 

4^  601 

1,266 

69 

39 

1 

624 

1 069 

1 531 

2 

J urie 

1,533 

2,  250 

52 

3^  835 

1,349 

23 

35 

4 

310 

776 

1,336 

2 

35,  666 

188 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

December 

85 

2 

87 

235 

235 

49 

1918. 

January 

83 

2 

1 

86 

316 

18 

334 

52 

February 

73 

2 

1 

76 

338 

IS 

356 

79 

March 

77 

2 

1 

80 

320 

IS 

338 

7S 

April 

70 

2 

1 

73 

333 

IS 

351 

113 

May 

70 

2 

1 

73 

35S 

IS 

376 

161 

June 

66 

2 

1 

69 

449 

IS 

467 

158 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  0 ffice;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  GREENE,  CHARLOTTE,  N.  C.° 

The  base  hospital,  Camp  Greene,  was  located  in  Mecklenburg  County, 
4J  miles  from  Charlotte,  N.  C. 

The  surrounding  country  is  rolling  and  wooded.  The  soil  is  red  clay, 
which  gives  rise  to  very  little  high-flying  dust  in  dry  weather,  but  a great  deal 
of  red,  sticky  mud  after  rain. 

The  climate  in  summer  is  moderately  warm,  with  very  hot  days  occa- 
sionally. The  autumn  is  cool  and  exhilerating.  The  winter  of  1917— IS  was 
very  severe  and  cold,  which  was  unusual  for  this  location. 

The  roads  in  and  about  the  hospital  were  of  cinders  and  dirt.  The  streams 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  were  small  brooks.  The  sanitary  status  of  the 
hospital  neighborhood  was  good. 


“ The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Greene,  N.  C.”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  George  A.  Penn,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  stall  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


673 


The  base  hospital  was  organized  September  IS,  1917,  its  function  being 
to  treat  cases  arising  in  the  camp  as  well  as  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal 
cases  from  overseas. 

The  base  hospital  was  occupied  September  18,  1917,  when  four  wards 
were  completed  and  patients  admitted  thereto.  The  hospital  was  originally 
erected  on  the  standard  pavilion  plan.  Later,  six  two-story  barracks  buildings 
and  a ward  which  was  used  for  clinical  lectures  and  as  offices  for  the  chiefs  of 
service,  were  constructed. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  identical  with  the  general  camp  supply, 
and  was  obtained  from  the  Catawba  River,  and  treated  by  mechanical  filtration 
by  gravity  through  a sand-sulphate-aluminum  coagulant. 

Comfortable  quarters  were  provided  for  officers  and  nurses,  and  the  barracks 
for  enlisted  men  were  satisfactory. 

The  general  mess  was  conveniently  situated  and  centrally  located  with 
reference  to  the  wards,  with  which  it  was  connected  by  covered  boardwalks. 
The  officers’  mess  was  conducted  in  the  officers’  quarters,  and,  likewise,  the 
nurses  had  their  separate  mess. 

Five  warehouses  were  provided  for  supplies  for  the  medical  supply  officer, 
the  dispensary,  and  the  quartermaster  of  the  hospital. 

The  hospital  had  to  depend  entirely  upon  a laundry  in  Charlotte.  The 
service  was  very  unsatisfactory. 

The  hospital  was  fairly  well  equipped  in  the  early  days  of  its  existence, 
and  fully  equipped  eventually. 

A complete  sewerage  system  was  installed  in  the  hospital.  There  were 
no  latrines.  Water-closets  and  shower  baths  were  placed  in  separate  rooms 
in  the  wards. 

All  garbage  was  delivered  to  a dumping  platform  where  it  was  removed 
by  farmers.  Manure  was  disposed  of  in  the  same  manner.  Shower  baths 
were  placed  in  the  wards  in  separate  rooms  with  the  water-closets. 

The  hospital  was  heated  during  the  winter  of  1917-TS  by  means  of  very 
inferior  trash  stoves.  These  were  replaced  later  by  a general  assortment  of 
various  coal  stores  and  so-called  individual  ward  furnaces,  which  were  operated 
by  men  from  the  detachment  on  duty  in  the  wards.  This  method  of  heating 
was  very  unsuccessful  and  unsatisfactory,  and  there  was  a continual  danger 
of  setting  fire  to  the  wooden  structures.  Furthermore,  during  the  very  severe 
weather  of  the  winter  of  1917-18  great  difficulty  was  experienced  in  procuring 
sufficient  fuel  because  of  the  almost  impassable  condition  of  the  roads. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity,  the  system  being  successful  in  the 
main. 

Early  in  November,  1917,  the  chapel  was  ready  for  use  for  religious  purposes. 

A post  exchange  was  established  soon  after  the  hospital  opened,  and 
proved  a great  convenience  to  the  patients. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  constructed  a building  for  the  use 
of  the  personnel  and  patients.  It  was  well  patronized  and  proved  a source  of 
much  entertainment. 

Until  July  1,  1918,  no  Red  Cross  building  had  been  erected.  Red  Cross 
workers,  however,  were  very  active  from  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
hospital  and  proved  a source  of  great  help. 

45269°— 23 13 


674 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IX  THE  EXITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Greene,  Charlotte,  N.  C'.,  from  September, 

1917 , to  March  8,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  ev pi- 
ration  of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

. 

© 

Hospital. 

| 

1917. 

September 

191 

191 

4S 

143 

1 157 

October 

143 

657 

800 

508 

4 

1 

287 

287 

869 

1.156 

465 

i 

60 

630 

15  629 

630 

2,077 

2. 7071. 509 

111 

1,072 

22  726 

1918. 

January 

1,072 

2,163 

3,235  1,801 

98 

14 

1 

6 

1.312 

38  434 

February 

1,312 

1,532 

2,844  1,598 

34 

9 

i 

6 

1, 196 

38  897 

March.." 

1,196 

1,836 

3,032  1,869 

13 

20 

1,130 

38  241 

April 

1 130 

1,296 

2. 426  1 605 

31 

30 

2 

29  111 

May 

' 739 

1,494 

800 

13 

32 

13 

1 

635 

21  624 

June 

635 

637 

2 

1,274 

788 

1 

17 

2 

461 

16' 324 

July 

461 

381 

2 

814 

473 

0 

10 

1 

360 

13.3S9 

August 

360 

54 

1 

707 

1,122 

519 

2 

66 

1 

2 

30 

502 

13. 719 

501 

46 

1,252 

1,799 

820 

7 

8 

3 

14 

912 

19.794 

October 

912 

123 

424 

2,767 

4, 256 

2, 756 

4 

4 

9 

1,221 

2 

48  796 

145 

1,223 

34 

'696 

1,953 

1 . 353 

28 

6 

13 

11 

.542 

'542 

47 

34 

599 

1,222 

775 

7 

1 

11 

423 

15) 192 

1919. 

January 

423 

31 

133 

290 

877 

516 

12 

41 

303 

11,869 

10 

303 

20 

188 

249 

760 

380 

4 

31 

112 

233 

9 000 

8 

March.." 

233 

9 

34 

14 

290 

171 

1 

114 

4 

2,0S1 



CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 


1917. 

October 

November 

December 

1918. 

January 

February 

March..'. 

April 

May 

June 


Men. 


150 

160 

500 

650 

600 

625 

675 

450 

25 


Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 


150 

160 

500 

650 

600 

625 

675 

450 

25 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

1918. 

July 

31 

9 

9 

6 

9 

1 

8 

1919. 

9 

9 

March..'. 

4 

Total. 


31 

9 

9 

6 

9 

9 


PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

28 

2S 

132 

132 

October 

28 

2S 

132 

132 

November 

42 

42 

263 

263 

4S 

December 

42 

42 

439 

439 

1918. 

January 

57 

1 

5S 

428 

13 

441 

67 

February 

67 

1 

68 

424 

13 

437 

S3 

March . 

1 

426 

20 

446 

So 

April 

87 

1 

SS 

621 

20 

641 

120 

May 

71 

2 

73 

425 

IS 

443 

June 

69 

2 

71 

416 

IS 

434 

101 

July 

74 

2 

2 

78 

3S5 

IS 

403 

99 

August 

59 

3 

1 

63 

378 

16 

394 

S6 

September 

58 

3 

1 

62 

36S 

IS 

386 

84 

October 

66 

4 

1 

71 

453 

IS 

471 

94 

November 

64 

4 

1 

69 

453 

15 

46S 

95 

December 

49 

4 

2 

OO 

410 

19 

429 

92 

1919. 

January 

34 

4 

2 

40 

406 

16 

422 

60 

February 

27 

3 

1 

31 

305 

14 

319 

35 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section.  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


675 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  HANCOCK,  AUGUSTA,  GA.« 

Camp  Hancock  was  located  in  Richmond  County,  Ga.,  adjacent  to  the  city 
of  Augusta.  Augusta  is  a city  of  about  50,000  inhabitants,  is  largely  devoted 
to  agricultural  business — principally  cotton — and  to  cotton  manufacture  on  a 
large  scale.  It  is  located  on  the  Savannah  River,  which  forms  the  boundary 
between  the  States  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina;  and  is  about  135  miles  from 
the  city  of  Savannah,  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah  River. 

The  camp  was  located  west  of  the  city,  which  it  bordered  for  a distance  of 
three-quarters  of  a mile.  The  base  hospital  reservation  was  at  the  extreme 
eastern  end  of  the  camp,  and  part  of  this  reservation  actually  lay  within  city 
limits. 

City  street-car  lines  passed  the  hospital  at  a distance  of  about  two  blocks 
from  the  entrance  to  the  hospital  area. 

The  country  in  this  region  is  rolling,  partly  wooded,  and  partly  under 
cultivation.  The  hill  upon  which  the  camp  was  located  is  about  400  feet  above 
sea  level,  and  this  represents  the  average  height  of  the  hills  in  this  vicinity. 
From  this  hill  there  was  a view  in  all  directions  over  the  surrounding  country, 
the  horizon  to  the  east  and  south  being  at  least  50  miles  distant  from  the  camp. 

The  soil  of  these  hills  is  of  sand  to  a depth  of  about  8 or  10  feet,  and  below 
is  a subsoil  of  red  clay  varying  in  thickness  from  4 to  20  feet.  Below  this  again 
is  sand,  of  a fine  quality,  light  in  color,  and  very  closely  resembling  the  sand  of 
the  seashore.  The  top  layer  of  the  soil  is  sand  a bit  coarser  than  ordinary  sea 
sand  but  closely  resembling  it.  This  sand  is  quite  heavy  and,  except  during 
high  winds,  does  not  blow  to  any  extent,  but  it  washes  away  badly  during  heavy 
rains;  and  because  of  this  it  is  difficult  to  maintain  roads  and  levels.  The  red 
clay  is  admixed  with  sand,  and  it  packs  very  well.  It  is  used  extensively  in  the 
region  for  the  construction  of  roads,  being  practically  the  only  material  avail- 
able, as  there  is  no  rock  or  gravel  to  be  found  in  the  region.  In  the  valleys  there 
is  a mixture  of  loam  with  the  sand,  and  as  these  are  well  watered  during  freshets 
and  after  heavy  rains  they  are  extremely  fertile.  Vegetation  on  top  of  the  hills 
reminds  the  observer  of  the  seacoast,  with  the  same  scrubby  wild  pea. 

The  climate  is  mild  and  fairly  equable.  Summers  are  hot,  the  thermometer 
often  reaching  100°  F.  for  many  days  at  a time,  and  during  July  and  August 
there  are  frequent  and  violent  thunderstorms.  Hot  weather  begins  about  the 
1st  of  June  and  continues  well  into  September,  sometimes  well  into  October. 
Actual  winter  weather  begins  usually  about  Christmas  and  lasts  six  or  seven 
weeks.  During  that  time  the  winter  may  be  fairly  violent,  with  low  tempera- 
tures and  sleet  storms.  There  is,  however,  no  great  precipitation  of  snow,  and 
if  snow  falls  it  melts  very  quickly.  There  are  a good  many  days  with  low 
temperature  and  high  winds.  During  the  winter  of  1917-18  the  thermometer 
once  reached  5°  above  zero  in  the  early  morning.  The  weather  in  spring  and 
autumn  is  delightful.  October,  November,  and  most  of  December  are  very 
much  like  early  October  in  New  England,  with  much  sunshine  and  few  gray 
days.  Often  it  is  possible  to  gather  roses  on  Christmas  Day.  Again  from  the 
1st  of  February  until  the  last  of  April  the  climate  is  delightful.  Spring  advances 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Hancock,  Ga.,”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  F.  T.  Barrett,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


676 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


slowly  but  steadily;  there  is  much  sunshine;  and  there  are  very  few  days  when 
the  temperature  is  too  high  for  comfort. 

The  roads  in  the  entire  region  were  rather  unsatisfactory,  there  being  no 
rock  for  the  formation  of  a roadbed  and  no  suitable  gravel  for  the  top  (dressing. 
From  necessity  roads  were  constructed  from  the  red  clay  which  formed  the  sub- 
soil. Properly  mixed  with  sand  this  formed  a hard,  smooth  surface,  but  it  washed 
away  easily  during  rainstorms  and  was  easily  torn  up  and  the  surface  rendered 
uneven  by  heavy  traffic.  The  roads,  however,  were  fairly  easily  repaired  by  the 
use  of  road  scrapers,  the  addition  of  more  clay,  and  some  rolling.  In  the  valleys 
between  the  hills  there  is  comparatively  little  swampy  land,  and,  owing  to  the 
nature  of  the  soil,  this  can  be  drained  easily.  The  camp  was  therefore,  com- 
paratively free  from  mosquitoes. 

No  date  can  be  set  for  the  organization  of  the  base  hospital,  for  this  was  a 
gradual  proceeding,  occupying  several  weeks.  The  first  medical  officer  to 
report  for  duty  arrived  August  14,  1917.  At  that  time  the  hospital  site  had 
not  been  selected,  but  some  of  the  neighboring  buildings  were  under  construc- 
tion. Practically  the  only  persons  in  the  Military  Establishment  present  at 
that  time  were  the  constructing  quartermaster  with  his  staff,  and  one  battalion 
of  the  Georgia  National  Guard.  During  the  next  few  days  several  medical 
officers  arrived,  and  on  August  18,  1917,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  base 
hospital  reported  for  duty.  In  conjunction  with  the  constructing  quarter- 
master, his  first  duty  was  the  selection  of  the  hospital  site.  Building  of  the 
hospital  was  begun  about  September  9,  1917,  and  progressed  rapidly.  Such 
rapid  progress  was  made  on  certain  of  the  buildings  that  it  was  possible  to  admit 
the  first  patient  on  October  14,  1917. 

The  National  Guard  regiment  from  Pennsylvania  had  been  arriving  since 
the  last  days  of  August  to  form  the  28th  Division,  which  was  to  train  at  Camp 
Hancock.  This  division  had  as  part  of  its  sanitary  train  four  field  hospitals, 
and  these  were  set  up  and  used  for  the  accomodation  of  the  sick  of  the  division 
during  the  interval  preceding  the  opening  of  the  base  hospital.  There  was  no 
great  amount  of  sickness  during  this  period  and  no  epidemics  appeared,  so  that 
the  field  hospitals  were  well  able  to  care  for  the  sick  of  the  camp.  It  was  not 
necessary,  therefore,  to  engage  temporary  quarters  or  to  use  local  hospitals 
except  for  acute  surgical  cases.  The  university  hospital  connected  with  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  at  Augusta,  opened  its  doors 
to  the  surgical  department  of  the  base  hospital,  and  acute  surgical  cases  arising 
in  the  camp  were  operated  upon  and  cared  for  there.  Even  after  the  opening 
of  the  base  hospital  it  was  not  possible  to  care  for  acute  surgical  cases  until  the 
middle  of  January,  191S;  apparatus  and  equipment  had  not  been  received,  and 
the  heating  plant  for  the  operating  pavilion  was  not  complete  until  that  time. 

Upon  its  completion  there  was  no  formal  opening  of  the  hospital,  and 
improvements  and  additions  were  constantly  made  even  so  late  as  August,  191S. 

The  buildings  constituting  the  base  hospital  were  of  the  type  adopted  for 
all  National  Guard  camps.  The  original  orders  for  the  construction  of  the 
hospital  did  not  include  lining  or  ceiling  the  buildings,  nor  any  sewerage  and 
plumbing  system.  It  was  not  until  January,  1918,  that  the  constructing 
quartermaster  began  to  line  and  ceil  the  buildings  with  heavy  beaver  board— 
a much-needed  addition  because  of  the  very  cold  weather  then  being  experi- 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


677 


enced.  Those  who  spent  the  month  of  January,  1918,  at  Camp  Hancock  are 
not  likely  to  forget  then-  experiences  there.  Plumbing  had  not  been  installed 
in  the  hospital;  there  was  no  sewerage  system;  the  hospital  was  heated  only 
by  stoves ; and  there  was  no  lining  to  walls  nor  were  there  ceilings  to  hold  what 
heat  the  stoves  gave.  There  was  no  hot-water  supply,  all  water  being  brought 
in  from  the  grounds  and  heated  by  stoves.  Added  to  these  handicaps,  the 
weather  was  exceptionally  cold  and  severe.  The  work  of  ceiling  and  lining  the 
buildings  was  completed  during  January,  so  that  after  that  tune  life  was  much 
more  comfortable.  About  this  time  also  the  installation  of  the  plumbing  and 
sewerage  systems  was  begun.  At  first,  the  city  water  mains  were  brought  into 
the  hospital  grounds,  and  fire  plugs  were  located  for  the  protection  of  the 
buildings  against  fire.  These  mains  were  tapped  at  various  places  in  the 
grounds  so  that  there  was  provision  for  water  for  use  in  the  wards.  There  was 
at  first  no  sewerage  system,  and  latrines  were  placed  about  the  hospital  grounds, 
allowing  one  for  about  every  four  wards.  These  latrines  were  of  the  usual 
open-air  type,  and  in  winter  weather  were  far  from  comfortable,  especially  for 
patients. 

Though  at  times  crowded,  the  quarters  throughout  the  hospital  were 
satisfactory.  Six  barracks  of  the  standard  one-story  type  were  constructed 
for  enlisted  men.  These  were  about  160  feet  long  and  24  feet  wide,  with  four 
rooms  at  one  end  for  the  noncommissioned  officers,  and  a small  common  sitting 
room  at  the  other  end.  Each  barrack  accommodated  about  50  men.  The  bar- 
racks were  very  comfortable  except  for  the  fact  that  beaver  board  for  ceiling 
and  lining  was  not  installed  until  wrell  into  cold  weather,  when  troops,  patients, 
and  all  who  were  housed  in  the  hospital  buildings  wrere  very  comfortable. 

The  original  building  for  the  officers  was  long  and  narrow  and  was  divided 
into  24  rooms,  each  room  being  about  9 by  10  feet,  with  one  window.  No  bath- 
rooms were  provided  until  the  plumbing  for  the  hospital  was  installed.  A 
latrine  was  constructed  about  60  feet  from  the  end  of  the  building,  and  the  only 
bathing  facilities  obtainable  at  the  time  were  a galvanized-iron  bucket,  and  a 
faucet  in  the  yard.  The  building  was  heated  by  small  stoves,  one  6-inch 
"cannon”  stove  for  each  room.  Each  stove  had  its  separate  galvanized-iron 
smokestack,  and  the  resulting  appearance  of  the  long  row  of  these  stacks  was 
weird.  In  the  early  spring  of  1918  three  large  additions  wTere  made  to  this 
building,  converting  it  into  an  E -shaped  structure.  The  two  outer  wings  were 
for  bedrooms,  all  of  the  same  shape  and  size  as  those  described  above.  The 
center  wing  contained  a good-sized  assembly  room,  a dining  room,  and  a kitchen 
adequate  for  the  needs  of  these  quarters. 

The  barracks  for  nurses  were  almost  exactly  like  those  for  the  officers,  pre- 
senting the  same  difficulties.  A nurses’  recreation  house  was  built  and  equipped 
by  the  Red  Cross. 

A society  of  young  ladies  of  Augusta  raised  a sum  of  money  by  a series  of 
entertainments  during  the  winter  of  1917-18,  and  fitted  up  the  sitting  room  in 
each  of  the  barracks  with  furnishings,  curtains  for  the  windows,  and  other 
comforts. 

Before  the  plumbing  system  was  installed  the  men  of  the  Augusta  fire 
department  allowed  the  men  of  the  detachment  the  use  of  their  shower  baths, 
a privilege  which  was  deeply  appreciated. 


678 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Because  the  cooks  and  their  assistants  were  more  or  less  inexperienced,  the 
kitchen  of  the  hospital  was  perhaps  the  most  difficult  department  to  establish 
and  maintain.  There  were  five  messes  at  the  base  hospital — the  main  mess  for 
convalescent  patients,  including  a diet  kitchen  for  the  feeding  of  ward  patients; 
the  enlisted  men’s  mess;  the  sick  officers’  mess;. the  medical  officers’  mess;  and 
the  nurses’  mess.  The  three  last  named  required  the  least  care  and  attention; 
they  were  relatively  small  and  their  management  much  more  simple.  The 
patients’  mess  required  the  greatest  effort  and  caused  the  most  trouble,  as  it 
was  the  largest,  and  a variety  of  needs  had  to  be  catered  to.  The  original  equip- 
ment in  this  mess  consisted  of  a battery  of  four-burner  gas  stoves  with  fair- 
sized  ovens  under  each.  Aside  from  these  and  a somewhat  too  small  refrig- 
erator, there  was  practically  no  equipment,  except  the  usual  pots  and  pans. 
For  some  reason  this  hospital  did  not  receive  as  much  equipment  as  did  some 
other  base  hospitals,  and  it  was  a struggle  to  get  along  with  the  inadequate 
equipment  for  feeding  patients.  In  March,  1918,  a small  hospital  fund  having 
accumulated,  permission  was  requested  to  expend  part  of  it  in  the  purchase  of 
additional  kitchen  equipment,  such  as  steam  kettles,  dish  washers,  potato  parers, 
etc.,  but  word  was  received  that  the  Construction  Division  would  install  these. 
Installation  began  in  August,  1918.  The  original  equipment  included  wheel 
carriages  with  hot-water  trays  for  food  containers,  but  these  trays  were  too 
shallow  and  did  not  serve  during  cold  weather  to  keep  the  food  hot.  Indeed, 
the  serving  of  hot  food  to  ward  patients  was  one  of  the  greatest  problems  of  the 
winter.  Most  food  had  to  be  reheated  on  the  gas  stoves  in  the  ward  diet 
kitchens,  and  even  then  it  is  probable  that  the  food  served  to  many  patients  was 
not  sufficiently  hot  to  be  palatable.  Hot  kettles  were  improvised  by  putting 
small  pails  into  larger  ones  containing  hot  water.  This  helped  improve  the 
situation,  but  the  preparation  and  service  of  food  was  far  from  satisfactory. 
During  the  winter  of  1917-18  difficulty  was  experienced  also  because  of  low  gas 
pressure,  due  to  fuel  shortage.  Because  of  this  fuel  shortage  many  house- 
holders in  the  city  depended  upon  gas  for  keeping  their  houses  warm,  and  the 
supply  was  limited  and  the  consumption  excessive. 

A dietitian  was  added  to  the  staff  of  the  hospital  about  Christmas,  1917, 
and  her  efforts  greatly  increased  the  comfort  of  patients  as  regards  their  diet. 
Supplies  were  abundant  at  all  times. 

In  the  enlisted  men’s  mess  much  the  same  trouble  was  experienced.  The 
kitchen  was  at  the  end  of  the  gas  main  and  pressure  was  often  lower  there 
than  anywhere  else,  and  on  many  of  the  coldest  days  it  was  impossible  to  serve 
warm  food.  Breakfast  was  likely  to  be  the  best  meal,  as  it  was  served  before 
the  city  people  were  up  and  using  gas. 

The  storehouses  of  the  hospital  were  among  the  first  buildings  finished. 
There  were  four  of  them,  each  about  150  feet  long  and  25  feet  wide.  One  was 
assigned  to  the  hospital  quartermaster  for  his  use,  and  the  camp  medical  supply 
officer  and  the  hospital  property  officer  occupied  the  other  three.  Until  the 
later  construction  of  nine  two-story  ward  barracks,  these  warehouses  were 
sufficient  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  hospital,  but  at  least  one  more  could  have  been 
used  to  great  advantage. 

A building  was  originally  constructed  as  a laundry,  but  no  machinery 
was  installed.  Laundry  work  was  done  by  a steam  laundry  in  the  city  of 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS.  679 

Augusta,  the  arrangement  proving  very  satisfactory.  Suitable  steam  laundry 
facilities  were  greatly  needed. 

A chapel  was  one  of  the  original  buildings  of  the  hospital,  but  it  was  not 
used  in  the  early  months;  it  had  no  furnishings  and  there  was  no  ceiling. 
Owing  to  the  proximity  of  a Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  in 
camp,  available  for  religious  purposes,  and  to  the  fact  that  several  of  the  city’s 
churches  were  only  a short  distance  away,  there  was  no  great  demand  for  the 
use  of  this  building.  During  January,  1918,  there  was  an  epidemic  of  German 
measles,  and  the  hospital  was  filled  to  overflowing.  During  that  time  the 
chapel  was  fitted  up  for  a ward.  Later,  it  was  turned  over  to  the  representa- 
tive of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  who  fitted  it  up  for  the  detach- 
ment of  the  hospital  and  provided  it  with  writing  tables  and  games. 

Fortunately,  owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  city  of  Augusta,  it  was  possible 
to  bring  gas  mains  to  the  hospital  for  a supply  of  fuel  gas.  At  first  there  was 
only  a limited  supply  of  gas  stoves,  but  gradually  these  accumulated  so  that 
before  cold  weather  set  in  there  was  at  least  one  installed  in  the  diet  kitchen  of 
every  ward.  These  served  the  dual  purpose  of  warming  food  for  patients, 
brought  over  from  the  mess,  and  for  heating  water  for  the  care  of  patients,  and 
was  almost  the  only  approach  to  the  usual  comforts  obtainable  during  the  severe 
weather. 

From  the  first  the  hospital  was  heated  by  stoves  and  furnaces.  These  were 
in  great  variety  of  sizes  and  shapes,  but  the  “cannon  ” type  predominated,  sizes 
ranging  from  grates  of  7 to  18  inches  in  diameter.  For  the  wards  hot-air  fur- 
naces were  provided.  Each  ward  had  two  of  these,  of  a type  ordinarily  used 
for  heating  small  houses.  They  were  mounted  at  either  end  of  each  ward,  and 
above  each  was  placed  a large  deflector  plate  in  the  hope  that  the  hot  air  would 
be  deflected  downward.  The  scheme  was  a disappointment,  however,  as  the 
heat  continued  to  rise  and  the  lower  portion  of  the  rooms  remained  cold. 
One  could  stand  beside  a heater  in  full  operation  and  yet  get  no  warmth  from  it. 
Removal  of  the  outer  case  of  these  heaters  improved  the  warmth  of  the  wards, 
and  this  measure  was  adopted.  There  was  a total  of  300  “heaters”  and  stoves 
set  up  throughout  the  hospital,  and  the  labor  required  to  carry  fuel  to  and  from 
these  can  well  be  imagined.  There  was  also  considerable  difficulty  from  the 
soiling  of  the  wards  by  ashes  and  from  the  fact  that  patients  persisted  in  using 
the  stoves  as  receptacles  for  all  manner  of  refuse. 

The  hospital  was  benefited  by  its  proximity  to  the  city  in  the  matter  of 
lighting,  insuring  electric  lighting  from  the  start.  The  supply  was  constant 
and  satisfactory.  Power  came  from  a dam  on  the  Savannah  River  about  12 
miles  above  the  city. 

The  various  equipments  for  fire  protection  were  completed,  during  the 
summer  of  1918,  with  the  installation  of  a fire  house  and  a high-powered  auto- 
mobile fire  engine  of  the  latest  type.  In  addition,  chemical  fire  engines,  a siren 
whistle,  several  40-gallon  chemical  fire  entinguishers  mounted  on  wheels,  with  a 
100-foot  hose  attached,  were  installed  in  several  parts  of  the  hospital.  There 
was  also  a night  watchman  system  for  fire  protection,  with  4 watchmen’s 
clocks  and  64  stations.  These  stations  had  to  be  rung  up  at  least  once  an  hour 
during  the  night,  and  were  so  arranged  that  a watchman  should  visit  all  parts 
of  the  hospital  at  least  once  an  hour.  The  initial  number  of  hand  extinguishers 


680 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  fire  buckets  was  considerably  increased,  and  an  automatic  fire-alarm  system 
was  added  to  the  equipment. 

For  its  water  supply  the  hospital  was  connected  with  the  Augusta  water 
system.  The  arrangement  was  satisfactory,  and  the  supply  never  failed. 

When  the  plumbing  was  installed  there  was  water,  both  hot  and  cold,  in 
every  ward  and  in  all  kitchens  and  bathrooms  of  the  hospital.  Each  ward  had 
a bathroom  in  which  there  were  two  hand  basins,  a bathtub,  a shower  bath,  a 
dental  sink,  urinal,  and  toilets.  There  was  also  a slop  sink  in  a room  designated 
the  “service  room”  and  the  diet  kitchen  had  a satisfactory  kitchen  sink.  Each 
ward  had  its  own  hot-water  heater  installed  in  a small  lean-to  outside,  and 
there  was  an  abundance  of  hot  water. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  connected  with  the  sewer  mains 
of  the  city  of  Augusta,  thus  providing  for  the  disposition  of  all  sewage.  There 
were  no  toilet  facilities  until  the  plumbing  was  installed  in  February,  1918. 

The  disposal  of  garbage  was  accomplished  by  digging  a pit  about  16  feet 
deep,  which  took  it  through  the  layer  of  red  clay  which  forms  the  subsoil  in  this 
region,  and  from  12  to  14  feet  in  diameter.  It  was  filled  up  to  about  10  feet 
from  the  bottom  with  a cribwork  of  logs.  On  top  of  this  cribwork  was  placed  a 
layer  of  logs  laid  close  together,  and  upon  these  about  4 feet  of  broken  brick, 
upon  which  a fire  was  built  and  garbage  disposed  of.  A hopper  was  constructed 
at  one  side  to  take  care  of  the  sullage  water  contained  in  the  garbage.  Upon 
being  poured  into  the  hopper  this  water  ran  down  over  the  heated  bricks  into 
the  pit  and  what  was  not  evaporated  ran  off  into  the  sands.  This  incinerator 
proved  very  satisfactory  and  easily  took  care  of  all  the  hospital  garbage  until 
some  months  later  when  arrangements  were  made  with  a contractor  to  purchase 
and  remove  the  garbage.  Still  later  a reclamation  service,  established  under 
the  camp  quartermaster,  assumed  the  duty  of  caring  for  this  detail. 

The  equipment  of  the  base  hospital  gradually  developed  from  an  amount 
which  would  be  considered  extremely  scant  by  a well-established  city  hospital, 
to  that  which  would  compare  favorably  with  any  hospital  in  the  country  in 
this  respect.  Bed  linen  was  one  of  the  shortages  when  the  hospital  was  first 
established.  Oniy  about  2,400  sheets  were  available  at  first,  and  for  several 
weeks  after  the  hospital  opened,  obviously  an  insufficient  quantity  for  a hospital 
of  800  beds.  Office  fixtures  were  lacking  in  the  early  days  of  the  hospital,  and 
in  many  of  the  administrative  offices  and  in  the  office  of  the  ward  surgeons  it  was 
necessary  to  construct  tables  from  scrap  lumber  left  by  the  contractors  and 
from  packing  boxes  in  which  medical  supplies  had  been  delivered.  Much  of 
the  necessary  shelving  was  at  first  constructed  from  these  same  scrap  materials. 
For  a long  time  there  were  no  tongue  depressors  and  it  was  a common  sight  in 
many  of  the  wards,  and  particularly  in  the  nose  and  throat  ward . to  see  conva- 
lescent patients  whittling  them  out  of  box  wood.  They  were  then  sterilized 
and  distributed  throughout  the  hospital.  A great  deal  of  ingenuity  was  shown 
by  ward  surgeons  and  wardmasters  in  improvising  chairs  and  tables.  In  the 
nose  and  thoat  clinic  several  very  clever  tables  were  devised  with  bottle  and 
towel  racks  which  were  so  useful  and  practical  that  they  were  later  copied  in 
better  material,  properly  finished. 

During  the  early  spring  of  1918  the  American  Bed  Cross  constructed  a 
large  house  for  convalescent  patients.  This  was  a very  elaborate  building  and 
consisted  of  a large  auditorium  with  stage.  The  stage  and  auditorium  could 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


681 


be  converted  in  the  day  time  into  a large  reading  and  game  room.  There  was 
also  a small  kitchen  and  on  the  second  floor  in  two  of  the  wings  were  several  bed- 
rooms which  were  used  by  the  staff  of  the  Red  Cross  house  and  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  relatives  of  sick  patients.  The  Red  Cross  house  was  presided  over 
by  a Red  Cross  worker,  and  a member  of  the  Army  Nurse  Corps  was  on  duty 
there  as  matron.  The  American  Library  Association  placed  many  books  upon 
the  shelves  of  this  house  and  assigned  a trained  librarian  for  their  proper  care 
and  distribution  to  the  convalescent  patients  throughout  the  hospital.  LTnder 
the  direction  of  the  representative  of  the  Red  Cross,  entertainments  for  con- 
valescent patients  were  arranged,  and  uncjuestionably  the  house  was  of  great 
benefit  to  the  patients  and  materially  assisted  in  hastening  the  convalescence 
of  many  by  giving  them  a much-needed  change  of  environment  from  the  hos- 
pital wards. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1917  a Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  worker 
was  on  duty  at  the  hospital,  working  untiringly  among  both  patients  and  the 
men  of  the  detachment.  In  the  spring  of  1918  he  took  charge  of  the  chapel, 
as  mentioned  above. 

After  January,  1919,  there  was  a steady  decrease  in  numbers  both  in  the 
camp  and  at  the  hospital.  On  January  21,  the  Surgeon  General  designated 
this  hospital  for  the  care  of  severely  gassed  patients  whose  homes  were  east  of  the 
Mississippi  River.  About  50  cases  were  received  and  carefully  studied,  particu- 
larly with  regard  to  physical  signs  and  the  radiographic  findings.  On  February 
25  orders  were  received  that  the  camp  and  hospital  were  to  be  demobilized  at 
once,  all  gassed  patients  to  be  sent  to  the  general  hospital  at  Biltmore,  N.  C. 
On  March  26,  1919,  the  base  hospital  was  officially'  closed,  and  the  buildings 
turned  over  to  the  Public  Health  Service. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Hancock,  Augusta,  Ga.,  from  October, 

1917,  to  March  28,  1919,  inclusive. a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

From  command. 

> 

Q. 

missio 

From 

SOUI 

d 

PQ 

ns. 

other 

ces. 

© 

g 

© 

,d 

O 

1917. 

495 

84 

November 

500 

764 

14 

3 

535 

888 

27 

1918. 

1,491 

22 

845 

1, 263 

14 

March.. . 

842 

'850 

8 

April 

664 

968 

60 

17 

May 

698 

69 

1 

696 

June 

757 

1,257 

July 

959 

36 

1,241 

August 

980 

59 

10 

1,551 

September 

1,265 

46 

31 

3,  035 

October 

2,314 

256 

330 

5,  216 

November 

2,  2S7 

70 

23 

1,607 

December 

2,109 

66 

23 

980 

1919. 

January 

1,044 

137 

19 

1,041 

February 

856 

79 

12 

286 

March 

370 

17 

1 

117 

Total  to  bo  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 
other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 
posed of. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

579 

77 

1 

1 

500 

1,281 

717 

4 

17 

2 

6 

1,450 

699 

1 

59 

1 

5 

685 

2, 19S 

968 

5 

23 

347 

10 

845 

2, 122 

1, 146 

18 

10 

102 

4 

842 

1,700 

957 

11 

40 

19 

9 

664 

1.709 

930 

7 

47 

61 

21 

698 

1,464 

641 

4 

3 

44 

2,  079 

969 

3 

60 

26 

62 

959 

2,  236 

1,137 

4 

36 

27 

980 

2,  600 

1,206 

9 

46 

4 

20 

50 

1,265 

4,  377 

1,679 

17 

53 

265 

49 

2, 314 

8,  116 

5, 295 

474 

20 

2 

38 

2, 287 

3,987 

1,704 

86 

22 

13 

2, 109 

3, 178 

2,014 

39 

26 

21 

34 

l,  044 

2,241 

1,219 

70 

26 

IS 

52 

1,233 

745 

6 

58 

24 

30 

370 

505 

227 

2 

23 

241 

12 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


p< 

o 


4,044 
14, 888 
19, 806 


24,  236 

19,  051 
22, 937 
20, 889 

20,  209 
26, 669 
27,  295 
35,  213 
43, 684 
95, 804 
62, 347 
51,425 


33,  852' 
17,456 
6,482 


a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


682 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Hancock,  Augnsta,  Ga.,  from  October, 
1917 , to  March  28,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1918. 

1 

1 

7 

7 

February 

1 

1 

1 

1 

9 

9 

April 

1 

1 

7 

7 

1919. 

June 

8 

8 

January 

- 

July 

7 

7 

6 

6 

1 

i 

September 

6 

6 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Y ear  and  month 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

October 

1917. 

40 

2 

1 

43 

274 

274 

39 

2 

1 

42 

279 

279 

1 

45 

2 

1 

48 

276 

276 

30 

1918. 

46 

2 

1 

49 

285 

285 

48 

2 

1 

51 

392 

17 

409 

54 

2 

1 

57 

311 

17 

32s 

April 

74 

1 

2 

77 

522 

17 

539 

90 

60 

1 

1 

62 

303 

17 

320 

93 

61 

2 

1 

64 

400 

17 

417 

109 

July 

55 

3 

1 

59 

62 

400 

18 

418 

102 

58 

3 

1 

18 

91 

67 

3 

1 

71 

512 

18 

530 

542 

98 

68 

5 

1 

74 

523 

19 

107 

66 

4 

1 

71 

534 

19 

553 

113 

77 

4 

1 

82 

534 

IS 

101 

1919. 

66 

5 

2 

73 

799 

16 

738 

129 

52 

4 

2 

642 

13 

655 

116 

8 

4 

12 

52 

52 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  A.  A.  HUMPHREYS,  VA.« 

Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys  was  situated  in  Fairfax  County,  Ya.  The  nearest 
town  was  Alexandria,  Va.,  1 2 miles  distant,  with  a population  of  about  15,000; 
Washington,  D.  C.,  was  about  18  miles  away. 

The  camp  occupied  Belvoir  Peninsula,  which  is  rolling  and  wooded,  and 
about  3 miles  long  and  one-half  to  2 miles  wide.  On  the  east  is  Dogue  Bay; 
on  the  west,  Accotink  Bay.  The  point  of  the  peninsula  is  in  the  Potomac 
River,  about  20  miles  from  Washington.  On  the  east  side,  the  shore  is  heavily 
wooded  and  rises  abruptly  for  100  feet  to  a comparatively  level  plateau. 
On  the  west,  the  rise  from  Accotink  Bay  is  more  gradual,  and  level  ground  is  not 
reached  for  half  a mile.  The  plateau  runs  north  and  south,  and  makes  possible 
the  boast  that  Camp  Humphreys  had  the  longest  parade  ground  in  the  United 
States.  The  point  of  the  peninsula,  from  the  Potomac  north  for  about  a 


a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys,  Va.,” 
by  Maj.  J.  M.  Greer,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


683 


mile,  is  Aery  rolling,  with  an  abrupt  rise  to  the  south  end  of  the  parade  grounds. 
On  the  edge  of  the  plateau,  a half-mile  east  of  the  shore  of  Accotink  Bay,  and 
separated  from  the  southwest  corner  of  the  parade  ground  by  a quarter  mile 
of  timber,  was  the  base  hospital.  Its  situation  was  ideal:  half  a mile  east, 
across  the  parade  ground,  was  the  headquarters  and  the  civic  center  of  the 
camp,  and  thus  the  hospital  was  conveniently  near  for  ease  of  access,  yet 
sufficiently  distant  to  escape  the  noise  and  bustle  of  camp  life. 

The  soil  is  clay,  with  occasional  outcroppings  of  gravel.  While  the  soil 
forms  mud  when  mixed  with  water,  it  is  not  distressingly  tenacious.  The 
neighborhood  of  the  parade  ground  became  very  dusty  in  summer,  but  the 
base  hospital  did  not  suffer  from  dust,  nor  was  it  visited  by  disagreeable  winds. 

The  pine,  oak,  hickory,  chestnut,  elm,  cedar,  and  sycamore  trees  were 
carefully  preserved,  and  served  the  purpose  of  both  beautifying  and  protecting. 
Even  in  winter,  when  the  deciduous  trees  had  been  stripped,  there  was  enough 
pine  and  holly  to  rest  the  eye. 

The  roads  about  the  hospital  were  not  ideal.  On  the  east  side  there  was 
a clay  road,  fine  in  dry  weather,  but  rather  muddy  in  rainy  weather.  On  the 
west  side  an  attempt  was  made  to  make  a cinder  road,  but  coal  dust  was 
used,  with  a result  that  may  be  left  to  the  imagination.  However,  the  site 
was  so  excellently  drained  that  the  character  of  the  road  structure  was  not 
a serious  consideration. 

The  history  of  the  base  hospital  begins  with  the  original  hospital,  at  the 
very  point  of  the  peninsula,  on  the  shore  of  the  Potomac.  The  site,  though 
comparatively  low — not  more  than  25  feet  above  tide  water — was  naturally 
well  drained.  From  April  28,  1918,  to  September  13,  1918,  this  was  where 
the  hospital  was  located.  This  original  hospital,  or  camp  hospital  as  it  was 
then  called,  took  the  name  of  Belvoir.  The  only  building  available  was  a 
rough,  wooden,  one-story  barracks,  formerly  occupied  by  soldiers  in  training. 
It  was  partitioned  into  five  rooms,  three  of  which  were  used  as  wards,  one  as 
an  emergency  operating  room,  and  the  fifth  as  the  administration  office.  Con- 
ditions were  very  trying.  A real  base  hospital  was  promised;  therefore  no 
expensive  improvements  were  attempted  at  Belvoir.  The  water  supply, 
from  a deep  well,  pumped  to  the  latrines  and  kitchens,  was  excellent  when  the 
pump  worked;  but  the  water  was  not  piped  to  any  of  the  barracks,  and  the 
hospital  supply  had  to  be  carried  in  buckets  to  kitchen  or  latrine.  On  more 
than  one  occasion  the  pump  failed  to  work,  and  the  water  was  transported 
in  cans  by  truck  from  the  main  camp.  From  this  small  beginning  of  five  rooms 
on  April  28,  1918,  the  hospital  grew  steadily.  On  May  29,  an  order  was  issued 
by  the  War  Department  changing  its  name  from  camp  hospital  to  base  hos- 
pital, Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys.  By  the  following  September,  27  buildings 
were  required  to  house  patients,  the  medical  detachment,  medical  officers,  and 
equipment.  There  was  finally  a bed  capacity  of  350,  which  included  about 
50  beds  in  tents  placed  about  the  grounds  and  used  for  contagious  cases  and 
isolation  purposes.  On  September  13,  1918,  the  surgical  ward  and  operating 
room  equipment  were  moved  to  the  new  hospital.  As  rapidly  thereafter  as 
equipment  could  be  installed  the  remaining  wards  were  moved.  Last  of  all, 
the  administrative  offices  were  moved.  By  September  20,  everything  was 
running  smootldy,  and  plans  for  a formal  opening  were  discussed.  At  tins 


684 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


time,  however,  the  hospital  was  far  from  complete,  either  in  buildings  or  in 
equipment.  The  original  plans  called  for  45  wards,  arranged  in  sections,  the 
various  wards  in  each  section  opening  into  a common  corridor,  each  of  the 
corridors  being  connected  with  a main  central  corridor.  At  the  time  of  occu- 
pation only  three  sections  were  completed.  From  September,  1918,  to  the 
beginning  of  1919,  progress  toward  completion  was  provokingly  slow.  Labor 
shortage,  the  influenza  epidemic,  and  the  armistice  combined  to  delay  construc- 
tion. The  original  plans  included  an  additional  building  for  officers’  quarters 
and  an  additional  one  for  nurses.  These  buildings  never  materialized,  leaving 
both  officers  and  nurses  rather  uncomfortably  crowded. 

Officers  were  quartered  in  two  buildings.  The  staff  officers’  quarters,  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  commanding  officer,  a registrar,  and  the  chiefs  of  the 
medical  and  surgical  services,  were  roomy,  fitted  with  toilet  and  bath,  and  were 
conveniently  located  opposite  the  administration  building.  Large  quarters,  with 
kitchen  and  mess  hall  opposite  the  officers’  ward,  housed  the  rest  of  the  com- 
missioned officers.  The  original  plans  called  for  an  additional  building;  but 
as  this  was  never  erected,  the  officers  had  to  “double  up,”  two  occupying  a 
room  large  enough  for  only  one.  The  detachment,  Medical  Department,  was 
quartered  in  three  large  two-story  barracks  on  the  east  side  of  the  hospital. 
A fourth  building,  intended  for  the  detachment  mess  hall,  was  converted  into 
a recreation  room  for  the  enlisted  men.  These  quarters  were  steam  heated 
and  fitted  with  baths  and  toilets. 

There  were  three  messes  in  the  hospital.  A general  mess,  the  largest,  was 
fitted  with  every  necessary  appliance.  This  served  the  enlisted  men  of  the 
detachment,  as  well  as  the  convalescent  patients.  The  large,  any  mess  hall, 
adjacent  to  the  kitchen,  was  so  arranged  that  each  table  of  20  men  was  pre- 
sided over  by  a noncommissioned  officer  whose  duty  it  was  to  see  to  the  con- 
servation of  food  and  to  insure  proper  conduct  at  the  table.  Each  presid- 
ing noncommissioned  officer  was  responsible  to  the  mess  sergeant.  Food  for 
patients  on  light  and  liquid  diet  was  prepared  in  the  diet  kitchen  under  the  direct 
supervision  of  the  dietitian.  The  nurses  had  their  own  kitchen  and  mess  in 
their  quarters.  The  commissioned  officers  and  officer  patients  had  a common 
mess  in  the  officers’  ward. 

There  were  two  large  one-story  warehouses  situated  about  a quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  base  hospital.  Each  building  was  divided  into  two  by  a brick 
fire  wall  2 feet  in  thickness.  The  buildings  were  of  such  dimensions  (400  feet 
long  and  50  feet  wide)  that  it  was  possible  to  carry  a three  months’  supply  of 
medical  property  for  the  base  hospital  as  well  as  for  the  field  organizations. 
The  warehouses  were  heated  from  the  hospital  heating  plant. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  never  used  for  religious  purposes.  During  the 
influenza  epidemic  the  building  was  used  for  the  overflow  from  the  mortuary; 
otherwise  the  chapel  was  not  utilized.  Religious  services  were  held  in  the 
detachment  mess  hall,  in  the  nurses’  mess  hall,  and  in  various  other  places, 
including  the  Red  Cross  recreation  building. 

All  laundry  work  was  done  by  the  Alexandria  Laundry  (Inc.)  under  con- 
tract. The  arrangement  was  quite  satisfactory  except  during  the  influenza 
epidemic,  when  the  laundry  plant  was  overtaxed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


685 


The  hospital  water  supply  was  from  the  camp  supply,  the  source  of  which 
was  Accotink  Creek  at  a point  about  3 miles  from  camp.  From  the  creek  it 
was  carried  by  wood  pipes  to  a filtration  and  chlorination  plant  at  Accotink, 
and  from  there  to  a centrally  located  steel  supply  tank  with  a capacity  of 
300,000  gallons,  thence  to  every  building  hi  the  cantonment.  The  water  was 
excellent  in  quality. 

The  hospital  sewerage  system  was,  likewise,  a part  of  the  camp  sewerage 
system.  Every  ward,  and  the  officers’,  nurses’,  and  detachment  quarters  were 
well  equipped  with  the  most  modern  type  of  tub  and  shower  baths,  lavatories, 
urinals,  and  closets. 

The  base  hospital  had  the  most  complete,  as  well  as  the  largest,  steam 
heating  system  in  camp.  The  buildings  were  all  heated  by  direct  radiation, 
the  steam  for  which  was  supplied  by  a central  boiler  plant.  The  central  boiler 
plant  consisted  of  150-horsepower  return  tubular  boilers,  brick  set,  vacuum 
pumps,  boiler  feed  pumps,  feed  water  heater,  and  such  other  accessories  as 
were  necessary  for  a complete  installation.  It  was  operated  by  the  personnel 
of  the  utilities  detachment,  consisting  of  1 officer  and  37  enlisted  men. 

The  boilers  operated  at  a steam  pressure  of  about  100  pounds,  which  was 
reduced  by  valves,  to  about  60  pounds  before  the  steam  entered  the  mam 
lines  to  the  hospital  buildings.  This  permitted  a supply  of  steam  at  this  pres- 
sure within  the  buildings  for  cooking  and  sterilizing  purposes,  and  a further 
reduction  to  about  5 pounds  pressure  provided  steam  at  a suitable  pressure 
for  heating  purposes.  At  the  return  end  of  each  radiator  and  steam  cod 
was  installed  an  automatic  return  trap  of  the  fluid  disk  type.  This  trap  pre- 
vented the  loss  of  steam  into  the  return  lines,  and  permitted  the  free  passage 
of  air  and  water  of  condensation  into  the  return  line,  and  out  of  the  heating 
system.  It  was  intended  to  install  a complete  return  line  system  to  convey 
tins  water  back  to  the  boiler  plant,  where  it  could  be  fed  back  to  the  boilers. 
Due  to  the  shortage  of  pipe  this  was  not  done,  and  the  water  wasted  to  the 
sewer  at  the  most  convenient  point.  It  is  evident  that  there  was  an  enormous 
waste  of  water  and  heat:  large  quantities  of  make-up  water  were  necessary 
at  the  boiler  plant,  the  temperature  of  this  fresh  water  had  to  be  increased,  when 
otherwise  this  would  have  been  unnecessary,  and  scale-forming  elements  had  to 
be  removed  in  large  quantities.  The  waste  of  fuel  and  the  injury  to  the  boiler 
plant  can  hardly  be  estimated.  The  pumping  plant  for  the  camp  was  not 
designed  to  handle  this  additional  load  thus  placed  upon  it.  In  the  event  of  the 
necessity  of  shutting  down  the  pumping  plant,  it  would  have  been  necessary 
to  shut  down  the  heating  plant  also. 

The  light  and  power  system  of  this  camp  consisted  of  a system  of  dis- 
tribution lines,  3-phase,  60-cycle,  2,300-volt  primary  and  220-110-volt  3-wire 
secondary  extending  to  all  parts  of  the  camp.  The  system  was  divided  into 
four  circuits,  No.  2 being  the  circuit  that  supplied  the  base  hospital.  Electric 
current  was  purchased  from  the  Alexandria  County  Lighting  Co.,  which  had 
a transmission  line  supplying  the  camp  exclusively. 

In  the  early  days  the  hospital  equipment  was  very  meager.  Beds,  linen, 
blankets,  and  like  supplies  were  sufficient.  But  the  water  supply,  as  noted 
above,  was  very  inconvenient;  the  only  means  of  sterilization  was  a kerosene 
stove;  and  the  almost  impassable  condition  of  the  roads  in  April,  May,  and 


686 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


June,  1918,  made  new  supplies  very  uncertain.  This  condition  steadily  im- 
proved, until  by  September  20,  when  the  new  hospital  was  taken  over,  everything 
was  running  smoothly.  During  the  influenza  epidemic  the  property  office 
was  fairly  "swamped.”  While,  eventually,  the  hospital  became  well  equipped, 
especially  for  ordinary  purposes,  there  were  times  when  need  arose  for  instru- 
ments not  procurable  through  military  channels,  or  which,  if  obtainable, 
would  have  been  too  long  on  the  way;  these  were  supplied  by  the  officers 
on  duty. 

On  May  27,  1918,  the  hospital  exchange  was  started  by  purchasing  out- 
right, on  credit,  the  stock  of  the  exchange  of  the  51st  Engineers.  By  the  end 
of  June,  after  a little  over  a month,  the  exchange  had  assets,  over  and  above 
liabilities,  of  $1,825.19.  After  that  date  the  average  gross  business  per  month 
was  $6,000. 

At  Belvoir  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  proved  a very  efficient 
organization  in  spite  of  the  difficulties  of  transportation.  At  the  base  hospital 
there  was  no  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building,  the  detachment 
mess  hall  being  used  as  a recreation  room,  under  the  supervision  of  the  asso- 
ciation. A plentiful  supply  of  magazines,  home  papers  from  practically 
every  State  in  the  Union,  a pianola,  and  material  for  other  recreations  were 
available. 

The  completion  of  the  Red  Cross  recreation  building  was  delayed  because 
of  the  scarcity  of  labor  and  materials.  Two  associate  directors  of  the  Red 
Cross  were  stationed  at  the  hospital,  their  chief  duties  being  to  visit  the  pa- 
tients daily,  and  to  aid,  as  far  as  possible,  in  making  them  comfortable  and 
cheerful.  By  furnishing  stationery  and  reading  matter,  by  communicating 
with  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  sick,  by  shopping  for  the  patients,  and 
in  many  other  ways,  valuable  assistance  was  rendered. 

In  February,  1919,  the  base  hospital  reverted  to  the  status  of  camp  hospital. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys,  Va.,  from  June, 

1918,  to  February  1919,  inclusive  a 


SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 
other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 
posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

<§ 

73 

OT 

o 

j 

1918. 

209 

563 

30 

802 

325 

1 

2 

227 

9 

23S 

6.125 

238 

750 

35 

9 

1,032 

402 

3 

s 

378 

4 

237 

7,642 

237 

698 

78 

5 

1,018 

455 

3 

2 

252 

s 

298 

7.226 

298 

1,002 

197 

1,502 

378 

32 

10 

440 

12 

612 

IS 

11.582 

41 

October 

630 

1.915 

383 

28 

2.956 

1, 114 

405 

5 

828 

22 

4 

31.379 

798 

682 

801 

13 

4 

1,500 

'586 

21 

8 

299 

9 

13.863 

96 

577 

559 

15 

11 

1,162 

618 

23 

IT 

154 

10 

343 

14.722 

1919. 

January 

343 

566 

4 

16 

929 

550 

14 

3 

39 

40 

279 

4 

9.910 

52 

February 

283 

375 

1 

13 

672 

409 

5 

2 

13 

22 

220 

1 

7.095 

26 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Ad- 
jutant General,  on  file  statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital  ). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


687 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys,  Va.,  from  June, 
1918,  to  February,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

191S. 

26 

2 

2 

30 

272 

287 

July 

25 

5 

1 

31 

262 

15 

277 

30 

4 

1 

35 

253 

14 

267 

33 

5 

2 

40 

338 

14 

352 

October 

39 

3 

7 

44 

393 

14 

407 

68 

November 

32 

4 

2 

38 

383 

13 

396 

99 

December 

23 

2 

2 

27 

425 

13 

438 

73 

1919. 

January 

27 

1 

2 

30 

310 

12 

322 

63 

February 

27 

1 

2 

30 

306 

10 

316 

39 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  JACKSON,  COLUMBIA,  S.  O 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Jackson  was  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  “sand 
hill”  country  of  Richland  County,  S.  C.,  7 miles  east  of  Columbia,  the  State 
capital.  It  covered  an  area  of  80  acres  at  the  highest  point  of  the  reservation, 
500  feet  above  the  sea  level,  and  on  the  summit  of  a hill  which  was  scantily 
covered  by  dwarf  oaks  and  a few  long-leaf  pines.  The  hospital  area  was  free 
from  running  or  standing  water. 

The  soil  of  the  locality  is  sandy,  with  a substratum  of  clay.  Here  are  the 
sand  dunes  which  mark  the  western-most  limit  reached  by  the  ocean,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Piedmont  Plateau  and  the  alluvial  plain  stretching  120  miles 
to  the  coast.  The  hospital  area  was  practically  denuded  of  every  living  green 
thing;  the  resulting  bare  stretch  of  sand,  which  was  very  glary  in  the  sun, 
rapidly  absorbed  the  heaviest  rainfalls,  and  the  fine  dry  sand  was  readily  blown 
about  by  the  winds,  at  times  amounting  to  sand  storms. 

The  climate  of  this  section  of  South  Carolina  is  ordinarily  dry.  The  average 
winter  temperature  is  47°.  The  winter  of  1917-18  was  the  coldest  in  32  years, 
the  temperature  dropping,  at  one  time,  to  6°  F.  above  zero.  The  mean  daily 
range  is  23°.  The  average  summer  temperature  is  79°,  with  cool  nights. 
Gently  blowing  breezes,  mostly  from  the  southwest,  are  almost  constant,  and 
seldom  attain  a greater  velocity  than  7.4  miles  per  hour. 

The  roads  in  and  leading  to  the  base  hospital  grounds  were  made  of  sand- 
clay,  similar  in  character  to  the  standard  highways  of  South  Carolina.  In  dry 
weather  these  roads  were  good,  though  very  dusty;  but  in  wet  weather,  or  when 
there  had  been  a frost,  they  were  unsatisfactory  because  of  the  deep  ruts  which 
rapidly  formed,  requiring  prompt  attention.  The  last  week  in  November,  1918, 
marked  the  beginning  of  the  construction  of  a concrete  road  around  the  hospital 
area,  a sorely  needed  improvement.  Until  June  1,  1918,  there  were  no  roads 
through  the  hospital  grounds,  and  the  delivery  of  supplies  was  greatly  ham- 
pered. Autos  and  wagons  sank  into  the  loosely  packed  sand,  frequently 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Jackson,  S.  C.,’’  by  Lieut. 
Col.  S.  R.  Roberts,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


688 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


becoming  stalled.  Abuse  of  motors,  waste  of  gasoline,  and  delay  in  delivery  of 
goods  resulted. 

The  hill  on  which  the  hospital  was  located  sloped  gently  down  to  the  low- 
lands about  a quarter  of  a mile  distant.  The  lowlands  were  swampy,  were 
covered  by  a heavy  growth  of  vegetation,  and  had  sluggishly  running  streams 
and  pools  of  standing  water,  which  furnished  ideal  breeding  places  for  mos- 
quitoes, both  Culicidse  and  Anopheles.  The  immediate  neighborhood  of  the 
hospital  was  occupied  by  poor,  small  farmers,  both  white  and  negro,  whose 
homes,  buildings,  and  surroundings  generally  were  badly  kept  and  insanitary. 
Within  a few  miles,  however,  were  many  fine  farms  with  modern  homes  and 
buildings,  containing  every  sanitary  convenience,  and  occupied  by  intelligent, 
clean-living,  well-to-do  farmers. 

Prior  to  the  occupancy  of  the  base  hospital  the  least  seriously  sick  were 
cared  for  in  field  hospital  "A,”  while  those  more  dangerously  ill  or  requiring 
major  operations,  were  treated  in  the  Baptist  Hospital  in  Columbia  by  members 
of  the  base  hospital  staff. 

Preceding  the  formal  opening  of  the  hospital  proper,  a part  of  the  hospital 
detachment  occupied  the  detachment  barracks.  The  wards  were  occupied 
by  patients  October  22,  1917,  before  heating  or  plumbing  facilities  had  been 
completely  installed.  The  two  central  sections  were  heated  from  the  central 
plant  December,  1917;  the  last  part  to  be  so  heated  was  the  contagious  section, 
which  was  not  until  late  January,  191S.  The  hospital  was  constantly  growing, 
new  buildings  being  added  weekly.  Much  of  this  delay  in  construction  was  due 
to  faulty  management  and  lack  of  intelligent  honest  supervision. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  hospital  was  of  the  single-story  pavilion  type, 
each  ward  occupying  a separate  pavilion,  and  accommodating  32  patients.  A 
later  addition,  of  9S0-bed  capacity,  was  of  two-story  construction,  each  build- 
ing housing  SO  patients.  This  was  intended  primarily  for  ambulant  and  con- 
valescent patients  still  needing  hospital  care.  All  these  buildings  were  con- 
nected by  covered,  screened  board  walks.  In  addition,  there  was  a convales- 
cent camp  for  those  no  longer  ill,  yet  not  able  to  do  duty,  and  for  those  awaiting 
discharge  on  surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability.  This  last  group  was  housed  in 
board  shacks,  each  accommodating  eight  men. 

The  officers’  quarters  were  inadequate  from  the  first,  and  no  mess  hall  was 
provided  them.  From  the  opening  of  the  hospital  until  the  middle  of  April, 
1918,  the  medical  officers  were  required  to  eat  in  the  sick  officers’  mess,  under 
crowded  conditions.  Some  duty  officers  were  lodged,  at  first,  in  the  officers' 
ward  quarters. 

The  original  nurses’  quarters,  like  the  officers’  quarters,  were  too  small. 
The  erection  of  a second  building  still  proved  inadequate,  and  four  additional 
dormitories  were  constructed.  In  addition,  the  Red  Cross  built  a recreation 
hall  for  nurses,  near  the  Red  Cross  building. 

The  detachment  barracks  were  built  to  accommodate  5S  men  each.  The 
eight  buildings  for  this  purpose  were  steam  heated,  lighted  by  electricity,  and 
had  bathhouses  and  toilets  just  outside.  The  mess  was  in  a separate  building. 
The  buildings  proved  inadequate,  and  during  the  summer  of  191S  some  of  the 
enlisted  men  occupied  ward  barracks. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


689 


The  main  kitchen  was  equipped  with  all  the  modern  appliances  for  the 
preparation  of  food  by  means  of  high-pressure  steam,  such  as  vegetable  steamers, 
boilers,  soup  kettles,  roasting  ovens,  and  tea  and  coffee  urns.  A dish-washing 
machine  was  part  of  the  equipment.  There  was  a diet  kitchen  for  the  prepara- 
tion of  special  diets.  The  mess  hall  was  used  for  ambulatory  patients  only, 
bed  patients  being  served  in  their  wards  from  this  mess,  the  food  being  sent  to 
wards  in  food  carriers  which  were  heated  by  hot  water,  and  the  food  served 
individually  on  trays.  These  food  carriers  were  found,  in  actual  practice,  to 
fail  in  their  purpose  of  keeping  the  food  hot. 

The  division  of  sick  officers  had  its  own  kitchen  and  mess  halls,  the  latter 
being  so  arranged  that  convalescents  from  different  communicable  diseases 
could  be  fed  separately.  The  kitchen  and  mess  halls  were  separate  from  the 
living  quarters. 

The  detachment,  Medical  Department,  was  quartered  in  two  buildings, 
each  of  which  had  a kitchen  and  mess  hall,  supervised  by  a mess  officer.  The 
mess  hall  in  one  building  accommodated  300  and  in  the  second  200,  and  there 
were  1,050  to  be  served.  The  mess  halls  were  entirely  too  small  and  their  equip- 
ment totally  inadequate. 

The  mess  for  nurses  was  in  the  nurses’  home,  and  was  supervised  by  a mess 
officer.  The  cafeteria  plan  was  employed,  and  proved  very  satisfactory. 

The  staff  officers’  mess  was  in  the  wing  with  the  staff  officers’  quarters. 
The  expense  of  the  mess  was  defrayed  by  the  officers  participating.  It  was  in 
charge  of  a mess  officer  and  a dietitian. 

Lavatories  and  baths  were  of  two  types:  those  in  immediate  connection 
with  individual  wards,  and  those  common  to  two  wards.  The  latter  arrange- 
ment was  unsatisfactory.  The  necessity  for  the  isolation  of  various  types  of 
communicable  disease,  and  the  desirability  of  a separation  of  races,  rendered 
such  an  arrangement  unsatisfactory.  Lavatories  and  baths  were  connected 
with  the  main  cantonment  sewer. 

The  base  hospital  was  heated  from  a central  heating  plant  the  equipment 
of  which  consisted  of  one  return  tubular,  high-pressure  boiler  (the  pressure 
being  from  70  to  90  pounds),  and  15  cast-iron  sectional  low-pressure  boilers, 
with  a maximum  pressure  of  12  pounds.  This  system  was  faulty  in  its  incep- 
tion, installation  and  operation:  the  feed  water  was  cold;  the  condensation 
from  the  heating  system  was  wasted,  there  being  no  return.  The  sectional 
boilers  operated  at  a pressure  of  12  pounds  or  less  with  a draft  suitable  for 
boilers  of  the  return  tubular  type.  To  supply  heat  to  the  buildings  farthest 
removed  from  the  plant,  fires  were  forced  to  the  absolute  limit,  so  that  the 
breachings  to  the  stack  were  made  red  hot,  with  a consequent  loss  of  heat  up 
the  stack.  This  deserved  unquestionable  condemnation.  During  the  summer 
of  1918,  this  heating  system  was  so  altered  as  to  eliminate  its  faults. 

Water  for  the  camp  supply  was  taken  from  the  Congaree  River  at  Columbia, 
pumped  first  into  the  sedimentation  basin,  then  through  rapid  sand  filters, 
with  the  use  of  alum  as  a coagulant,  and  later  through  a 16-inch  main  to  a 
reservoir  of  a capacity  of  a million  and  a half  gallons.  From  this  reservoir 
the  hospital  water  supply  was  pumped  to  a 30,000-gallon  tank  on  Jones  Hill, 
from  which  it  flowed,  by  gravity,  to  the  hospital  buildings  adjoining.  The 
hot  water  was  supplied  from  the  central  heating  plant. 

45269°— 23 44 


690 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  hospital  area  had  a gravity  flow  sewerage  system.  The  sewage  was 
treated  by  means  of  a specially  designed  Imhoff  septic  tank.  All  hospital 
buildings,  except  the  convalescent  camp,  were  connected  to  this  sewerage 
system.  The  water-closets,  urinals,  utensil  hoppers,  shower  and  tub  baths, 
were  grouped  in  compartments  at  one  end  of  the  ward,  and  were  generally 
clean,  efficient,  and  inoffensive. 

Garbage  from  the  kitchen  was  separated  into  four  classes:  (a)  Bones,  fats, 
and  grease;  (b)  other  kitchen  waste  (drained);  (c)  tin  cans;  and  id)  paper,  rope, 
twine,  and  bottles.  The  hospital  kitchen  waste  was  disposed  of  as  follows: 
Each  kitchen  was  provided  with  eight  garbage  cans  for  handling  the  material. 
The  waste  classed  as  (a)  and  ( b ) was  disposed  of  by  a contractor,  who  removed 
it  each  day,  using  it  as  food  for  animals  and  for  by-products.  The  waste 
classed  as  (c)  and  ( d ) was  incinerated  at  the  camp.  Other  waste,  such  as  soiled 
dressings,  sputum  cups,  etc.,  as  well  as  tea  leaves,  coffee  grounds,  and  other 
combustible  material,  was  disposed  of  in  a small  incinerator  near  the  reservoir. 

While  no  animals  were  stabled  around  the  hospital,  the  droppings  from 
the  animals  used  by  the  contractors  accumulated  at  various  points  on  the  hos- 
pital grounds,  proving,  with  the  advent  of  warm  weather,  ideal  breeding  places 
for  myriads  of  flies.  These  fly-breeding  spots  were  eliminated  in  time. 

When  the  hospital  was  turned  over  to  the  Medical  Department  by  the 
contractors,  many  minor  faults  of  installation  were  found  in  the  lighting  system, 
but  these  were  all  corrected.  Extensions  were  made  as  needed,  and  the  light- 
ing system  eventually  became  satisfactory.  The  lines,  however,  were  heavily 
loaded,  owing  to  the  large  number  of  new  buildings,  and  to  the  fact  that  the 
hospital  area  was  supplied  from  the  same  circuit  as  the  camp  laundry,  where 
the  use  of  current  was  heavy. 

The  building  designed  for  the  purpose  of  a hospital  laundry  was  never 
utilized  in  this  manner,  but  was  used  for  a detachment  mess,  because  of  the 
need  of  quarters.  The  hospital  laundry  was  sent  weekly  to  the  camp  laundry, 
and  on  its  return  was  stored  in  a warehouse  of  the  base  hospital,  until  reissued 
to  the  wards.  The  patients’  wearing  apparel,  shirts,  underwear,  socks,  and 
handkerchiefs,  were  sent  daily  to  the  camp  laundry  as  individual  bundles. 
These  bundles  were  returned,  clean,  in  24  hours,  and  were  given  to  the  patients 
upon  their  discharge  from  the  hospital. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  first  occupied  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association,  February  1,  1918,  in  lieu  of  a building  of  their  own,  and  under 
their  auspices  entertainments  and  religious  services  were  conducted  there. 
The  chaplain,  who  arrived  February  18,  alternated  services,  morning  and 
evening,  with  the  representative  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association. 
At  times  services  were  held  by  representatives  of  Baptist,  Lutheran,  Episcopal, 
Methodist,  and  Catholic  churches.  In  May,  1918,  this  building  was  made  the 
detachment  supply  office,  a new  chapel  being  erected,  in  a better  location. 

The  base  hospital  treated  all  cases  arising  in  Camp  Jackson,  and  medical, 
surgical,  and  venereal  diseases  from  overseas. 

When  the  hospital  was  opened  to  receive  patients  (Oct.  22,  1917), 
the  only  medical  supplies  on  hand  were  parts  of  the  first  Wolfe  unit  received. 
This  was  completed  in  about  three  weeks,  and  was  later  increased  to  accom- 
modate a capacity  of  1,000  beds.  In  a short  time  epidemics  began  to  appear, 
and  the  arrival  of  the  necessary  supplies  to  take  care  of  the  rapidly  increasing 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


691 


number  of  patients  was  very  slow.  This  was  due,  principally,  to  the  freight 
congestion  on  all  railroads.  On  June  1,  1918,  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  was 
2,398  beds,  and  the  medical  supplies  on  hand  or  requisitioned  were  sufficient 
to  meet  the  needs. 

The  base  hospital  post  exchange  was  started  in  October,  1917,  on  credit. 
After  the  declaration  of  the  dividend  in  May,  1918,  the  exchange  was  worth 
approximately  $6,000. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  used  the  chapel  until  May  12,  1918, 
when  its  own  building  was  ready  for  occupancy. 

The  Red  Cross  had  a building  for  supplies  and  offices,  and  another  for  an 
office,  a cafeteria,  recreation,  and  for  the  accommodation  of  relatives  visiting 
patients.  It  also  erected  a nurses’  recreation  house.  The  society  was  helpful 
to  soldiers  in  many  directions. 

In  addition  to  the  recreations  furnished  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  and  the  Red  Cross,  there  was  an  elaborate  set  of  bowling  alleys, 
conveniently  situated,  and  operated  without  charge,  by  the  hospital.  There  was 
also  an  extensive  athletic  field  with  a baseball  diamond,  tennis  courts,  a running 
track,  and  a boxing  arena.  Reading  matter  was  provided  for  the  entire 
personnel,  a special  library  being  arranged  for  the  tuberculosis  patients.  Music 
was  furnished  by  civilian  singers,  the  camp  band,  and  phonographs.  Games 
were  generally  provided,  and  a moving-picture  machine  was  installed. 

In  July,  1919,  the  base  hospital  reverted  to  the  status  of  camp  hospital. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Jackson,  Columbia,  S.  C.,  from  October, 

1917,  to  July  16,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  bo  accounted  for. 

Completed  eases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

d 

c3 

O 

g 

o 

£ 

From  other 
sources. 

>> 

"3 

d 

o 

d 

© 

d 

H 

3 

© 

£ 

d 

© 

s 

'S 

o . 
©id 

© 

5 

d 

© 

© 

Q 

ft  • 
© 2 
d^ 

fcJ0° 

5 o 

81s 
— 1 ~ 

Q 

a 

o 3 

'did 
g >> 

« 3 
^ o 

a 3 

o 

co 

"c3 

d w 
© o 
tA 

x 8 

a — 
2 o 

d 

o 

©d 

'g  8 

o ^ 
A 
+» 

O 

a 

<3  . 
>■ ^ 

© 

1 

© 

,g 

O 

3 

*P< 

o 

M 

© 

c3 

3 

<y 

la 

CO 

O 

a 

^2 

© 

1917. 

October 

320 

320 

137 

183 

1,  254 

November 

183 

2,  556 

2, 739 

1,944 

15 

3 

1 

776 

16, 075 

December 

776 

1,  283 

2,059 

661 

78 

14 

2 

465 

839 

21,  081 

1918. 

January 

839 

1,  834 

1 

2,674 

1,527 

41 

1 

2 

258 

845 

21,  807 

F ebrua’ry 

845 

1,295 

19 

2, 159 

1,386 

16 

1 

2 

26 

728 

17' 247 

March 

728 

1,998 

13 

2,  739 

1,  755 

19 

4 

4 

32 

25 

900 

22, 172 

April 

900 

1,958 

22 

2,  880 

1,  810 

16 

4 

3 

9 

1, 038 

23’  794 

May 

1,  038 

3,  365 

34 

4,  437 

2,  588 

37 

2 

3 

1,  807 

37.  118 

June 

1,  807 

3,  394 

68 

5,269 

2,995 

19 

161 

10 

34 

2 

2,  04s 

July 

2,048 

3,095 

71 

5,214 

2, 676 

15 

243 

35 

103 

2,  137 

August 

2,  137 

2,  576 

94 

4,  807 

2,  504 

12 

293 

9 

30 1 

96 

1,  863 

62,  206 

September 

1,  863 

7,652 

83 

9.  598 

3,  880 

52 

182 

2 



30 

90 

5. 362 

74,  912 

October 

5,  362 

4,  789 

463  10'  614 

7,  408 

358 

100 

11 

26 1 

201 

2,  510 

94,  891 

November 

2,  510 

1,681 

829 

5,020 

2, 358 

72 

123 

1 

12 

903 

q 55i 

70,  596 

December 

1,  551 

1,622 

208 

3, 381 

1.  .871 

32 

89 

3 

311 

1,  075 

70,  599 

1919. 

January 

1, 075 

1,596 

120 

89 

2,  SS0 

1,608 

43 

49 

2 

13 

149 

1,016 

34, 078 

February 

1,  016 

899 

92 

3 

2,  010 

1,031 

14 

38 

5 

30 

79 

' 813 

23,  997 

March 

813 

564 

565 

14 

1,  956 

1,  119 

5 

33 

1 

4a 

40 

715 

22, 346 

April 

715 

521 

480 

16 

1,732 

9.56 

3 

25 

4? 

9 

697 

21,  057 

May 

697 

356 

29.8 

23 

1,  374 

800 

3 

22 

96 

32 

421 

18  725 

June 

421 

375 

31 

' 882 

453 

4 

16 

62 

25 

322 

11  468 

July 

322 

1.86 

12 

520 

184 

3 

9 

29 

295 

4, 133 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
me.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


692 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Jackson,  Columbia,  S.  C.,  from  October, 
1917 , to  July  16,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

October 

3 

9 

3 

November 

3 

8 

3 

4 

December 

3 

3 

6 

3 

4 

n 

2 

2 

4 

1918. 

3 

3 

6 

1919. 

February 

3 

3 

6 

3 

3 

G 

March. .. 

3 

3 

6 

2 

3 

April 

3 

3 

6 

2 

4 

6 

May 

3 

3 

6 

9 

4 

G 

4 

3 

7 

2 

4 

6 

July 

4 

7 

11 

2 

2 

4 

3 

6 

9 

1 

9 

3 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q,  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

October 

39 

40 

134 

134 

14 

November 

54 

54 

253 

253 

47 

December 

67 

67 

306 

306 

63 

1918. 

January 

74 

74 

307 

307 

79 

February 

304 

304 

108 

March 

83 

83 

325 

325 

108 

April 

101 

101 

599 

599 

112 

96 

96 

90S 

90S 

120 

158 

1,094 

1,094 

13S 

July 

140 

7 

4 

151 

819 

' 819 

140 

August 

98 

8 

5 

111 

£99. 

£99 

191 

September 

151 

9 

G 

166 

1,485 

12 

1,497 

192 

< )ctober 

148 

11 

7 

166 

1, 13S 

ii 

1, 149 

317 

November 

157 

12 

7 

176 

1,254 

17 

1,271 

321 

December 

94 

11 

■ 

112 

1,054 

14 

1,068 

217 

1919. 

January 

79 

11 

5 

95 

961 

14 

975 

180 

February 

71 

11 

10 

92 

S19 

9 

S28 

166 

March 

57 

9 

16 

82 

460 

1 

461 

153 

April 

43 

9 

13 

65 

454 

1 

455 

Si 

May 

35 

7 

10 

52 

441 

441 

76 

June 

33 

3 

41 

2S3 

2S3 

60 

July 

21 

3 

1 

25 

163 

163 

30 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  JOSEPH  E.  JOHNSTON,  JACKSONVILLE,  FLA.« 

Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston  was  located  in  Duvall  County,  Fla.,  11  miles  west 
of  the  city  of  Jacksonville.  The  terrain  upon  which  the  camp  was  placed  was 
quite  flat.  The  region  was  sandy  and  well  tvooded.  There  was  no  high-fly- 
ing dust  in  dry  weather,  nor  was  there  any  mud  after  rains.  The  hospital 
was  located  on  the  St.  Johns  River  about  20  miles  from  its  mouth.  At  the  loca- 
tion of  the  hospital  the  width  of  the  river  approximated  2 miles.  To  the 
south  of  the  hospital  site  there  was  a large  swamp,  and  a smaller  similar  area  to 
the  north.  These  low  areas  were  drained  by  a system  of  ditches  previous  to 


® The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Fla.,” 
by  Lieut.  Col.  A.  D.  Davis,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by 
him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is 
on  li'ein  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


693 


the  mosquito  breeding  season.  However,  some  of  the  lower  portions  held 
seepage  water  which  had  to  be  oiled  to  control  the  mosquito  breeding. 

Roads  in  and  about  the  base  hospital  were  of  concrete  and  ordinarily  well 
kept.  The  majority  of  the  roads  within  the  camp  were  made  of  concrete, 
though  a few  were  of  gravel  and  sea  shell  construction.  The  main  road  which 
led  from  the  city  of  Jacksonville  to  the  camp  was  made  of  brick  and  was  main- 
tained in  a very  satisfactory  condition. 

Under  normal  conditions  the  climate  of  Jacksonville  is  equable,  although 
there  are  frequently  cold  bracing  days  in  winter  and  high  hot  temperatures  in 
summer.  In  early  spring  and  in  late  autumn  one  finds  the  most  pleasant 
seasons  of  the  year.  The  changes  in  the  weather  conditions  of  this  region  are 
due  chiefly  to  the  shifting  of  the  areas  of  high  and  low  barometric  pressure  over 
the  country.  In  winter  a spell  of  rainy  weather  is  nearly  always  followed  by 
a shift  of  wind  to  westerly  through  the  south  and  colder  weather  within  24 
hours.  The  presence  in  this  vicinity  of  the  West  Indian  storms,  known  as 
hurricanes,  always  produces  a marked  departure  from  normal  weather  condi- 
tions, but  these  storms,  however,  are  not  of  frequent  occurrence.  On  the 
average,  January  is  the  coldest  month  of  the  year,  although  the  annual 
minimum  temperature  occurs  most  frequently  in  December,  and  the  lowest 
temperatures  ever  recorded  were  in  February.  The  mean  temperature  reaches 
its  lowest  point  during  the  first  week  of  January  and  its  hottest  in  about  the 
middle  of  July.  The  daily  minimum  temperatures  throughout  the  year  nearly 
always  occur  about  the  time  of  sunrise;  and  the  daily  maximum  temperature 
in  winter  occurs  about  2 p.  m.;  in  the  spring  and  late  autumn  at  1 p.  m. ; and  in 
August  and  September  about  noon. 

There  were  no  temporary  or  emergency  hospitals  in  use  prior  to  the  con- 
struction of  the  hospital  proper. 

The  organization  of  the  hospital  dates  from  December  24,  1917.  The 
first  ward  to  be  opened  was  the  medical  ward,  which  received  its  first  patients  on 
the  afternoon  of  December  24.  The  remainder  of  the  wards  were  completed 
and  turned  over  to  the  Medical  Department  at  intervals  of  a few  days.  They 
were  ecjuipped  for  the  reception  of  patients  as  rapidly  as  they  were  received. 

At  the  time  the  hospital  was  opened  much  inconvenience  and  discomfort 
were  occasioned  in  both  the  officers’  and  nurses’  quarters  as  the  result  of  im- 
proper heating  arrangements.  The  buildings  were  constructed  of  green  timber 
and  were  damp  and  uncomfortable  as  living  quarters.  Within  a few  weeks 
after  the  opening  of  the  hospital  these  quarters  were  insufficient  to  accommo- 
date those  on  duty.  Some  officers  were  compelled  to  live  in  tents  temporarily, 
while  a large  number  of  nurses  were  taken  care  of  by  assigning  to  them  a portion 
of  the  officers’  ward.  Subsequently,  additional  quarters  for  both  officers  and 
nurses  were  provided.  These  were  well  built,  properly  screened,  had  good 
bathing  facilities  and  adequate  sewerage.  The  camp  supply  of  water  heat- 
ers for  furnishing  hot  water  for  bathing  purposes  was  provided,  but  a proper 
system  of  heating  was  not  installed,  and  the  discomfort  on  the  part  of  the  offi- 
cers and  nurses  was  considerable. 

The  barracks  for  housing  the  enlisted  men  were  of  the  same  general  con- 
struction as  the  rest  of  the  hospital.  Each  barrack  building  was  provided 
with  two  large  stoves  and  had  ample  bathing  and  toilet  facilities. 


694 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  hospital  mess  was  opened  at  noon  December  24,  when  a very  light 
meal  was  served  to  the  original  8 officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital.  Before  night 
the  census  was  increased  by  30  enlisted  men  and  6 patients,  and  the  next  day, 
being  Christmas,  full  rations  and  diets,  which  included  generous  quantities  of 
turkey,  were  served,  though  the  poor  condition  of  the  roads  prevented  the 
arrival  of  some  of  the  articles  on  the  menu,  as  frequently  happened  during  the 
first  month  of  the  maintenance  of  the  hospital.  Until  January  15,  1918,  all 
meals  of  the  patients,  enlisted  men,  officers,  and  nurses  were  served  in  the  main 
mess  hall  of  the  hospital.  On  this  date  the  officers’  mess  was  started.  On 
January  8 the  first  of  the  nurses  arrived  for  duty  at  the  hospital,  and  for  a few 
days  had  their  meals  with  the  officers,  in  the  main  mess  hall.  When  the  officers’ 
mess  was  started  they  ate  there  until  their  own  mess  hall  was  opened  on  Jan- 
uary 29,  1918.  The  enlisted  men’s  mess  was  not  organized  until  February  5, 
1918. 

On  February  26  a diet  kitchen  was  started  in  connection  with  the  main 
kitchen. 

Lavatories  and  baths  were  located  in  all  the  building  units  in  winch  either 
officers,  nurses,  patients,  or  enlisted  men  were  housed.  In  addition,  tub  baths 
were  located  in  each  of  the  wards  designated  to  receive  patients. 

A water  carriage  sewerage  system  emptied  into  the  St.  Johns  River. 

The  source  of  the  water  supply  was  two  driven  wells,  the  depth  of  one 
being  700  feet  and  that  of  the  other  410  feet.  The  water  from  these  two  wells 
was  pumped  into  a reservoir,  the  capacity  of  which  was  100,000  gallons,  and 
distributed  therefrom  by  gravity  method  similar  to  that  throughout  the  camp. 
In  the  beginning  a process  of  chlorinating  the  water  was  attempted  without 
much  success,  and  was  later  abandoned.  During  April,  1918,  examinations 
in  the  laboratory  of  the  hospital  revealed  the  presence  of  the  bacillus  coli  in  the 
water.  This  condition  soon  cleared  up,  however,  after  adequate  measures  were 
taken  to  keep  the  tanks  covered  and  protected  from  foreign  substances.  Later 
laboratory  examination  showed  no  coli  bacillus  and  a very  low  bacteriological 
count. 

With  the  exception  of  the  operating  pavilion,  which  was  provided  with 
steam  heat,  all  of  the  buildings  in  the  hospital  were  heated  by  stoves.  Though 
no  patients  suffered  from  cold  during  the  winter,  the  system  was  found  to  be 
far  from  satisfactory:  the  care  of  this  large  number  of  stoves  entailed  consid- 
erable labor,  requiring  the  services  of  a large  number  of  enlisted  personnel, 
illy  spared  from  other  pressing  duties;  the  winters,  while  neither  severe  nor  of 
great  length,  are  characterized  by  extreme  and  sudden  changes,  and  it  was  not 
unusual  to  have  a maximum  of  temperature  of  72°  one  day,  followed  by  a 
minimum  of  26°  to  30°  the  day  following. 

The  hospital  was  electric  lighted  throughout,  the  current  for  the  system, 
in  common  with  that  of  the  camp,  being  furnished  by  the  city  of  Jacksonville. 
The  service  was  entirely  satisfactory. 

Garbage  from  the  hospital  was  disposed  of  largely  by  a civilian  who  was 
under  contract  with  the  camp  quartermaster.  The  garbage  was  collected 
daily,  the  contract  calling  for  a separation  of  the  various  forms  of  wastes. 
All  garbage  from  the  contagious  area  of  the  hospital  was  burned  in  an 
incinerator. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


695 


The  equipment  for  a 500-bed  hospital  was  on  hand  in  the  warehouse, 
assigned  to  the  Medical  Department,  and  ready  for  distribution  to  the  various 
building  units  many  weeks  before  the  hospital  was  ready  for  its  reception. 
Subsequently  the  hospital  was  increased  in  capacity  to  900  beds,  and  during 
the  influenza  epidemic  in  October,  1918,  quickly  constructed  accommodations 
for  2,000  patients.  The  equipment  of  the  hospital  was  adequate  at  all  times. 

The  hospital  post  exchange  was  opened  February  1,  1918,  operating  very 
successfully  thereafter.  The  business  of  the  exchange  increased  each  following 
month  until  in  September  the  financial  transactions  amounted  to  $13,000. 
The  exchange  purchased  and  paid  for  all  fixtures  and  stock  and  the  dividends 
by  the  end  of  the  year  1918  had  a net  worth  of  approximately  $10,000.  The 
profits  were  used  for  incidentals  which  were  not  supplied  by  the  Government, 
such  as  improvements  in  the  hospital,  entertainments  for  the  patients,  etc. 
There  was  a reading  room  and  a sun  porch  for  the  benefit  of  the  patients  and 
enlisted  men  of  the  detachment,  which  was  furnished  by  the  ladies  of  Jackson- 
ville. In  the  exchange  there  were  operated  an  ice  cream  and  soda  counter, 
a haberdashery  and  notions  department,  a sanitary  barber  shop,  an  optical 
supply  department,  and  a modern  tailor  shop. 

There  was  no  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  in  connection 
with  the  hospital.  However,  early  in  the  history  of  the  hospital  a 
representative  of  the  association  was  appointed  to  give  all  of  his  time  to  care 
for  all  those  needs  of  the  patients  and  enlisted  men  that  could  possibly  be 
supplied  by  this  organization.  Writing  material,  stamps,  books,  and  maga- 
zines were  abundantly  supplied.  Mid-week  and  Sunday  services  were  held 
in  the  chapel.  Moving  pictures  were  shown,  athletic  material  was  supplied, 
and  entertainments  and  games  were  fostered. 

There  were  two  Red  Cross  buildings  on  the  hospital  grounds  erected  and 
dedicated  to  the  hospital.  These  buildings  were  the  center  of  recreation  and 
education  for  both  the  hospital  personnel  and  patients.  The  services  of  the 
Red  Cross  representatives  were  invaluable.  The  society  furnished  emergency 
supplies  for  the  needs  of  the  hospital,  the  patients,  and  the  personnel.  Many 
times  the  Red  Cross  was  able  to  supply  the  medical,  surgical,  and  dental 
departments  at  once  with  supplies  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  immediatelv 
from  the  Government. 


696 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Jacksonville,  Fla., 
from  December , 1917,  to  February , 1919,  inclusive,  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


1917. 

December... 


1918. 

January 

February. . 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September. 

October 

November.  . 
December. . 


1919. 

January 

February. . . 


87 

477 

448 

432 

515 

489 

594 

631 

8.56, 

951 

651 

582 


319 

124 


Admissions. 

"d 

From  other 

a 

sources 

O 

i 

i 

O 

a 

a 

c3 

L- 

o 

t-i 

PQ 

5 

o 

7 

182 

i 

885 

456 

986 

17 

4 

864 

19 

6 

1,470 

21 

5 

1,364 

12 

4 

1,  518 

9 

3 

1,378 

13 

4 

2,  000 

20 

1 

1,799 

81 

7 

3, 135 

42 

7 

799 

29 

4 

686 

29 

3 

263 

6 

2 

41 

190 


590 

165 


Completed  cases. 


129 


937 

966 

848 

1. 372 
1,355 

1.373 
1,299 
1,729 
1,669 
3,  242 

845 

930 


439 

117 


4 
12 

148 

5 
13 


T3 
© — 


B • 

°i 

•S'?. 

o rT- 


v £■ 


39 


20 


28 


Remaining. 

3 

a 

o 

£ 

a 

<y 

21 

474 

3 

448 

432 

515 

489 

594 

631 

856 

951 

651 

5S2 

319 

124 

0 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


704  236 


9,523 
13, 916 
12, 178 
16,  703 
13,  543 
13,  424 
19,569 
IS,  970 
22, 152 
40,  599 
19, 142 
12,  238 


5,543  . 
1,888  . 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1918. 

1 

8' 

9 

1 

12 

13 

1 

8 

9 

1 

12 

13 

July 

1 

8 

9 

1 

s 

9 

1919. 

1 

8 

9 

12 

12 

October 

1 

H 

12 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

29 

1 

30 

144 

144 

1918. 

73 

3 

76 

247 

247 

51 

102 

8 

110 

380 

3S0 

98 

5 

103 

490 

490 

66 

97 

5 

102 

467 

467 

91 

5 

96 

5S1 

73 

June 

112 

5 

117 

61S 

61S 

72 

July 

47 

3 

1 

51 

364 

IS 

3S2 

71 

August 

52 

3 

1 

56 

33S 

11 

349 

69 

September 

52 

3 

1 

56 

338 

11 

349 

S6 

October 

50 

5 

1 

56 

405 

11 

416 

9S 

November 

51 

6 

1 

5S 

393 

21 

414 

121 

December 

38 

7 

1 

46 

366 

22 

38S 

104 

1919. 

January 

37 

5 

1 

43 

332 

19 

351 

63 

February 

24 

2 

1 

27 

41 

6 

47 

13 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General, 
on  file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file.  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital) 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


697 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  KEARNY,  CALIF." 

The  base  hospital,  Camp  Kearny,  Calif.,  was  located  in  San  Diego  County, 
11^-  miles  in  a straight  line  from,  and  almost  due  north  of,  the  business  center 
of  the  city  of  San  Diego,  by  rail  18  miles,  and  by  stage  14.1  miles. 

The  terrain  is  an  old  sea  bottom  elevated  into  a plateau  intersected  by  deep 
arroyos.  The  whole  country  is  covered  with  a sparse  growth  of  chaparral, 
the  most  abundant  plant  being  greasewood.  The  hospital  site  was  on  a tri- 
angular portion  of  this  plateau,  surrounded  by  one  small  and  two  large  arroyos, 
and  connected  with  the  rest  of  the  camp  by  a comparatively  narrow  isthmus. 
This  added  greatly  to  the  picturesqueness  of  the  situation,  but  seriously 
limited  the  free  expansion  of  the  hospital. 

The  soil  is  a very  thin  layer  of  reddish  clay  which  is  very  soft  when  wet 
and  which  quickly  works  into  fine  dust  after  becoming  dry.  Little  trouble 
was  experienced,  however,  from  mud  or  dust,  inasmuch  as  the  principal  build- 
ings of  the  hospital  were  connected  by  good  walks  of  plank  or  sawdust,  and 
there  was  no  traffic  on  the  side  of  the  prevailing  winds.  Immediately  -under- 
neath the  thin  surface  soil  is  a formation  of  unknown  depth,  composed  of 
coarse  gravel  and  small  bowlders  of  the  hardest  variety  of  crystalline  rocks 
(quartz,  porphyry,  and  basalt),  cemented  together  by  the  clay.  In  the  dry 
season  this  becomes  very  hard,  virtually  forming  a conglomerate.  It  is  nearly 
impervious  at  all  seasons,  rendering  excavating  for  pipes,  etc.,  extremely 
tedious  and  difficult. 

There  are  really  but  two  seasons  in  this  region,  the  rainy  and  the  dry. 
Records  kept  at  San  Diego  since  1851  show  an  average  seasonal  rainfall  of 
9.69  inches,  nearly  all  of  which  occurs  in  the  months  of  December,  January, 
February,  and  March.  The  rainy  season  corresponds  to  a mild  spring  of  the 
Atlantic  States.  Two  or  three  days  of  showers  are  succeeded  by  several  days 
of  perfect  weather.  The  shrubs  composing  the  chaparral  put  out  fresh  leaves, 
and  all  open  spaces  are  covered  with  grass  and  wild  flowers.  In  the  dry 
season  the  country  is  brown  and  dusty.  The  sun  blazes  uninterruptedly  in  a 
cloudless  sky,  tempered  only  by  an  occasional  fog  from  the  sea  at  night  and 
in  the  early  morning.  The  temperature  is  very  equable.  The  San  Diego 
records  show  an  average  for  the  coldest  month  (January)  of  54°  F.,  and  for 
the  warmest  (August)  of  70°  F.  The  camp  and  hospital,  being  situated  425 
feet  above  the  sea  level,  and  5f  miles  from  sea,  had  a greater  daily  range  of 
temperature  (about  10°  more)  than  for  corresponding  days  in  San  Diego.  An 
unexpected  feature  of  the  temperature  record  was  that  the  daily  mean  tem- 
perature was  uniformly  about  10°  higher  than  in  San  Diego.  The  nights  are 
cool  throughout  the  year,  and  ordinarily  the  wind  blows  just  enough  to  make 
the  day  pleasant.  Occasionally  a hot  north  wind,  heavily  laden  with  dust, 
blows  with  considerable  violence  for  about  12  hours  at  a time.  This  is  the 
only  really  unpleasant  feature  of  the  climate. 

The  roads  in  and  about  the  hospital  were  dirt,  made  of  a red  argillaceous 
sandstone  found  in  the  neighborhood.  This  packs  very  hard,  softens  very 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  "based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Kearny,  Calif.,’’  by  Maj. 
J.  M.  Moss,  M.  C.,  TJ.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Cffice,  Washington,  D.  C .—Ed. 


698 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


little  in  wet  weather,  and  if  judiciously  sprinkled  makes  a very  satisfactory 
road  bed. 

The  country  surrounding  Camp  Kearny  was  of  no  value  for  agricultural 
purposes,  and  was  very  sparsely  inhabited.  There  were,  consequently,  no 
roads  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

For  the  above  reasons  there  were  no  sanitary  problems  to  be  considered, 
except  those  arising  from  the  proximity  of  the  hospital  to  Camp  Kearny. 
The  distance  between  the  most  easterly  ward  building  and  the  most  westerly 
camp  stable  was  only  800  feet. 

There  were  no  perennial  streams  in  the  neighborhood.  There  were  rush- 
ing, muddy  torrents  in  the  bottom  of  each  arroyo  after  a heavy  rain,  but 
these  soon  dried  up,  leaving  only  a series  of  small  pools,  the  larger  of  which 
lasted  nearly  until  the  end  of  the  dry  season. 

Mosquitoes  were  present  for  only  two  or  three  weeks,  and  these  did  not 
come  to  the  hospital.  Flies  were  remarkably  few. 

The  first  officers  and  men  of  the  personnel  arrived  at  Camp  Kearny  on 
August  15,  1917.  The  camp  at  that  time  consisted  of  a few  tents  for  the 
officers  and  men  of  headquarters,  about  1,000  troops,  and  two  completed  ware- 
houses. 1116  hospital  was  organized  on  September  1,  1917,  and  received  its 
first  patient  on  the  same  day.  Prior  to  this  time  the  sick  soldiers  of  the  camp 
had  been  cared  for  in  a camp  infirmary.  The  construction  company  main- 
tained a small  emergency  hospital  for  its  own  employees. 

About  the  middle  of  October  the  camp  was  completed  and  troops  began 
to  arrive  in  large  numbers.  Coincidentally  there  was  a rapid  increase  in  the 
number  of  patients  in  the  hospital,  and  commissioned  and  enlisted  personnel 
worked  all  day  and  far  into  the  night  in  the  attempt  to  compensate  by  their 
industry  for  the  paucity  of  their  numbers. 

During  all  this  time  the  hospital  was  in  tents,  a few  14  by  14  hospital 
tents  obtained  from  the  quartermaster,  others  borrowed  from  the  field  hospital 
organizations  at  the  camp.  There  was  an  endless  struggle  to  set  up  tents  and 
procure  blankets  rapidly  enough  to  keep  pace  with  the  influx  of  patients. 
Physical  conditions  were  far  from  comfortable;  an  occasional  windstorm  would 
so  cover  everything  with  dust  that  the  patients’  faces,  pillows,  and  blankets 
would  he  of  a uniform  color;  immediately  after  simset  the  temperature  would 
fall  many  degrees,  and  toward  the  latter  part  of  the  period  of  tent  occupancy, 
it  became  so  cold  that  everyone  whose  duties  did  not  prevent  went  to  bed  an 
hour  after  supper  in  order  to  keep  warm.  At  the  same  time  a great  chorus 
of  coughing  would  arise  from  the  tents  devoted  to  the  patients  with  respiratory 
diseases,  which  would  continue,  without  intermission,  throughout  the  night, 
ceasing  only  with  sunrise  the  next  morning. 

The  buildings  of  the  hospital,  which  should  have  been  ready  for  occupancy 
coincidentally  with  the  rest  of  the  camp,  were  hardly  begun  when  they  should 
have  been  completed.  Finally,  on  November  26,  the  buildings  were  sufficiently 
near  completion  to  warrant  moving  the  first  patients.  The  distance  from  the 
tents  to  the  buildings  was  nearly  a mile,  and  the  transfer  of  the  patients, 
material,  and  personnel  was  complete  in  about  two  weeks,  and  was  so  man- 
aged that  there  was  no  interruption  in  the  care  of  the  sick.  There  were  S43 
patients  under  canvas  at  the  time  the  moving  was  commenced  and  over  1.100 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


699 


were  being  cared  for  by  the  time  the  last  patient  was  brought  to  the  new 
hospital.  As  this  was  a 500-bed  hospital,  the  patients  in  excess  of  this  number 
were  put  on  porches,  in  buildings  designated  as  shop,  laundry,  and  guard- 
house, and  tents  were  still  necessary.  The  arrangements  for  taking  care  of 
contagious  diseases  were  particularly  inadequate;  the  three  wards  designated 
for  the  contagious  diseases  had  a normal  inside  capacity  of  84,  and  on  Decem- 
ber 15,  1917,  there  were  570  patients  suffering  from  contagious  diseases.  Cots 
were  placed  on  the  porches  so  close  together  that  the  passage  between  them 
was  difficult.  Owing  to  the  shortage  of  blankets  some  of  the  patients  had  to 
sleep  under  empty  bed  sacks. 

New  buildings  were  subsequently  authorized  and  completed,  and  in  May, 
1918,  it  would  have  been  easy  to  care  for  the  greatest  number  of  patients 
ever  in  the  hospital  at  one  time. 

The  original  main  ward  buildings  were  one-story  structures  arranged  in 
two  rows  of  eight  each,  on  the  east  and  west  sides  of  a central  court.  The 
north  side  of  the  court  was  occupied  by  the  receiving  ward,  the  administration 
building,  and  the  ward  for  sick  officers.  A row  of  buildings  extended  along 
the  south  side,  long  enough  to  considerably  overlap  both  sides  of  the  rest  of 
the  group.  This  row  was  composed  of  the  psychiatric  ward,  contagious  wards, 
chapel,  mortuary,  guardhouse,  garage,  laundry,  shop  and  quartermaster,  ware- 
house, and  the  enlisted  men’s  barracks  and  mess  halls.  The  center  of  the  court 
was  occupied  originally  by  the  patients’  mess  hall,  the  post  exchange,  and  a 
laboratory  building.  The  head  hospital,  for  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat, 
and  dental  sections,  was  subsequently  added  to  this  group.  Quarters  for 
officers  and  nurses  were  situated  to  the  west  of  the  main  quadrangle.  Nine 
two-story  barracks  buildings  were  later  erected  outside  the  quadrangle,  at  the 
southeast  and  southwest  corners.  All  the  buildings  of  the  original  quadrangle, 
except  the  row  on  the  south,  were  connected  by  roofed  corridors. 

An  unfortunate  feature  of  the  layout  of  the  buildings  was  that  the  whole 
group  faced  the  wrong  way.  The  only  access  to  the  hospital  was  over  the 
isthmus,  which  was  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  grounds.  As  the  administra- 
tion buildings  and  the  receiving  ward  were  on  the  north  side  of  the  group,  visitors 
and  patients  had  to  pass  the  psychiatric  and  contagious  wards  and  then  go 
either  half  wav  around  or  through  the  hospital  before  reaching  the  place  of 
admission. 

In  the  original  group  there  was  a building,  with  four  bedrooms,  for  the 
commanding  officer,  and  one  with  22  rooms  for  the  other  officers.  When  the 
hospital  was  opened  46  officers  were  on  duty,  26  of  whom  were  quartered  in  the 
building  for  the  purpose,  the  remaining  20  being  placed  in  a dormitory  es- 
tablished in  a large  room  in  the  receiving  building.  In  February,  1918,  the 
officers’  quarters  were  enlarged  to  comprise  57  rooms,  but  these  were  inade- 
quate, and  a two-story  barracks  building  was  used  to  quarter  the  excess  number. 

Similar  conditions  applied  with  reference  to  the  nurses.  Their  quarters 
contained  35  rooms,  and  two  dormitories  with  10  beds  each.  These  quarters 
were  soon  filled,  two  nurses  occupying  a room  9 by  11  feet,  with  all  their  belong- 
ings (no  storage  room  was  provided) , and  many  were  sleeping  on  porches.  The 
erection  of  a similar  building  did  not  overcome  the  crowded  conditions  which 
prevailed  in  the  nurses’  quarters.  Those  who  slept  two  in  a room  had  less  than 


700 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


500  cubic  feet  of  air  space.  A wing  was  added  to  one  of  the  nurses’  quarters 
to  serve  as  a ward  for  sick  nurses.  This  was  a much  needed  addition,  as  no 
space  was  provided  for  the  purpose  originally,  and  no  means  of  taking  care  of 
them  except  to  move  a healthy  nurse  out  of  her  room  so  that  a sick  one  might  be 
alone. 

No  toilet  facilities  were  provided  for  nurses  except  in  their  own  quarters. 
The  nurse  who  worked  in  the  ward  most  remote  from  the  quarters  had  to  walk 
nearly  three-quarters  of  a mile  to  a toilet  and  back  to  her  work. 

There  were  two  mess  halls  for  the  enlisted  men,  situated  in  the  middle  of 
the  row  of  barracks.  The  kitchen  was  in  the  rear  end  of  one,  and  an  inclosed 
corridor  connected  this  with  the  other.  The  arrangement  was  perfectly 
satisfactory. 

The  officers  messed  with  the  sick  commissioned  personnel  in  the  officers’ 
ward,  paying  the  rates  prescribed  by  the  Army  Regulations. 

Ambulant  patients  had  a large  separate  mess  hail  in  the  center  of  the 
court.  This  was  rather  poorly  planned ; distances  over  which  the  food  had  to  be 
carried  were  unnecessarily  long;  there  was  insufficient  storage  room;  and  too 
little  space  for  the  kitchen  police,  especially  in  view  of  the  fact  that  all  the  work 
had  to  be  done  by  hand,  there  being  a total  absence  of  all  labor-saving  devices. 
Another  bad  feature  was  the  distance  to  water-closets.  There  were  two  near 
at  hand  in  the  post  exchange,  but  these  were  only  adequate  for  the  building  in 
which  they  were  located. 

There  was  no  hospital  storehouse  proper.  The  medical  supply  depot  for 
the  camp  was  situated  a short  distance  outside  the  grounds,  its  officers  being 
quartered  at  the  hospital.  The  enlisted  men  slept  in  the  buildings.  There  was 
no  toilet  in  the  building,  and  for  six  months  there  was  no  running  water,  the 
men  having  to  walk  a distance  of  400  feet  for  these  facilities. 

The  hospital  was  equipped  throughout  with  modern  sanitary  plumbing 
fixtures;  eight  of  the  wards  had  water-closets  and  baths  in  separate  small  build- 
ings, each  connected  to  two  wards.  The  enlisted  men’s  barracks  had  similarly 
situated  conveniences.  All  other  buildings  had  water-closets  and  baths  inside. 
There  were  no  latrines. 

There  was  no  hospital  laundry.  A building  designated  as  such  formed  part 
of  the  original  group,  but  was  never  fitted  with  machinery,  and  was  used  as  a 
contagious-disease  ward.  The  soiled  linen  of  the  hospital  was  sent  by  the 
medical  supply  officer  to  San  Diego  for  laundering. 

The  small  building  designated  on  the  plans  as  a chapel  was  turned  over  to 
the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  when  the  hospital  was  first  opened. 
Services  were  held  there  every  Sunday,  by  both  Catholics  and  Protestants.  A 
Catholic  chaplain  was  attached  to  the  hospital  on  April  26,  191S,  after  which 
mass  was  celebrated  every  morning  in  a small  tent  erected  by  the  side  of  the 
chapel. 

The  equipment  of  the  hospital  was  at  all  times  adequate  for  the  conditions 
as  they  existed  at  the  given  period. 

The  function  of  the  hospital  was  to  treat  all  cases  arising  at  Camp  Kearny, 
and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal  cases  from  overseas. 

Both  Camp  Kearny  and  the  base  hospital  were  supplied  from  the  water 
system  of  the  city  of  San  Diego.  The  water  was  gathered  in  a large  reservoir 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


701 


behind  a dam  in  the  mountains,  65  miles  from  the  city.  It  was  conducted 
thence  45  miles  by  natural  channels  and  flumes  to  the  Otay  Dam,  where  it  was 
subjected  to  sand  filtration.  From  this  point  it  was  carried  20  miles  in  pipes 
to  the  city  of  San  Diego,  where  it  was  chlorinated  at  the  city  reservoir.  The 
distribution  through  the  hospital  grounds  was  effected  by  means  of  wooden 
mains  wound  with  wire.  These  were  very  unsatisfactory,  requiring  constant 
work  to  repair  leaks. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  entirely  separate  from  that  of  the 
camp.  It  emptied  into  a septic  tank,  about  half  a mile  down  the  arroyo  which 
formed  the  northern  boundary  of  the  hospital  grounds.  The  septic  tank  for  the 
camp  sewer  was  situated  alongside  that  for  the  hospital.  The  discharge  from 
the  tanks  flowed  down  the  stream  bed  at  the  bottom  of  the  arroyo.  Signs  in 
English  and  Spanish  were  placed  every  few  hundred  feet,  calling  attention  to 
the  poisonous  nature  of  the  water. 

All  the  kitchen  waste  and  garbage  were  removed  daily  by  a contractor, 
who  paid  for  the  privilege.  Tin  cans  and  paper  were  turned  over  to  the  hospital 
quartermaster  for  transportation  to  the  camp  reclamation  officer. 

There  were  no  heating  plants.  The  hospital,  in  common  with  the  camp, 
was  supplied  with  gas  from  San  Diego.  Each  building  was  furnished  with  gas 
“floor  furnaces,”  discharging  the  products  of  combustion  into  the  open  air. 
These  proved  to  be  both  inefficient  and  dangerous,  and  in  several  instances 
were  discovered  to  be  on  the  point  of  setting  fire  to  buildings.  The  dangerous 
ones  were  turned  off,  and  the  hospital  came  to  be  heated  largely  by  small  port- 
able gas  stoves  connected  by  armored  tubing  to  outlets  in  the  floors  or  wain- 
scoting. Owing  to  the  mildness  of  the  climate  and  the  ample  means  of  ventila- 
tion, these  proved  to  be  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  hospital  was  well  supplied  with  electric  lights,  in  common  with  the 
camp.  There  was  an  insufficient  number  of  switches,  so  that  in  many  places  the 
lamps  were  removed  in  order  to  avoid  the  unnecessary  use  of  light  during  the 
night,  the  result  being  a rather  dim  illumination  during  the  early  hours  of  the 
evening. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  open  a post  exhange  during  the  days  of  the  tent 
hospital.  A building  was  provided  for  the  purpose,  situated  in  a central  loca- 
tion, and  the  exchange  was  opened  as  soon  as  the  move  to  the  new  hospital  was 
fairly  under  way.  The  value  of  the  stock  in  May,  1918,  was  about  $7,000. 
The  exchange  building  housed  a barber  shop  and  a library  and  reading  room. 
The  interior  arrangement  of  the  building  was  very  bad.  There  was  no  access 
to  the  library  except  through  the  exchange,  and  the  portion  devoted  to  the 
exchange  was  so  badly  planned  that  fully  a third  of  it  was  wasted. 

As  mentioned  above,  the  chapel  was  used  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  for  a time.  Later  a building  was  erected  by  the  association,  near  the 
enlisted  men’s  barracks.  Good  work  was  done  by  the  association  represent- 
atives. The  mail  from  the  hospital  amounted  to  from  800  to  1,200  pieces  a day. 

There  was  no  Red  Cross  building,  but  plans  for  an  elaborate  structure  were 
submitted  to  the  Surgeon  General  for  his  approval.  The  erection  was  hampered 
by  the  location  of  the  hospital  on  ground  where  there  was  no  room  for  expansion. 

In  addition  to  a small  library  in  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 
building,  a fine  collection  of  books,  fiction,  science,  and  works  of  reference, 
contributed  by  the  women  of  Coronado,  was  housed  in  the  post  exchange. 


702 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


A baseball  field  was  in  daily  use.  Two  tennis  courts,  courts  for  basket  ball, 
volley  ball,  and  handball  were  provided,  and  a few  pieces  of  gymnasium  ap- 
paratus were  set  up. 

Evening  entertainments,  musical  and  dramatic,  were  frequently  given  by 
patriotic  citizens  and  by  the  men  themselves. 

The  base  hospital  was  made  a camp  hospital  on  March  27,  1919. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Kearny,  San  Diego,  Calif.,  from  September 

1,  1917,  to  March  31,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


1917. 
September . 

October 

November. 
December. . 

1918. 

January 

February . . 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September . 

October 

November. 
December. . 

1919. 

January 

February. . 
March 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

| From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
' fer. 

Otherwise. 

4 

23 

21 

439 

248 

17 

1,772 

856 

44 

2,258 

1,164 

61 

1.747 

1,(114 

36 

1,461 

0 

974 

129 

1.710 

1,033 

89 

1,647 

851 

102 

994 

487 

85 

784 

552 

51 

1, 425 

721 

43 

455 

466 

46 

1,005 

618 

297 

3. 170 

1,371 

146 

2,144 

812 

62 

978 

267 

75 

1,056 

330 

52 

497 

1 

267 

42 

829 

59 
483 
2,037 
3, 158 

2,972 
2,501 
2,813 
2,769 
1,947 
1,356 
2,028 
1,219 
1,517 
4, 085 
3,661 
1,852 


1,398 

880 

1,138 


Completed  cases. 


Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

29 

4 

200 

2 

14 

979 

10 

139 

1,850 

36 

68 

1,709 

20 

213 

1,251 

9 

261 

1,500 

6 

260 

1,701 

3 

208 

1,425 

10 

16 

771 

5 

14 

1, 205 

5 

13 

714 

2 

13 

857 

2 

21 

2,615 

38 

41 

2, 706 

76 

26 

1,497 

41 

13 

1,022 

10 

12 

583 

2 

4 

537 

5 

16 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

Remaining. 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


3 

18 

42 

34 


1 

11 

6 


21 
245 
855 
1, 164 


2 327 

3 3,351 
1 19,796 
..  33,822 


17 

115 

42 

12 


21 


1 

2 

1 

80 

14 

2 

7 

1 

5 


5 

6 

14 
5 
7 

13 

3 

9 

15 
13 
40 
29 


1,004  

974  ...... 

1,033  

851 

487  

552  

721 

466  

618 

1,371 

812 

267  


34, 195 
34,120 
30,464 
26,481 
20,858 
13,619 
23, 103 
16, 747 
15,  S29 
30,450 
28,611 
14,894 


3 20 

4 19 

2 17 


: : ''i  i 
267 
561 


10, 6SS 
7,637 
8,332 


PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

September.- _ 

1917. 

68 

2 

1 

71 

131 

131 

October 

45 

2 

1 

4S 

133 

133 

54 

2 

1 

57 

203 

203 

21 

52 

2 

1 

197 

197 

66 

1918. 

65 

3 

1 

69 

195 

195 

72 

February 

66 

3 

2 

71 

179 

179 

90 

March 

64 

2 

1 

67 

75 

318 

20 

338 

92 

April 

72 

2 

1 

562 

20 

582 

98 

May 

68 

4 

i 

73 

560 

20 

580 

100 

June 

62 

i 

68 

490 

20 

510 

107 

July 

73 

4 

i 

78 

529 

IS 

547 

112 

August 

70 

4 

1 

52S 

17 

.545 

92 

September 

67 

4 

1 

72 

772 

17 

789 

94 

October 

67 

1 

73 

733 

17 

750 

112 

November 

60 

6 

1 

67 

590 

17 

607 

122 

December _ . 

43 

7 

i 

51 

564 

16 

580 

97 

January 

1919. 

36 

7 

i 

44 

477 

15 

492 

S4 

February 

42 

5 

8 

55 

411 

17 

428 

68 

March . .' 

40 

7 

7 

306 

16 

322 

50 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


703 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  LEE,  PETERSBURG,  VA.a 

Camp  Lee  was  situated  in  Prince  George  County,  Va.,  3 miles  to  the  east  of 
Petersburg.  The  base  hospital,  three-fourths  of  a mile  southwest  of  the  camp 
headquarters,  occupied  part  of  an  area  abounding  with  historical  associations 
which  date  from  romantic  and  valorous  episodes  in  the  earliest  colonial  days, 
and  include  epoch-making  events  of  both  the  Revolutionary  War  and  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion. 

The  region  was  flat  and  heavily  wooded;  but,  where  the  main  portion  of 
the  hospital  was  located,  it  was  denuded  of  all  verdure  to  facilitate  construc- 
tion. Fortunately,  when  this  denudation  was  done,  the  convalescent  portion 
of  the  hospital  was  not  contemplated,  so  that  when  this  additional  section 
was  erected  it  was  possible  to  give  thought  to  this  essential  detail  and 
to  disturb  the  smallest  number  of  trees. 

The  soil  is  a mixture  of  clay,  sand,  and  gravel;  and,  because  of  the  flat 
terrain,  the  level  of  the  ground  water  is  ordinarily  high.  In  the  earlier  days  of 
the  hospital,  one  had  but  to  indent  the  surface  with  one’s  heel  to  exhibit  the 
near  presence  of  water.  Immediately  west  of  the  point  at  which  the  hospital 
was  located  the  ground  was  especially  swampy,  and  artificial  drainage  had  to  be 
instituted  to  remove  its  menacing  quality.  Because  of  the  prevalent  high 
winds  during  the  summer  there  was  much  high-flying  dust  in  the  camp. 

The  winter  climate  is  reputed  to  be  mild,  but  the  winter  of  1917-1S  proved 
to  be  exceptional:  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow  practically  from  early 
December  to  the  first  part  of  March.  The  clearing  of  the  area  to  the  east  and 
north  of  the  hospital  caused  it  to  be  exposed  to  an  unusual  degree  to  the  severe 
winds. 

The  camp  roads,  as  ultimately  constructed,  were  satisfactory:  the  main 
road,  from  the  camp  to  the  hospital,  was  of  concrete;  and  the  remainder  of  the 
roads,  though  of  dirt,  were  well  crowned  and  oiled,  and  withstood  remarkably 
well  the  heavy  traffic  to  which  they  were  subjected.  The  roads  leading  from 
camp,  especially  those  to  the  rear  of  the  hospital,  however,  were  impassable 
at  times  following  heavy  rains. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  base  hospital,  an  emergency  hospital  wTas 
established  by  the  contractors  for  the  care  of  civilian  employees.  This  hos- 
pital was  supervised  by  a civilian  physician.  Later,  after  some  of  the  camp 
buildings  had  been  erected,  a temporary  hospital,  for  the  use  of  the  military 
personnel,  was  instituted  in  one  of  the  barracks. 

On  September  1,  1917,  the  base  hospital  was  organized;  and,  in  so  doing, 
the  temporary  hospital  was  taken  over  for  the  purpose.  By  September  23, 
1917,  the  first  three  wards  of  the  group  of  buildings  especially  provided  for  the 
base  hospital  were  occupied;  and  by  November  1,  1917,  all  the  wards  had  been 
completed.  At  the  latter  date  the  barracks  for  the  enlisted  men  had  not  been 
erected,  water  connections  in  the  hospital  had  not  been  made,  and  open 
latrines  were  still  being  used.  The  heating  system  was  entirely  inadequate 
and  coal-burning  stoves  were  used  in  the  wards  and  offices. 

a The  statements  offact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lee,  Va.,”  by  Maj.  P.  C. 
Riley,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the  com- 
pilation of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


704 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IH  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  hospital,  as  constructed,  comprised  two  groups  of  buildings:  the  main 
group,  erected  on  the  standard  plan;  and  the  group  of  ward  barracks.  This 
group  of  ward  barracks,  or  the  convalescent  group,  was  situated  westwardly 
from  the  main  portion  of  the  hospital,  being  separated  therefrom  by  tracks  of 
the  Norfolk  & Western  Railroad.  Connecting  the  groups  were  covered  walks 
and  concrete  and  macadam  roads.  Between  the  main  and  convalescent 
sections  of  the  hospital  there  were  located  the  heating  plant,  the  medical 
supply  depot,  and  the  laundry  building. 

The  quarters  for  the  officers  were  in  a building  in  which  there  were  56  small 
rooms  and  a large  well-appointed  dining  hall  with  two  very  handsome  open 
fireplaces.  The  quarters  were  totally  inadequate  for  the  personnel,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  domicile  the  excess  of  officers  either  in  the  empty  barracks  of  the 
convalescent  area  or  in  barracks  situated  elsewhere  in  the  camp.  At  one  time 
quite  a number  of  officers  had  to  be  accommodated  in  tents  situated  to  the 
rear  and  to  one  side  of  the  permanent  quarters. 

The  Army  Nurse  Corps  quarters  were  three  two-story  stucco  buildings. 

The  various  messes  of  the  hospital  were  divided  into  five  units:  the  general 
mess,  an  officers’  mess,  a sick  officers’  mess,  the  nurses’  mess,  and  the  detach- 
ment mess,  all  under  the  supervision  of  one  mess  officer.  The  general  mess 
was  used  by  the  ambulant  patients,  bed  patients  being  served  in  their  wards 
through  the  medium  of  the  food  conveyor.  The  general  mess  accommodated 
approximately  1,000  patients,  and  was  reconstructed  to  facilitate  the  more 
rapid  distribution  of  food. 

The  equipment  used  throughout  the  various  kitchens  was  of  the  very 
highest  modern  type. 

There  were  four  storehouses  connected  with  the  base  hospital:  the  camp 
medical  supply  depot,  the  base  hospital  property  storehouse,  the  base  hospital 
quartermaster  warehouse,  and  the  commissary  storehouse. 

The  chapel  was  a small  building  neatly  arranged  for  services  held  there 
by  the  chaplains  of  the  various  denominations.  During  the  period  of  its  con- 
struction it  was  occupied  by  the  plumbers  as  sleeping  quarters.  From  about 
the  5th  day  of  December,  1917,  until  about  the  end  of  February,  1918,  it  was 
used  as  a hall  in  which  psychological  examinations  were  conducted.  During 
the  influenza  epidemic,  when  the  mortuary  was  filled  to  overflowing,  use  was 
made  of  this  building  to  store  bodies  that  had  been  made  ready  for  shipment. 

In  the  original  plans  a building  was  provided  for  the  laundry,  but  there 
was  no  equipment  for  it,  and  this  work  was  done  by  the  Camp  Lee  laundry,  a 
Government-owned  plant.  The  laundry  was  used,  however,  as  a central 
station  for  the  collection  and  delivery  of  hospital  linen  between  the  various 
wards  and  the  camp  laundry.  A section  of  it  was  used  as  a sterilizing  room 
for  the  treatment  of  all  soiled  hospital  linen;  and  another  portion  of  it  was 
set  apart  for  the  gauze  reclamation  equipment.  The  removal  of  soiled  linen 
from,  and  the  supplying  of  clean  linen  to,  the  wards  was  handled  by  a central 
delivery  and  collection  system.  The  soiled  linen  from  the  wards  was  collected 
each  day  and  sent  to  the  sterilizer  for  treatment;  it  was  then  checked  and  an 
equal  amount  of  clean  linen  was  returned  to  the  ward  the  next  day. 

The  water  supply  for  the  hospital  was  the  same  as  that  of  Camp  Lee,  the 
source  of  which  was  the  Appomattox  River.  It  was  pumped  from  a plant 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


705 


about  1 mile  above  Petersburg  to  a filtration  plant  in  Petersburg,  where  it  was 
filtered  and  chlorinated  and  then  pumped  to  a 1,000,000-gallon  reservoir  at 
Camp  Lee.  A pumping  station  supplied  the  camp  from  this  reservoir,  main- 
taining a pressure  of  from  65  to  70  pounds.  The  base  hospital  obtained  its 
supply  through  two  10-inch  wooden  mains.  The  distribution  system  con- 
sisted of  10,500  feet  of  wooden  mains  varying  in  size  from  6 to  10  inches.  The 
valves  on  the  main  camp  distribution  system  were  so  placed  that  water  could  be 
supplied  the  base  hospital  in  emergencies  when  there  was  not  enough  to  supply 
the  entire  camp. 

The  sewage  from  the  hospital  was  disposed  of  by  a system  consisting  of 
20,000  feet  of  sewer  mains  and  was  a part  of  the  camp  sewerage  system.  The 
sewage  emptied  into  a septic  tank  near  the  eastern  edge  of  the  camp,  the 
effluent  being  discharged  into  Baileys  Creek,  a small  stream  skirting  the  eastern 
edge  of  the  camp.  Baileys  Creek  in  turn  emptied  into  the  James  River  at  a 
place  south  of  City  Point,  Ya. 

In  wards  of  the  single-unit  plan  the  toilets,  urinals,  and  baths  were  located 
in  a room  which  formed  a part  of  the  ward  itself,  due  care  being  taken  in  its 
construction  to  prevent  the  penetration  of  odors  into  the  ward  proper.  In 
those  wards  of  double-unit  construction  these  utilities  were  located  in  a small 
building  facing  the  corridors  connecting  the  two  wards  of  the  unit.  The 
toilets,  urinals,  and  baths  were  all  of  the  latest  sanitary  construction.  The 
latrines  of  the  originally  constructed  barracks  for  the  enlisted  men  were  located 
in  two  buildings  especially  constructed  for  the  purpose,  conveniently  near. 
Those  in  the  quarters  of  the  officers  and  nurses  were  of  the  same  standard  type 
and  were  located  within  the  buildings  proper. 

The  collection  and  disposal  of  garbage  was  thoroughly  systematized. 
The  main  purpose  of  this  system  was  conservation  and  reclamation  of  all 
articles  which  could  be  further  utilized.  Containers  were  placed  in  the  various 
messes,  and  permanent  signs  were  provided  for  the  classification  of  trash  and 
garbage  over  these  receptacles,  as  follows:  Newspapers  and  magazines  only; 
clean  tin  cans;  waste  paper  and  cardboard;  clean  unbroken  glass  containers; 
unserviceable  bread;  fruit  pits;  animal  food;  miscellaneous;  and  not  fit  for  animal 
food.  The  burlap  bag  containing  newspapers  and  magazines  and  the  one  con- 
taining waste  paper  and  cardboard  were  collected  once  each  week,  or  oftener 
if  necessary;  all  other  articles  were  collected  daily  and  delivered  to  the  garbage 
stand  at  the  general  mess.  Cooked  meats,  raw  fats,  cooked  grease,  and  bones, 
unsuitable  for  further  use  as  food,  were  used  for  the  making  of  soap  under  the 
supervision  of  the  mess  officer.  Garbage  was  collected  each  day  from  the 
garbage  stand  at  the  general  mess  by  the  camp  garbage  wagon,  and  delivered 
to  the  camp  stand  for  disposal. 

The  heating  of  the  hospital  was  accomplished  by  a general  heating  system, 
using  12  Kewanee  boilers  of  the  horizontal  fire  tube  type,  each  boiler  being  18 
feet  long  and  6 feet  in  diameter.  The  main  steam  lines  ran  underground  from 
the  boiler  house  to  points  of  distribution  and  were  inclosed  in  wooden  conduits 
the  tops  of  which  formed  sidewalks  in  many  parts  of  the  area.  The  steam  was 
delivered  at  high  pressure,  and  was  reduced  at  the  entrance  of  each  building 
to  about  5 pounds  pressure.  All  water  of  condensation  was  delivered  to  five 
45269°— 23 45 


706 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Farmsworth  traps,  located  in  various  parts  of  the  area,  and  from  these  traps 
the  water  was  pumped  back  to  the  boiler.  There  were  150,057  square  feet  of 
radiation  surface  installed  in  the  hospital.  The  original  heating  plant  was 
equipped  with  eight  boilers.  The  new  quarters  for  officers  and  nurses  and  the 
large  convalescent  area  containing  12  two-story  buildings  required  the  addi- 
tional four  boilers  to  be  installed.  The  underground  conduits  referred  to 
contained  two  other  lines,  the  first  being  the  high-pressure  steam  line  on  which 
the  pressure  was  maintained  regardless  of  the  heating  system,  and  was  used 
for  steam  cooking,  sterilizing,  and  the  laboratory  work.  The  other  line  was 
the  hot-water  line,  the  water  being  heated  in  a large  heater,  the  temperature 
being  regulated  by  a thermostatic  valve.  This  water  was  kept  in  circulation  in 
insulated  pipes  throughout  the  hospital  by  an  electrically  driven  circular  pump. 
The  operation  of  this  plant  was  under  the  base  hospital  utilities  department, 
1 officer  and  100  men  being  assigned  from  the  camp  utilities  to  care  for  the 
area. 

The  base  hospital  electrical  equipment  was  fed  by  3-phase  2,200-volt 
circuit;  the  current  furnished  was  60-cycle  110  secondary  voltage.  There 
were  65  electric  heating  elements  and  stoves  used  in  the  hospital. 

The  post  exchange  was  the  first  exchange  in  camp  and  was  started  in 
August,  1917,  at  the  temporary  hospital.  It  occupied  an  ordinary  wooden 
shack  of  one  room.  No  shares  were  sold,  but  credit  was  obtained  from  several 
merchants  in  the  city  of  Petersburg.  Most  of  the  business  came  from  the 
workmen  in  camp  and  amounted  to  about  $200  a day.  The  exchange  moved, 
along  with  the  rest  of  the  hospital,  in  September,  to  its  permanent  location. 
The  building  was  only  half  completed  when  it  was  occupied,  and  goods  had  to 
be  sold  through  one  of  the  windows,  customers  approaching  by  a narrow  plank. 
For  this  reason,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  there  was  no  road  to  the  exchange, 
sales  at  this  time  were  low.  The  building  was  completed,  however,  and  ha 
addition  to  the  canteen  a barber  shop  was  started.  In  December,  1917,  a 
restaurant  was  installed,  but  it  was  not  a success.  In  the  month  of  February 
the  tailor  shop  was  started.  From  this  date  up  to  June,  191S,  no  changes  were 
made,  but  in  this  month  the  exchange  at  Zero  Street  was  taken  over  and 
operated  as  a branch  of  the  base  hospital  post  exchange.  The  barber  shop  was 
moved,  five  more  chairs  were  purchased,  and  modern  equipment  was  installed. 
This  exchange  was  known  as  one  of  the  best  exchanges  in  camp,  had  an  excellent 
business  record,  and  paid  out  over  $10,000  in  dividends  and  for  amusements. 
The  value  of  the  exchange  on  January  1,  1918,  was  $2,397.27,  and  one  year 
later,  after  deducting  all  dividends,  was  $23,479.40. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  constructed  a building  that 
proved  to  be  very  successful. 

There  were  two  Red  Cross  buildings  in  the  hospital  area,  one  for  the 
convalescents  and  the  other  for  the  nurses.  The  first,  a large,  well-equipped 
auditorium  with  a stage,  was  located  in  the  group  of  convalescent  barracks. 
Frequent  concerts  by  the  hospital  band  and  orchestra,  and  weekly  dances, 
were  given  in  this  hall.  During  the  day  it  was  used  as  a reading  and  recreation 
room  by  the  patients,  being  splendidly  equipped  for  this  purpose.  The  Red 
Cross  building  in  the  nurses’  area  was  of  a smaller  type  and  was  used  exclu- 
sively for  recreation  and  dancing. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


707 


The  recreation  work  was  handled  entirely  by  an  amusement  officer  ap- 
pointed by  the  commanding  officer,  and  the  Red  Cross  was  not  called  upon  to 
do  much  of  this  work.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  rendered 
efficient  aid  in  arranging  recreation  exercises.  The  hospital  had  its  own  band 
of  25  pieces,  besides  an  orchestra.  The  band  gaye  daily  concerts  for  the 
benefit  of  the  patients,  and  about  once  a week  gave  a concert  in  the  Red  Cross 
auditorium  for  the  benefit  of  officers,  their  wives,  and  visitors.  These  concerts 
were  usually  run  in  conjunction  with  other  recreational  exercises  and  ended 
with  a dance,  the  orchestra  furnishing  the  music.  A very  great  part  of  the 
profits  of  the  post  exchange  was  devoted  to  the  amusement  fund. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lee,  Petersburg,  Va.,from  August,  1917, 

to  July  31,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

1 Remaining  from  last 

month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  bo  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

'd 

3 

S 

g 

a 

c 

From  other 
sources. 

>> 

p 

© 

© 

P3 

'd 

2 >- 
© — 
tL-X 
c3  "3 

8 

© 

© 

x S 
© £ 
© 

© 

jjf  3 
W 3 

o g 

tZ  ci 
& © 

5 S 

ci  w 

c-1 

o 

c/5 

73 

r -j  ft 

£ o 
cLT, 

V.  © 

9^ 

c-1 

o 

or? 

f § 
© '"H 

3 • 
&|S 

B 

© 

</3 

© 

& 

O 

*3 

ft 

o 

© 

c3 

3 

S7 

o 

03 

1317. 

4S 

48 

43 

65 

September 

5 

223 

167 

0 

395 

235 

1 

2 

i,6ia 

October 

2 

7 

12 

21 

6 

10 

112 

14 

9 

28 

9 

10 

9 

272 

December 

9 

37 

51 

25 

3 

23 

447 

1918. 

January 

23 

SI 

6 

110 

68 

1 

1 

7 

24 

9 

867 

294 

February 

33 

59 

102 

66 

4 

22 

771 

997 

27 

70 

1S9 

293 

120 

4 

6 

1 

1 

3 

147 

4 

3,015 

145 

April 

151 

1,967 

44 

2, 167 

16 

9 

1 

6 

1,482 

3 

27,849 

218 

May 

1,485 

1,  S73 

181 

14 

1,163 

6 

1 

17 

2,357 

9 

29, 474 

73 

June 

2 . 356 

1,349 

73 

4,293 

l'  935 

6 

2 

152 

24 

2, 171 

3 

July 

2 

174 

2,509 

2 

12 

4,697 

9 

28 

37 

94 

11 

2 , 857 

6 

164 

64 

August 

2 

S63 

2. 034 

13 

4,910 

2.515 

9 

9 

2 _ 

1 

180 

81* 

2. 113 

61,136 

274 

2 

120 

3,672 

112 

99 

5' 925 

2, 01S 

155 

3 

2 

924 

47 

2,770 

62, 980 

132 

October 

2 

2.S13 

1, 173 

9 

6, 772 

1.416 

4 

3,  478 

32 

1,315 

6S6 

November 

1 

315 

1,262 

60 

IS 

2, 655 

1,013 

IS 

8 

533 

3S 

1,044 

1 

30, 52S 

39 

December 

1 

045 

1,832 

403 

1 

3.2S1 

l,  583 

10 

8 

1S6 

92 

1,402 

36; 367 

62 

1919. 

January 

1 

402 

1,661 

44 

3,902 

2,238 

13 

3 

72 

1.406 

13 

2S1 

February 

1.419 

1,117 

391 

16 

2, 943 

3 

152 

72 

1, 141 

14 

44.284 

163 

March. . ." 

1 

'706 

443 

2,361 

1, 162 

6 

4 

159 

99 

931 

32,  707 

3 

April 

931 

524 

359 

94 

1,  90S 

'919 

5 

6 

131 

82 

2 

26',  285 

76 

May 

402 

43 

893 

6 

8 

123 

69 

23,720 

10 

June 

658 

436 

53 

1, 152 

502 

6 

1 

223 

4S 

372 

4. 190 

29 

July 

372 

398 

6 

# 781 

1 

27 

10 

286 

9.763 

2 

1 1 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

October 

12 

8 

20 

21 

21 

November 

12 

s 

20 

23 

23 

December 

12 

s 

20 

17 

17 

13 

13 

1918. 

8 

9 

17 

1919. 

February 

8 

25 

25 

March. .". 

8 

8 

16 

33 

33 

April 

81 

16 

97 

1 

73 

74 

May 

20 

20 

72 

72 

June 

21 

21 

61 

61 

July 

21 

21 

22 

22 

August 

24 

24 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section  .’Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


708  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lee,  Petersburg , Va.,  from  August,  1917, 

to  July  31,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and 
month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

60 

6 

66 

167 

167 

2 

60 

4 

64 

199 

199 

23 

1 

63 

4 

1 

68 

229 

229 

75 

4 

1 

80 

263 

263 

94 

1918. 

72 

3 

l 

76 

351 

351 

128 

84 

3 

1 

88 

311 

311 

131 

March..  1 

110 

3 

1 

114 

421 

20 

441 

132 

121 

4 

1 

126 

692 

20 

712 

183 

May 

110 

4 

1 

115 

5S3 

20 

603 

166 

i 

June 

96 

4 

l 

101 

692 

20 

712 

172 

i 

July 

78 

4 

1 

83 

682 

31 

713 

186 

i 

August 

89 

5 

1 

95 

750 

29 

779 

205 

i 

September 

111 

5 

1 

117 

1,000 

31 

1,031 

218 

2 

October 

140 

4 

1 

145 

985 

30 

1,015 

298 

1 

November 

134 

4 

1 

139 

979 

30 

1,009 

321 

1 

December 

96 

9 

l 

106 

959 

30 

989 

232 

1 

1919. 

January 

94 

9 

3 

106 

974 

30 

1,004 

165 

1 

94 

7 

3 

104 

900 

29 

929 

189 

73 

11 

5 

89 

624 

24 

648 

183 

57 

10 

7 

74 

592 

10 

602 

115 

45 

8 

7 

60 

392 

10 

402 

105 

38 

4 

7 

49 

249 

8 

257 

78 

July 

25 

4 

i 

30 

223 

6 

229 

46 



CHAPTER  XXXI. 


BASE  HOSPITALS,  CAMPS  LEWIS,  WASH.,  LOGAN,  HOUSTON,  TEX., 
MacARTHUR,  TEX.,  McCLELLAN,  ALA.,  MEADE,  MD.,  PIKE,  ARK., 
AND  FORTS  RILEY,  KANS.,  AND  SAM  HOUSTON,  TEX. 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  LEWIS,  WASH/' 

Camp  Lewis  was  located  on  the  American  Lake  prairie,  Pierce  County, 
Wash.,  17  miles  southwest  of  the  city  of  Tacoma.  It  was  roughly  V-shaped 
in  design;  and  on  the  right  of  the  closed  portion  of  the  V,  occupying  about  50 
acres,  was  the  hospital. 

North  and  east  of  the  camp  site  is  low  rolling  country,  sloping  toward 
Puget  Sound.  South  and  east  are  heavily  timbered  hills  which  gradually 
merge  into  the  rough  mountains  of  the  Cascade  Range,  while  to  the  south  and 
west  is  a vast  prairie,  dotted  with  scattered  clumps  of  conical  fir  trees.  Forty 
miles  due  east  is  snowcapped  Mount  Ranier,  which  rises  abruptly  to  the  majestic 
height  of  14,000  feet. 

The  camp  was  situated  in  a small  level  valley  about  2 miles  in  width  and 
3 miles  long,  flanked  on  three  sides  by  low  wooded  hills.  The  outlet  of  the  valley 
faces  the  west.  Its  floor  slopes  gradually  toward  American  Lake,  a fresh-water 
body  about  1 mile  northwest  of  the  camp.  The  slope  and  the  undulation  of 
the  terrain  provided  excellent  drainage  for  surface  waters  and  sewage. 
Sequalichew  Creek  is  a mile  west;  the  Nisqually  River,  facing  toward  the  sound, 
is  4 miles  south;  and  Much  Creek,  which  widens  out  into  a number  of  small 
lakes,  is  5 miles  to  the  east. 

Fir  trees,  with  scant  intermingling  of  scrub  oak,  thickly  cover  the  surround- 
ing hills,  serving  as  a natural  barrier  against  wind. 

The  base  hospital  was  situated  on  a slightly  higher  level  than  the  camp 
proper,  and  was  half  surrounded  by  low  hills  topped  with  fir  trees,  which 
offered  considerable  protection  against  the  weather. 

This  entire  area  is  a glacial  deposit.  The  soil  is  a dark  loam,  heavily  im- 
pregnated to  a great  depth  with  coarse  gravel,  its  porosity  insuring  the  quick 
absorption  of  water.  Mud  is  quickly  dried  and  is  of  loose  consistency.  The 
gravelly  soil  is  firm  and  heavy,  not  easily  converted  into  high-flying  dust. 

There  are  two  seasons,  the  wet  and  the  dry.  Rain  begins  the  latter  part 
of  September  and  continues  until  May,  during  which  time  three-fourths  of  the 
days  are  rainy.  Fog  and  heavyT  mists  are  prevalent  during  this  period,  and  there 
is  an  occasional  light  snowfall.  The  average  yearly  rainfall  is  about  43  inches. 
The  winter  temperature  varies  from  30°  to  50°.  The  summer  months  are 
warm  and  pleasant,  with  a temperature  varying  between  60°  and  80°.  Nights 

“ The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lewis,  Wash..”  by  Lieut. 
W.  C.  Smallwood,  M.  C.,  TJ.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


709 


710 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


are  uniformly  cool.  Summer  fogs  are  infrequent,  although  occasional  high 
mists  sweep  across  from  the  sound.  Mild  breezes  are  frequent  throughout  the 
year,  but  heavy  windstorms  are  very  rare. 

The  entire  camp  was  traversed  by  concrete  roads  with  bituminized  surface. 
The  main  arteries  of  the  hospital  were  of  the  same  composition;  the  laterals 
were  of  gravel  or  dirt,  fairly  well  kept,  and  entirely  accessible  at  all  times  of  the 
year. 

Camp  Lewis  was  established  as  a military  cantonment  in  July,  1917,  the 
command  consisting  of  a few  detachments  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps  and  two 
or  three  companies  of  Engineers.  On  August  10,  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  base  hospital,  which  was  yet-  to  be  constructed,  was  assigned,  and  construc- 
tion of  the  hospital  buildings,  on  August  17,  was  commenced.  In  the  mean- 
time a tent  hospital  was  erected  for  temporary  use.  From  August  10  to 
September  10  all  ambulant  patients  from  the  command  were  treated  at  the  tent 
regimental  infirmary,  and  bed  patients  in  the  tent  wards  of  Provisional  Field 
Hospital  No.  30;  minor  surgical  operations  were  performed  in  an  operating 
tent;  and  major  surgical  cases  were  taken  by  ambulance  to  the  Tacoma  General 
Hospital. 

The  emergency  surgical  work  for  the  construction  employees  (several 
thousand  in  number)  was  handled  by  a group  of  contract  surgeons  from  Tacoma. 
An  emergency  hospital  was  maintained  by  them  in  one  of  the  regimental  in- 
firmary buildings  as  soon  as  completed.  Bed  patients  were  taken  to  the  Tacoma 
General  Hospital. 

On  September  10,  1917,  the  first  wards  of  the  base  hospital,  one  for  medical 
and  one  for  surgical  cases,  were  ready  for  occupancy. 

The  hospital  was  constructed  on  the  standard  plan,  and  comprised  six 
rows  of  frame  buildings  (natural  fir),  the  rows  being  about  300  feet  apart. 
Each  row  consisted  of  nine  units,  wards,  offices,  etc.,  which  were  placed  50 
feet  apart.  All  the  buildings  were  one-storv  buildings,  except  those  in  the 
fifth  and  sixth  rows,  the  last  to  be  erected.  These  were  two-storied.  The 
building’s  and  rows  were  connected  by  roofed  corridors. 

The  ward  buildings  were  composed  of  the  ward  proper,  and  its  service 
department;  and  each  contained  a private  room  for  the  treatment  of  the 
seriously  ill  patients  or  for  isolation  purposes.  Each  ward  was  surrounded  on 
three  sides  by  side  screened  porches,  and  was  provided  with  20  windows, 
placed  at  9-foot  intervals.  Ventilation  was  supplemented  by  central  ventilat- 
ing shafts  running  the  entire  length  of  the  ward  and  communicating  directly 
with  the  exterior. 

Isolation  wards,  three  in  number,  were  subdivided  into  small  rooms  or 
wards  and  placed  at  a little  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  main  portion  of  the 
hospital. 

One  row  of  buildings  consisted  of  the  administration  offices,  the  general 
laboratories,  the  operating  pavilion,  the  offices  of  the  department  heads,  and 
the  general  kitchen. 

The  quarters  for  officers  and  nurses  were  conveniently  located.  The  per- 
sonnel quarters  consisted  of  seven  barracks  situated  between  the  hospital  and 
the  camp. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


711 


The  officers’  quarters  consisted  of  a three-winged  building  with  51  rooms. 
In  May,  1918,  there  were  95  officers  on  duty,  22  of  whom  lived  away  from  the 
hospital  because  of  the  crowded  conditions.  Nearly  half  of  the  small  rooms 
were  occupied  by  twTo  officers. 

There  were  2 buildings  for  the  nurses,  providing  67  rooms,  which,  with 
200  nurses  on  duty,  were  entirely  inadequate.  The  excess  over  the  accommo- 
dations were  quartered  in  the  officers’  ward  and  in  a two-story  ward  building. 

The  enlisted  personnel  were  quartered  in  7 barracks,  for  which  there  were 
1 mess  building  and  3 latrines. 

The  mess  department  of  the  hospital  comprised  the  main  kitchen  and  mess 
hall,  three  special  kitchens  and  mess  halls,  and  the  various  diet  kitchens.  The 
main  mess  hall  adjoined  the  general  kitchen  and  was  used  for  ambulant 
patients.  The  equipment  for  the  general  mess  was  at  first  entirely  inadequate, 
but  it  w'as  later  made  complete  by  the  addition  of  every  known  labor-saving 
device  for  the  preparation  of  food  on  a large  scale.  Connected  with  the  mess 
was  a large  refrigerating  room,  the  Ioav  temperature  of  which  was  main- 
tained by  an  ammonia  process.  Food  for  bed  patients  was  prepared  at  the 
main  diet  kitchen  and  transported  to  the  wards  in  cabinet  roller  carts.  In  the 
wards  were  large  steam  tables,  which  were  used  to  keep  the  food  warm 
pending  its  distribution  to  the  patients.  In  the  spring  of  1918  the  diet  kitchens 
were  placed  under  the  supervision  of  a competent  dietitian. 

The  medical  supply  depot  of  the  camp  and  the  hospital  storehouse  were 
operated  as  one  institution.  This  depot  consisted  of  two  warehouses,  each 
60  by  170  feet,  giving  a combined  door  space  of  20,000  square  feet,  and  a cubic 
capacity  of  2,700,000  cubic  feet.  These  warehouses  were  located  on  a railroad 
spur,  and  had  a platform  for  unloading  eight  cars  at  one  time. 

The  water  supply  of  the  base  hospital  was  identical  with  that  of  the  camp. 
The  source  was  a voluminous  spring  at  the  head  of  the  Sequalichew  Lake, 
which  supplied  3,000,000  gallons  of  water  per  day,  winter  and  summer.  Puri- 
fication was  unnecessary,  the  bacteriological  content  being  constantly  below'  3 
per  cent.  The  water  was  very  soft,  and  admirably  adapted  for  washing  pur- 
poses. A large  storage  reservoir  was  located  in  the  hills  north  of  the  hospital. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  connected  w ith  the  mams  of  the 
general  camp.  There  was  a sufficient  fall  to  insure  proper  drainage.  The 
sew'age  was  conducted  into  the  Nisqually  River,  6 miles  from  the  camp. 

Garbage  was  collected  at  the  wards  in  galvanized  cans,  segregation  being 
made  at  this  time.  Tin  cans  w'ere  crushed  and  baled;  paper  was  sorted  and 
baled;  foodstuffs  were  carted  away  for  hogs;  pits  and  seeds  were  utilized  for 
gas-mask  construction.  The  surplus  was  disposed  of  by  concession. 

Running  hot  and  cold  water  was  always  available  in  umlimited  supply. 
The  wards  contained  latrines  in  which  there  were  show'er  bath,  tub  bath, 
toilet,  urinals,  and  washstands.  All  fixtures  w'ere  of  porcelain  and  nickel. 

The  hospital  heating  plant,  situated  at  the  rear,  was  equipped  with  eight 
boilers.  A low-pressure  system  was  first  installed,  but  this  was  subsequently 
changed  to  a high-pressure  system,  which,  unlike  the  first,  was  entirely  suc- 
cessful. 


712 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity,  the  system  being  identical  with 
that  of  the  camp.  The  power  was  supplied  by  an  outside  company,  and  the 
system  was  satisfactory. 

In  the  early  months  of  the  hospital  the  laundry  situation  was  very  unsatis- 
factory. There  was  a laundry  building,  but  no  equipment.  The  Army  post 
laundry  collected  the  work  and  hauled  it  to  general  laundries  in  Tacoma, 
causing  great  delay.  Subsequently  a modern  steam  laundry  was  installed  at 
the  hospital,  and  collections  and  deliveries  were  made  daily.  A steam  steriliz- 
ing plant  was  operated  in  conjunction  with  the  laundry  for  the  sterilization  of 
blankets  and  clothing. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  used  for  officers’  call,  staff  meetings,  and  as  a 
reading  room,  until  December,  1917,  when  it  was  used  exclusively  for  chapel 
purposes. 

The  complete  medical  equipment  on  April  1,  1919,  including  the  reserve 
on  hand  in  storage  warehouses,  had  a rough  valuation  of  $750,000.  The  medi- 
cal supply  department  throughout  the  war  was  able  to  furnish  almost  every 
thing  that  was  required  in  hospital  work,  although  sometimes  there  was  con- 
siderable delay  in  obtaining  both  drugs  and  equipment.  Service  was  facili- 
tated by  the  consolidation  of  the  quartermaster  and  the  medical  supply  depart- 
ments. 

The  post  exchange  was  opened  on  September  27,  1917,  without  capital, 
and  with  stock  valued  at  $25.  The  first  day  the  sales  amounted  to  $11.  The 
business  and  stock  developed  rapidly,  and  a tailor  shop,  a news  stand,  and  pool 
tables  were  added.  By  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  of  1918  the  daily  sales 
averaged  $300.  Dividends  were  declared  each  month,  and  the  total  profits  by 
the  end  of  April,  191S,  were  $13,467.89. 

Various  enterprises  for  the  pleasure  and  comfort  of  the  patients  were  inaugu- 
rated by  Red  Cross  workers  early  in  1918,  and  conducted  throughout  the  year. 
On  February  23,  1919,  the  Red  Cross  building  was  formally  opened.  It  con- 
tained five  large  recreational  rooms,  luxuriously  furnished  and  handsomely 
decorated,  and  several  offices  and  rooms  for  visitors  and  workers.  Dances, 
parties,  motion  pictures,  and  special  entertainments  were  provided.  A class 
in  fine  arts  was  organized. 

From  the  beginning  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  maintained 
workers  at  the  hospital,  who  aided  the  staff  in  every  way  possible.  On  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1919,  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  was  completed. 
It  contained  recreation  rooms,  a library,  and  an  auditorium.  Lectures,  enter- 
tainments, and  moving  pictures  were  given  in  the  auditorium. 

The  recreation  facilities  for  the  personnel  and  patients,  aside  from  those 
provided  by  the  Red  Cross  and  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  were 
limited  to  band  concerts  twice  weekly  and  an  occasional  dance  or  picnic. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


713 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lewis,  American  Lake,  Tacoma,  Wash., 
from  July,  1917,  to  July,  1919,  inclusive 
SICIC  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

16 

32 

1 

49 

19 

30 

218 

12 

30 

59 

3 

15 

107 

37 

3 

10 

55 

2 

1 354 

38 

57 

727 

187 

17 

988 

499 

1 

8 

63 

417 

o’  970 

417 

1,108 

277 

1,802 

886 

5 

5 

116 

790 

18  218 

790 

1,305 

366 

9 

2,470 

1.123 

11 

132 

286 

918 

24  950 

918 

821 

2,420 

3 

4,162 

2,405 

13 

124 

248 

26 

1,346 

34^  245 

1918. 

1, 346 

234 

2,022 

3,602 

1,855 

18 

78 

234 

24 

1,391 

2 

41  807 

1 393 

246 

1^  882 

3,521 

1,207 

2 

64 

463 

19 

1, 748 

18 

4(V 008 

1,  766 

338 

2,  535 

4,  639 

2,385 

16 

14 

305 

25 

1,878 

16 

57  098 

373 

1,  894 

267 

1,612 

3,773 

2, 350 

12 

4 

241 

20 

l'  133 

13 

41 ’ 844 

388 

1, 146 

261 

2,981 

1,347 

11 

26 

367 

27 

1,188 

15 

35’  286 

1,  203 

1,  623 

2,  991 

1,369 

21 

19 

358 

28 

1, 190 

3 

38*  673 

July  . 

1, 193 

120 

R2S4 

2,  597 

1,329 

7 

31 

168 

49 

1,013 

33'  763 

140 

l'  013 

118 

1,568 

2, 699 

1,261 

3 

47 

191 

31 

1 160 

o 

36J  278 

1 166 

250 

2, 293 

3,  709 

1,613 

24 

24 

387 

23 

1 630 

8 

1,638 

682 

4,  300 

6, 620 

3,453 

138 

21 

476 

2 429 

68 

11  928 

2 497 

263 

2,648 

5,  408 

2,366 

34 

29 

1, 104 

37 

1 787 

51 

1,838 

303 

2, 180 

4, 321 

1,852 

19 

23 

1, 138 

46 

1 223 

20 

51 1 073 

1,672 

1919. 

1,243 

246 

1,937 

3, 426 

1, 631 

14 

14 

635 

45 

1 073 

14 

1 087 

184 

1, 026 

2,  297 

1,248 

4 

15 

127 

26 

’ 866 

11 

877 

165 

796 

]’  838 

996 

2 

12 

65 

31 

723 

9 

231 

732 

134 

649 

1 . 515 

837 

6 

11 

19 

40 

599 

3 

20’ 147 

93 

602 

145 

736 

1,483 

825 

2 

8 

42 

48 

558 

1 H 51 8 

558 

133 

296 

987 

491 

2 

42 

41 

36 

375 

13^  783 

July 

375 

68 

246 

689 

285 

2 

62 

94 

34 

212 

e;  707 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

employ- 

ees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

11 

11 

10 

16 

29 

29 

116 

116 

37 

2 

2 

41 

203 

203 

11 

39 

1 

40 

360 

360 

43 

1 

44 

383 

383 

82 



1918. 

48 

4S 

3S7 

387 

88 

46 

2 

1 

49 

378 

378 

107 

49 

2 

1 

52 

375 

141 

April 

49 

1 

1 

51 

496 

19 

515 

172 

3 

May 

54 

1 

1 

56 

606 

20 

626 

187 

7 

J ime 

54 

1 

1 

56 

603 

19 

622 

1S7 

9 

July 

49 

1 

2 

52 

552 

18 

570 

198 

10 

August 

50 

1 

2 

53 

600 

15 

615 

174 

7 

September 

44 

4 

2 

50 

896 

15 

911 

193 

7 

October 

52 

4 

3 

59 

909 

1 16 

925 

358 

6 

November 

50 

4 

3 

57 

931 

' 20 

951 

388 

5 

December 

58 

4 

4 

66 

895 

20 

915 

328 

5 

1919. 

January 

58 

6 

3 

67 

876 

20 

896 

289 

5 

February 

46 

6 

8 

60 

816 

15 

831 

261 

4 

March 

52 

8 

12 

72 

780 

15 

795 

222 

April 

57 

7 

5 

69 

646 

16 

662 

83 

May 

21 

5 

5 

31 

348 

15 

363 

71 

June 

23 

4 

7 

34 

335 

15 

350 

61 

July 

15 

3 

4 

22 

141 

15 

40 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


714 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  LOGAN,  HOUSTON,  TEX/* 

The  base  hospital  of  Camp  Logan  was  located  in  Harris  County,  Tex.,  5 
miles  southwest  from  the  center  of  the  city  of  Houston,  on  a level  wooded 
plateau  bordering  Buffalo  Bayou.  The  situation  was  ideal  with  regard  to 
accessibility  to  the  camp  and  to  the  city  of  Houston.  The  soil  of  the  region  is 
clay,  which  forms  considerable  high-flying  dust  in  dry  weather,  and  much 
sticky,  easily  carried  mud  after  rains. 

The  winters  are  very  mild  and  pleasant;  the  summers  warm.  The  hospital 
was  not  exposed  to  much  wind,  being  fairly  well  protected  by  the  trees  left  on 
the  site. 

The  roads  in  the  vicinity  were  constructed  of  a gravel  base  with  asphalt 
filler,  and  were  generally  in  good  condition. 

Directly  to  the  south  of  the  site  of  the  hospital  runs  the  Buffalo  Bayou, 
1,000  feet  from  the  nearest  building.  This  stream  afforded  a good  outlet  for 
all  the  drainage  from  the  hospital  neighborhood,  thus  favoring  a satisfactory 
sanitary  status. 

The  hospital  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  patients  on  September  15, 
1917,  while  construction  was  still  progressing.  The  buildings  as  originally 
called  for  in  the  500-bed  hospital  plan  were  completed  about  November  1,  1917. 
St.  Joseph’s  Infirmary  in  Houston  was  used  as  an  emergency  hospital  by  the 
contractors  during  the  construction  period. 

The  construction  of  the  hospital  conformed  to  the  standard  plan. 

Officers  were  quartered  in  two  one-story  wooden  buddings  separated  from 
the  hospital.  The  nurses,  also,  had  two  large  homelike  structures  on  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  hospital  grounds  connected  to  the  hospital  with 
corridors. 

The  original  mess  and  kitchen  equipment  consisted  of  a No.  2 field  range. 
This  was  set  up  in  a hospital  tent  back  of  ward  C,  and  the  food  for  all  patients 
was  prepared  in  this  improvised  kitchen.  As  the  patients  increased  it  was 
necessary  to  obtain  from  the  camp  quartermaster  two  No.  1 field  ranges  with 
Alamo  attachments.  These,  with  the  No.  2 range,  were  then  set  up  under  a 
tent  fly  back  of  the  unfinished  kitchen.  All  the  cooking  was  done  on  these 
three  stoves  until  November  1,  when,  the  construction  of  the  kitchen  having 
been  finished,  four  No.  5 ranges  were  placed  in  the  main  kitchen  and  one  in  the 
diet  kitchen.  However,  there  was  no  running  water  authorized,  so  the  quarter- 
master put  in  one  faucet.  Subsequently,  a hot-water  tank  was  purchased  and 
the  ranges  were  fitted  with  water  backs.  This  arrangement  supplied  all  the 
hot  water  for  washing  dishes,  etc.  The  mess  equipment  and  cooking  utensils 
were  increased  from  time  to  time,  by  issue  from  the  Quartermaster  and  Medical 
Departments,  and  in  December,  1917,  a large  warming  table  was  purchased  by 
the  quartermaster  and  placed  in  the  main  mess  hall.  This  was  heated  by  steam 
for  which  a boiler  was  obtained,  and  greatly  relieved  the  congestion  on  the  over- 
worked stoves.  In  February,  1918,  a steam  dishwashing  machine  and  steam- 
jacketed  aluminum  kettles  were  purchased  and  connected  with  the  boiler. 
About  the  same  time  a potato  parer  and  meat  grinder,  motor  driven,  were 

« The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Logan,  Texas,"  by  Lieut. 
Col.  .1.  M.  Willis,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  thestaff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


715 


installed.  This  furnished  a fairly  full  equipment.  About  the  1st  of  June  the 
regularly  authorized  equipment  came.  It  was  necessary  to  tear  up  the  wooden 
floor  in  the  kitchen  and  put  in  a cement  floor.  The  equipment  finally  consisted 
of  meat  roasters,  vegetable  boilers,  stock  boilers,  cereal  boilers,  a hot  water 
tank,  large  copper  water  and  coffee  urns,  all  of  which  were  operated  with  high- 
pressure  steam;  electrically  driven  food  choppers  and  vegetable  parers,  and  a 
meat  sheer;  and  large  double  ranges  and  a metal  table  for  the  preparation  of 
foods,  etc.  This  equipment  remodeled  the  kitchen  so  as  to  make  it  possible  to 
serve  at  least  6,000  meals  a day  without  difficulty.  The  entire  kitchen  was 
beaver  boarded  and  painted. 

The  hospital  had  three  storehouses  29  by  150.  These  buildings  were  used 
exclusively  for  hospital  purposes  by  the  Quartermaster  and  Medical  Depart- 
ments, and  were  satisfactory  in  character.  They  were  entirely  inadequate 
by  half,  however,  for  the  needs  of  a hospital  of  this  size. 

The  hospital  laundry,  more  properly  a laundry  exchange,  was  located  in 
the  building  originally  designed  exclusively  for  laundry  purposes.  But,  there 
being  no  equipment  for  its  operation,  all  work,  with  the  exception  of  the  soiled 
laundry  from  the  venereal  and  contagious  wards,  was  sent  directly  to  one  of  the 
laundries  in  Houston.  The  hospitals  possessed  commodious  steam  sterilizers, 
in  which  all  soiled  laundry  from  the  infectious  wards  was  first  submitted  to 
sterilization.  This  sterilized  laundry  was  dried  and  then  sent  along  with  the 
soiled  linen  from  the  other  wards,  including  the  regimental  infirmaries,  the 
dental  department,  and  the  several  kitchens,  to  Houston. 

The  chapel  was  built  in  the  autumn  of  1917,  at  the  southern  end  of  the 
hospital  grounds  near  the  morgue.  It  was  used,  for  religious  purposes,  by  the 
Roman  Catholics  on  Sundays.  During  the  winter  months  it  was  used  by  the 
officers  for  medical  lectures.  Protestant  services  were  held  in  the  bandstand  or 
in  the  exchange  buildings,  more  centrally  located. 

Lavatories  and  baths  were  situated  inside  of  wards  and  buildings,  and  were 
connected  with  the  hospital  sewers. 

The  water  for  the  hospital  was  identical  for  the  camp  supply  and  was 
obtained  from  the  city  of  Houston;  its  source  was  artesian  wells,  but  it  was 
chlorinated. 

At  first  the  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  the  only  one  provided  at 
the  camp.  In  the  fall  of  1918,  however,  sewerage  was  installed  in  Camp  Logan, 
and  of  this  the  hospital  system  was  made  a part. 

At  first  garbage  was  disposed  of  by  contract,  being  moved  twice  daily. 
Later  all  garbage  was  separated  into  seven  classes  and  taken  care  of  by  the 
reclamation  department  of  the  camp. 

All  buildings,  except  the  operating  pavilion,  were  heated  with  stoves. 
This  proved  unsatisfactory;  the  hospital  was  situated  in  a southern  latitude; 
and  though  not  subjected  to  very  low  temperatures  as  were  those  situated  in 
the  north,  the  buildings  were  of  such  character  that  the  far-famed  “northers,” 
which  visited  this  place  with  great  regularity  and  frequency  made  the  buildings 
far  from  comfortable;  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  patients  were  prevented 
from  huddling  about  the  stoves  in  groups — a practice  manifestly  insanitary; 
only  soft  coal  was  used  in  the  stoves,  and  even  with  the  exercise  of  the  greatest 
care  the  amount  of  dirt  and  ash  from  each  stove  center  was  considerable,  anti  the 


716 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


air  was  filled  with  flying  soot  that  soiled  everything  it  touched,  making  it 
necessary  to  have  bed  linen  more  frequently  laundered  than  otherwise  would 
have  been  the  case. 

Contrasted  with  all  these  objectionable  features,  was  the  preeminently 
satisfactory  arrangement  in  the  operating  pavilion,  which  was  heated  by  steam 
from  a special  plant. 

Electric  power  for  the  lighting  of  the  hospital  was  furnished  by  the  Houston 
Lighting  & Power  Co.  The  service  was  quite  satisfactory. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  hospital,  equipment,  notably  in  the  line  of  surgical 
instruments  and  operative  facilities,  was  meager.  Later,  well-equipped  general 
operating  rooms  and  operating  rooms  for  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  buildings 
provided  ample  facilities,  and  the  necessary  apparatus  and  instruments  for 
surgical  procedures  was  added  from  time  to  time  until  a very  satisfactory  stage 
was  attained. 

The  hospital  exchange  was  inaugurated  toward  the  end  of  August,  1917. 
At  the  beginning,  it  was  housed  in  one  end  of  a company  mess  building  and.  like 
all  exchanges,  was  liberally  patronized.  When  the  exchange  building  of  the 
hospital  was  completed  it  was  found  that  the  added  space  allowed  a greater 
variety  of  goods  to  be  placed  on  sale  and  that  the  income  steadily  increased.  In 
May,  1918,  the  space  for  the  exchange  was  doubled  and  a new  system  of  display 
instituted.  A barber  shop  was  operated  in  connection  with  the  exchange  after 
November,  1917.  In  June,  1918,  the  old  fixtures  of  the  barber  shop  were 
replaced  with  a new  five-chair,  sanitary  equipment,  which  rivaled  the  best 
shop  in  town.  Another  source  of  income  was  the  exchange  tailor  shop  where 
there  was  always  sufficient  work  to  keep  two  tailors  busy. 

The  American  Red  Cross  built  and  turned  over  for  the  use  of  the  nurses  on 
duty  at  this  hospital  a recreation  building.  It  was  well  furnished  and  contained 
a spacious  auditorium,  a balcony  to  be  used  as  a sewing  room,  and  at  one  end  a 
separate  room  for  a library.  In  another  room  equipment  consisting  of  laundry 
tubs  and  ironing  boards,  was  installed.  In  the  open  space  next  to  the  building 
the  American  Red  Cross  put  in  a shell  tennis  court  for  the  use  of  the  nurses. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  erected  and  furnished  a building, 
which  was  located  across  the  street  from  the  officers’  quarters,  to  afford  a place 
of  recreation  for  the  officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital.  Writing  material  and  other 
essentials  were  provided  free,  and  chess,  dominoes,  and  other  games  were  at 
the  disposal  of  the  officers.  A piano  and  phonograph  added  to  the  enjoyment 
and  once  a week  an  excellent  concert  was  furnished  in  the  open  air.  The  secre- 
tary in  charge  visited  the  officers’  ward  each  day,  supplying  the  invalids’  wants 
in  regard  to  writing  paper  and  envelopes.  The  building  was  also  at  the  disposal 
of  officers  for  lectures  and  meetings,  for  which  purpose  it  was  used  quite 
frequently. 

The  hospital  was  closed  March  12,  1919,  and  transferred  to  the  Public 
Health  Service. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


717 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Tex.,  from  September, 

1917,  to  March  12,  1919,  inclusive .« 


last 

Admissions. 

Year  and  month. 

8 

o . 

fc-  ^ 

G 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Remaining 

mi 

is  S 

Otherwise. 

1917. 

September 

October 

126 

12 

22S 

800 

11 

89 

November 

449 

30 

1, 306 

76 

December 

700 

1,768 

125 

27 

1918. 

January 

874 

2,331 

128 

9 

February 

957 

1,821 

137 

17 

March 

875 

1,  720 

109 

2 

April 

859 

2,  800 

102 

9 

May 

910 

1,032 

65 

8 

June 

559 

700 

9 

4 

July 

322 

566 

25 

32 

August 

337 

801 

16 

26 

September 

377 

2,631 

70 

48 

October 

1,208 

1, 643 

119 

54 

November 

812 

1,  196 

32 

49 

December 

623 

837 

47 

18 

1919. 

January 

492 

732 

26 

15 

February 

325 

233 

32 

IS 

March 

117 

58 

2 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


G 

S 


C3 

© 

•C 

p 


O 

E-< 


239 
1,  027 
1,861 
2, 620 


3,  342 

2,  932 
2,706 
3,770 
2,015 
1,  272 

945 
1,  180 

3,  126 
3,024 
2,089 
1,525 


1,  265 
608 
177 


Completed  eases. 

Remaining. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

113 

125 

1 

526 

51 

1 

449 

581 



228 

2 

347 

3 

700 

723 

7 

751 

25S 

7 

874 

1,  221 

7 

667 

3 

483 

4 

894 

17 

563 

573 

10 

873 

2 

1,027 

5 

354 

1 

4 

l',  785 

10 

242 

820 

7 

906 

1,  262 

2 

113 

74 

4 

' 596 

3 

225 

41 

85 

316 

6 

473 

1 

69 

1 

52 

12 

337 

710 

27 

11 

377 

1,426 

31 

20 

425 

16 

1,  208 

1,890 

87 

43 

170 

22 

812 

1,346 

6 

78 

9 

27 

623 

943 

3 

1 

22 

8 

4S8 

4 

837 

12 

58 

24 

9 

324 

1 

422 

3 

30 

23 

13 

116 

1 

90 

1 

6 

77 

3 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


27,807 
22, 5S0 
25,706 
26,  491 

16,  294 
12,  147 

8,422 
11,509 
19,  145 
32,  938 
22,  810 

17,  212 


43 

31 

15 


12 

2 


46 


14, 453  34 

6,969  42 

7S6 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

YTear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

2 

2 

1918. 

1 

1 

3 

3 

0 

0 

3 

3 

0 

0 

3 

3 

July 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1918. 

0 

0 

3 

3 

0 

0 

3 

3 

0 

0 

1 

i 

0 

0 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

21 

2 

1 

24 

142 

142 

October 

25 

2 

1 

28 

159 

159 

November 

32 

2 

1 

35 

247 

247 

December 

44 

2 

1 

47 

248 

248 

1918. 

January 

48 

2 

1 

51 

248 

248 

46 

February 

50 

2 

1 

53 

293 

293 

March . .’ 

47 

2 

1 

50 

293 

293 

77 

April 

54 

2 

1 

57 

514 

18 

532 

102 

May 

53 

2 

1 

56 

515 

18 

533 

102 

June 

52 

2 

1 

55 

476 

19 

495 

105 

July 

58 

2 

1 

61 

425 

19 

444 

102 

August 

- 56 

3 

1 

60 

413 

18 

431 

80 

September 

49 

3 

1 

53 

665 

14 

679 

78 

October 

44 

2 

1 

47 

571 

14 

585 

170 

November 

50 

3 

1 

54 

577 

17 

594 

140 

December 

46 

1 

1 

48 

473 

17 

490 

125 

1919. 

January 

45 

1 

1 

47 

446 

16 

462 

117 

February 

40 

1 

1 

42 

513 

15 

528 

87 

March 

40 

1 

41 

« Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  theOffice  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


718 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  MacARTHUR,  WACO,  TEX.« 

Camp  Mac  Arthur  was  situated  in  McLennan  County,  State  of  Texas,  about 
one-half  mile  northwest  from  the  outskirts  of  the  city  of  Waco  and  about  3 
miles  from  the  civic  center  of  the  town. 

The  hospital  on  that  side  of  the  camp  Avhich  was  nearest  town  was  situated 
on  rolling  country  which  had  been  used  for  farming  purposes.  It  was,  there- 
fore, practically  devoid  of  trees  and  all  forms  of  vegetation.  The  top  soil  in  the 
vicinity  of  this  hospital  was  of  a heavy  loam,  in  depth  varying  from  1 to  4 
feet;  under  this  topsoil  a continuous  white  limerock  stratum  was  encountered. 
During  rainy  weather  the  soil,  typical  Texas  “ gumbo,”  becomes  very  sticky. 
In  dry  weather,  however,  it  pulverizes  easily  and  quickly  and  is  productive 
of  a great  deal  of  dust. 

The  climate  of  this  part  of  Texas  might  be  considered  fairly  equable. 
Spring  commences  about  the  1st  of  April  and  continues  until  about  the  1st  of 
June.  During  spring  the  weather  is  most  pleasant  ; not  too  warm  in  the  day- 
time and  always  cool  at  night.  From  the  1st  of  June  until  the  1st  of  November 
the  days  are  usually  very  warm,  but  the  nights  are  quite  agreeable.  Due  to 
the  fact  that  during  these  months  there  is  an  almost  continuous  southern  breeze 
from  the  Gulf,  the  climate  is  wholly  bearable,  even  in  the  heat  of  summer, 
and  the  nights  are  usually  sufficiently  cool  to  permit  very  comfortable  sleeping. 
Beginning  about  the  1st  of  November  and  running  through  to  April  1 the  win- 
ter season  presents  an  occasional  “norther,”  which  may  cause  the  temperature 
to  drop  below  the  freezing  point.  These  changes  are  all  sudden,  it  being  merely 
a question  of  minutes  when  the  temperature  may  drop  from  20°  to  70°,  produc- 
ing actual  suffering  to  persons  not  accustomed  to  them.  During  the  winter  of 
1917-18  “northers”  seemed  to  arrive  at  more  frequent  intervals  and  also  to 
reach  colder  degrees.  Because  of  the  lack  of  preparation  for  freezing  weather, 
the  water  pipes  at  this  hospital  and  all  through  Camp  MacArthur  froze  on  numer- 
ous occasions.  Fortunately,  cold  spells  did  not  last  for  much  more  than  4S 
hours  at  a time.  In  the  intervals  between  the  “northers”  the  temperature 
usually  rose,  often  reaching  the  height  of  70°.  The  hospital  being  situated 
upon  a hill,  which  is  the  highest  point  in  McLennan  County,  exposed  it  to  all 
the  wind  that  blew.  This  exposure  made  the  hospital  most  ideal  for  a spring, 
summer,  and  fall,  but  during  the  winter  all  the  buildings  were  fully  exposed 
to  the  “northers.” 

Running  along  the  entire  east  side  of  the  hospital  reservation  was  a well- 
constructed  tarvia-coated  country  road.  This  connected  the  hospital  directly 
with  the  asphalt  road  which  led  to  the  city.  The  hospital  roads  proper  were 
built  of  rock  and  gravel,  were  properly  drained,  and  were  very  satisfactory. 

The  hospital  was  fortunately  situated,  with  practically  no  civil  habitation 
within  a radius  of  a half  or  three-fourths  of  a mile  in  any  one  direction.  There 
were  no  streams  near  the  hospital  and  the  sanitary  status  of  the  neighborhood 
was  practically  perfect. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  arrived  on  August  6,  1917.  At 
that  time  the  actual  construction  of  the  hospital  had  not  commenced,  nor  had 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  MacArthur,  Texas,”  by 
Lieut.  Col.  S.  W.  French,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  thestaff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used 
by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


719 


the  location  of  the  hospital  site  been  definitely  passed  upon.  The  site 
was  chosen  and  the  actual  construction  commenced  August  10,  1917.  The 
first  buildings  erected  were  two  storehouses;  then,  in  the  order  given,  wards 
13  and  14,  the  patients’  kitchen,  mess  hall,  operating  pavilion,  administration 
building,  and  officers’  quarters.  Troops  began  to  arrive  at  Camp  MacArthur 
between  the  2.5th  of  August  and  the  1st  of  September.  By  the  time  the  troops 
arrived  two  of  the  storehouses  had  been  finished.  One  of  them  was  used  to 
receive  stores  which  were  beginning  to  arrive  in  enormous  quantities;  the 
other  was  fitted  with  screen  doors  and  windows,  electric  lights,  and  running 
water.  In  one  end  of  the  altered  storehouse  a partition  was  thrown  across 
it  making  a small  room  which  was  used  as  an  operating  room.  The  rest  of  the 
building  was  furnished  with  Gold  Medal  cots,  ticks  filled  with  straw,  sheets, 
blankets,  and  pillows,  and  was  used  as  a temporary  hospital  for  the  care  of  the 
sick  incoming  troops. 

No  emergency  hospital  was  used  for  construction  employees.  It  so 
happened  that  none  of  them  were  seriously  injured  and  all  were  taken  care 
of  in  the  temporary  hospital. 

On  September  12,  1917,  the  base  hospital  was  officially  opened,  wards  13 
and  14,  the  patients’  kitchen  and  mess  hall,  the  operating  pavilion,  the  admin- 
istration building,  and  the  officers’  quarters  having  been  completed.  At  this 
time  also  numerous  other  wards  and  buildings  were  rapidly  nearing  completion, 
so  that  by  the  1st  of  October,  1917,  practically  all  of  the  original  construction 
was  completed. 

The  plan  and  distribution  of  the  buildings  followed  the  standard  plans 
for  National  Guard  base  hospitals. 

The  officers  and  nurses’  quarters  and  the  barracks  for  enlisted  men  were 
adequate  and  comfortable. 

The  messing  arrangements  at  the  hospital  were  similar  in  practically  all 
respects  to  those  which  obtained  at  other  base  hospitals  originally  constructed 
with  the  idea  of  a very  limited  use  at  National  Guard  camps.  These  were  the 
main  mess  for  the  patients,  and  separate  messes  for  the  duty  personnel.  The 
equipment  of  the  main  mess,  at  first  very  meager  in  quality  and  quantity, 
ultimately  became  more  complete.  Innovations  were  practiced  in  improving 
the  general  appearance  of  the  mess  hall.  The  beaver  boarding  was  calcimined, 
and  the  stripping  was  stained  a dark  color.  The  contrasting  decorative  shades 
gave  to  the  room  a pleasing  appearance  that  was  more  or  less  homelike  and 
undoubtedly  was  conducive  to  instilling  in  the  men  a feeling  of  comfort  and  a 
desire  to  maintain  a high  standard  of  cleanly  habits.  To  facilitate  the  ease 
with  which  the  hall  could  be  cleaned,  and  to  make  it  possible  to  readily  remove 
the  dining  tables  from  the  hall  and  compactly  store  them  temporarily  else- 
where, the  table  tops  were  suspended  from  the  ceiling  by  means  of  chains 
instead  of  having  the  usual  supports  beneath. 

The  storehouses  of  this  hospital  were  five  in  number,  all  of  the  same  type, 
about  120  feet  long  by  40  feet  wide,  equipped  on  one  side  with  a receiving 
platform.  At  the  time  of  construction  no  allowance  was  made  for  shelving 
in  any  of  these  storehouses.  It  was  necessary,  therefore,  to  install  shelving 
made  out  of  scrap  lumber  and  packing  boxes. 


720 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Hospital  equipment  began  to  arrive  about  August  20,  1917.  This  was 
part  of  the  initial  equipment  for  a 500-bed  hospital,  which  was  issued  without 
requisition.  The  equipment  arrived  a great  deal  faster  than  it  was  anticipated 
and  ultimately  became  complete  to  an  exceptional  degree.  The  five  storehouses 
were  well  stored  with  all  kinds  of  equipment,  not  only  for  a base  hospital,  but 
also  for  field  sanitary  units,  and  veterinary  supplies  for  the  remount  depot 
at  this  camp.  The  only  permanent  hospital  equipment  that  was  lacking  was 
part  of  the  heavy  kitchen  equipment  such  as  dish  washers,  steam  cookers,  etc., 
and  the  machinery  for  the  laundry. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  completed  on  October  1,  1917,  and  was  used 
almost  daily  as  a meeting  place  during  week  days  for  the  officers’  school,  the 
noncommissioned  officers’  school,  and  for  various  lectures.  On  Sunday  it  was 
used  two  or  three  times  for  church  services  by  various  denominations. 

The  water  supply  of  the  hospital  was  the  same  as  that  furnished  for  the 
entire  camp.  It  came  from  the  city  waterworks,  which  was  approximately 
75  per  cent  deep  artesian  well  water,  with  25  per  cent  filtered  and  sedimented 
water  from  the  Brazos  River.  The  artesian  wells  furnishing  this  supply  of 
water  averaged  600  to  2,200  feet  in  depth.  The  water  from  this  series  of  six 
wells  was  practically  inexhaustible  and  unlimited;  but,  due  to  the  fact  that  its 
temperature  averaged  109°  F.,  it  was  found  necessary  to  make  the  addition 
of  the  25  per  cent  river  water  to  cool  it,  that  it  might  be  used  for  most  purposes. 
The  filtration  plant  was  part  of  the  system  of  the  city  of  Waco,  which  was  one 
of  the  most  complete,  efficient,  and  up-to-date  municipal  water-purifying  plants 
in  the  United  States.  Daily  bacteriological  examinations  of  the  water  were 
made  in  the  laboratory  of  the  base  hospital,  from  water  taken  from  the  tap. 
In  this  way  a check  was  made  upon  the  findings  reported  by  the  city  water- 
works. 

Very  fortunately,  but,  not  without  numerous  telegrams  on  the  subject, 
sewers  and  plumbing  were  installed  in  the  hospital  during  original  construc- 
tion. The  main  sewer  outlet  from  the  hospital  connected  with  the  city  mam 
at  a point  about  1 mile  from  the  hospital  reservation.  The  latrine  arrange- 
ments in  the  double  wards  were  situated  in  a separate  building  between  these 
double  wards  and  connecting  each  side  with  the  inclosed  corridor.  The  toilet 
room  was  divided  longitudinally  by  a partition,  one  side  being  used  to  inclose 
the  urinals  and  toilet  and  the  other  side  for  the  hand  basins,  showers,  and 
bathtubs.  In  the  single  wards  there  were  flush  bowls,  one  urinal,  one  slop 
sink,  and  two  showers,  installed  in  one  of  the  end  rooms  of  each  single  ward. 
The  toilet  rooms  were  concreted  and  drained  in  the  center.  The  walls  around 
the  showers  were  protected  with  galvanized  sheet  iron.  The  rest  of  the  hos- 
pital was  adequately  supplied  with  toilet,  washing,  and  shower  facilities. 

Kitchen  waste  was  disposed  of  in  three  ways:  All  edible  refuse  was  placed 
in  distinctive  cans  and  hauled  away  daily  by  a civilian  under  contract;  clean 
papers,  tin  cans,  bottles,  burlap,  and  excelsior  were  conserved  and  collected  daily 
by  the  conservation  department  of  the  camp  quartermaster;  dish  water  was 
run  directly  into  the  sewers,  and  inedible  waste,  such  as  coffee  grounds,  orange 
and  lemon  peelings,  etc.,  was  incinerated  in  a large  incinerator  located  directly 
behind  the  kitchen. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


721 


The  heating  of  all  hospital  buildings  during  the  winter  of  1917-18  was 
effected  by  the  use  of  coal  stoves.  The  larger  buildings,  such  as  the  wards, 
contained  three  coal  stoves  in  the  ward  proper  and  one  or  two  smaller  stoves 
in  the  smaller  rooms  at  the  end  of  each  ward.  The  heating  was  altogether 
satisfactory.  However,  with  approximately  240  separate  coal  fires  for  heat- 
ing purposes  in  the  hospital,  the  liability  to  fire,  especially  during  the  heavy 
winds  which  accompanied  the  “northers,”  was  great.  The  hauling  of  coal  to 
the  wards  and  various  buildings  and  the  hauling  of  ashes  away  from  these 
created  an  immense  amount  of  work. 

The  hospital  was  adequately  lighted  throughout  by  electricity,  the  sys- 
tem being  a part  of  that  for  the  camp.  The  lighting  was  entirely  successful 
and  satisfactory. 

The  laundry  building  was  erected  at  the  time  the  hospital  was  constructed. 
No  machinery  was  received,  consequently  no  laundry  work  was  done  at  the 
hospital. 

The  pharmaceutical  service  at  this  hospital  was  exceptionally  good;  in 
the  detachment  were  about  six  registered  pharmacists.  These  men  all  did 
excellent  work  and  brought  the  dispensary  to  a high  state  of  efficiency.  Gen- 
eral supplies  were  received  in  good  time  with  comparatively  little  difficulty, 
and  special  drugs  were  purchased  locally  as  emergency  required. 

The  hospital  post  exchange  was  started  shortly  after  the  organization  of 
the  hospital.  It  proved  a source  of  good  income  to  the  hospital  fund  and 
provided  amusement  and  convenience  to  patients  and  persons  on  duty  at  the 
hospital.  Besides  selling  the  usual  articles  found  in  post  exchanges,  there 
were  six  pool  tables,  an  electric  player  piano,  and  a well-appointed  barber 
shop  with  six  chairs,  run  in  connection  with  the  post  exchange.  The  exchange 
business  reached  such  a size  that  it  was  necessary  to  double  the  capacity  of 
the  building  early  in  1918.  This  was  done  out  of  post  exchange  funds  and 
with  no  expense  to  the  Government. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  was  constructed  early  in 
1918.  Church  services  were  held  on  Sunday  and  Wednesday  nights,  and  on  other 
nights  it  was  used  for  the  recreation  of  patients.  The  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  supplied  the  patients  with  paper  and  envelopes  and  writing  material. 

The  Bed  Cross  Convalescent  building,  the  largest,  most  complete,  and 
most  extensive  building  in  Camp  MacArthur,  was  dedicated  on  June  20,  1918. 
It  filled  a long  felt  need  because  of  its  capacity  and  facilities.  One  feature 
in  particular  that  made  it  most  useful  was  the  fact  that  it  contained  12  bedrooms 
which  could  be  used  by  the  friends  and  relatives  of  the  sick.  The  American 
Red  Cross  did  most  excellent  work  in  furnishing  the  various  parts  of  the  hos- 
pital with  articles  which  were  not  included  on  the  supply  table.  They  were 
most  eager  to  assist  at  any  and  all  times. 

In  the  spring  of  1918  a band  of  28  pieces  was  organized  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  detachment,  Medical  Department.  These  men  had  all  had  band 
experience  previous  to  entering  the  service,  and  made  a most  excellent  organiza- 
tion. Concerts  were  given,  three  afternoons  a week,  in  a band  stand  which 
had  been  erected  and  donated  to  the  hospital  by  the  Rotary  Club  of  Waco. 
These  band  concerts  were  a source  of  a great  deal  of  pleasure  to  the  patients 
in  the  hospital.  A moving-picture  machine  was  received  by  the  American 
45260°— 23 16 


722 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Red  Cross  and  pictures  were  shown  each  night  in  the  open  air  adjacent  to  the 
new  Red  Cross  building.  The  hospital  band  furnished  music  with  the  pictures. 
The  Medical  Department  detachment  was  given  the  use  of  barracks  No.  7 as 
a recreation  hall.  This  building  was  all  lined  with  beaver  board,  out  of  funds 
from  the  post  exchange,  and  members  of  the  detachment  decorated  the  walls 
very  artistically,  built  a stage  and  provided  artistic  scenery  for  occasional 
entertainments.  In  this  room  there  were  also  two  pool  tables,  and  two  vic- 
trolas  for  the  use  of  the  detachment.  A baseball  team,  track  team,  and  basket 
ball  team  were  formed  in  the  detachment  and  showed  most  excellent  results 
in  all  athletic  meets  in  which  they  competed.  One  source  of  great  pleasure 
was  the  large  swimming  pool  which  was  constructed  on  the  initiation  of 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital.  Here,  officers,  nurses,  or  enlisted 
men  could  obtain  surcease  from  the  heat  of  the  prolonged  summer. 

This  was  one  of  the  hospitals  which  were  dispensed  with  early.  It  was 
closed  in  March,  1919. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  MacArthur,  Waco,  Tex.,  from  September, 

1917,  to  March  6,  1919,  inclusive .« 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

From  command. 

P- 

missions. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1917. 

September 

122 

364 

October 

339 

79 

1,255 

November 

866 

47 

1 575 

December 

1,264 

1,716 

'499 

5 

1918. 

January 

1,385 

2,509 

16 

i 

Febri  lary 

1,518 

1,229 

7 

March..! 

1,266 

1,189 

69 

9 

April 

1,080 

1 , 051 

42 

23 

May 

951 

1,607 

28 

19 

June 

990 

111 

16 

1,456 

•Inly 

1,166 

103 

7 

1,421 

August 

1,125 

121 

17 

1,448 

September 

1,350 

57 

1 

1,372 

( ictober 

1,533 

363 

38 

3,215 

November 

1,320 

86 

1 

610 

December 

795 

58 

14 

434 

1919. 

January 

354 

46 

113 

358 

February 

330 

23 

263 

March..  1 

97 

1 

2 

486 

1,673 

2,488 

3,484 


147 

771 

1,056 

2,017 


3,911 
2,754 
2,533 
2,196 
2,605 
2,573 
2,697 
2,711 
2.7S0 
5, 149 
2,017 
1,301 


2.158 
1,313 
1,187 
1,138 
1,569 
1,297 
1,404 
1,261 
1,072 
3,481 

1.159 
879 


871 

616 

100 


Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

Hospital. 

vi 

o 

c3 

Hospital. 

Iml 

339 

3,246 

6 

28 

2 

863 

20. 759 

4 

1581 

6 

1,264 

33, 057 

8 

70 

1 

3 

1,3S5 

38,616 

179 

1 

3 

7 

1,518 

48, 109 

37 

100 

9 

36 

1,266 

36,961 

20 

201 

7 

1, 080 

35.696 

9 

80 

8 

10 

'951 

31.923 

3 

3 

25 

990 

30,666 

14 

67 

29 

1,166 

13.608 

10 

113 

40 

1 . 125 

4 

12 

36 

48 

1,350 

40.992 

13 

157 

1,533 

3S.  981 

195 

29 

71 

1,320 

64,613 

12 

21 

4 

26 

7 795 

20, 193 

9 

21 

1 

37 

351 

23,223 

13 

12 

16 

31 

330 

1.SS1 

3 

9 

115 

38 

97 

6,893 

1 

73 

1 

0 

170 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

W omen. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

June 

14 

19 

1 

34 

September 

4 

4 

J uly 

0 

16 

0 

16 

October 

7 

0 

14 

0 

14 

November 

5 

2 

2 

20 

4 

2q 

December 

5 

o 

0 

2 

24 

3i 

N ovember 

3 

22 

4 

29 

1918. 

December 

3 

23 

3 

29 

January 

3 

1 

4 

February 

2 

2 

4 

1919. 

March 

4 

7 

11 

3 

2 

20 

April 

8 

12 

20 

18 

2 

1 

8 

May 

11 

6 

1 

0 

a Compiled  from  the  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General 
on  file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  O ffice  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


723 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Mac  Arthur,  Waco,  Tex.,  from  Septem- 
ber, 1917,  to  March  6,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C, 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

50 

2 

1 

53 

139 

139 

22 

61 

3 

1 

65 

242 

242 

45 

52 

1 

1 

54 

344 

344 

45 

49 

1 

1 

51 

350 

350 

58 

1918. 

72 

1 

1 

74 

374 

374 

76 

February 

74 

i 

1 

76 

499 

16 

515 

124 

March 

78 

i 

1 

80 

527 

20 

517 

125 

April 

79 

i 

1 

81 

662 

20 

682 

131 

Mav 

73 

i 

1 

75 

670 

20 

690 

135 

June 

68 

i 

1 

70 

675 

IS 

693 

133 

July 

63 

4 

1 

68 

601 

18 

622 

136 

August 

46 

3 

1 

50 

626 

IS 

644 

126 

September 

50 

5 

1 

56 

894 

19 

913 

119 

October 

59 

6 

1 

66 

878 

16 

894 

135 

November 

58 

6 

1 

65 

872 

16 

888 

133 

December 

45 

5 

1 

51 

599 

13 

612 

121 

1919. 

January 

33 

4 

1 

38 

541 

9 

550 

80 

February 

21 

3 

l 

25 

209 

7 

216 

37 

March 

6 

] 

7 

22 

6 

28 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  McCLELLAN,  ALA.« 

Camp  McClellan,  with  its  base  hospital,  was  located  in  the  hills  of  Calhoun 
County,  Ala.,  6 miles  northeast  of  Anniston.  Hemmed  on  all  sides  by  the 
thinly  wooded  foothills  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  the  site  selected  was  well 
adapted  in  many  ways  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  chosen,  at  the  same  time 
possessing  the  disadvantages  common  to  regions  where  hills  and  trees  pre- 
dominate. The  soil  is  a sandy  reddish-yellow  clay  which  is  tenacious  when  wet; 
when  dry  it  is  easily  pulverized  into  dust,  which  is  wafted  above  the  highest 
tree  tops  by  even  a gentle  breeze. 

The  climate,  while  given  to  sudden  changes,  is  not  severe,  In  summer  the 
days  are  hot,  but  the  nights  are  always  cool.  During  the  winter,  which  is  short, 
rainfall  is  abundant,  and  there  is  an  occasional  snowstorm  which  is  never  of 
long  duration.  The  hospital  was  well  protected  from  high  winds  by  the  sur- 
rounding hills  and  trees. 

The  roads  on  the  Army  reservation  were  of  gravel,  and  were  kept  in  good 
repair.  Those  of  the  vicinity,  like  the  roads  of  any  hilly  country,  were  mostly 
dirt,  and  were  rough.  The  main  highway  leading  to  Anniston  was  brick,  made 
for  the  purpose  of  heavy  hauling.  It  served  this  purpose  only  fairly  well 
because  of  the  nature  of  the  soil,  which  was  not  suited  for  roads  of  this  character. 

A small  mountain  brook  zigzagged  its  way  across  the  camp,  dividing  it 
into  two  unequal  portions,  and  serving  as  an  outlet  for  the  drainage  system, 
which  was  mostly  natural.  On  a large  and  fairly  level  hilltop  just  above  this 
brook  the  base  hospital  was  most  advantageously  situated.  It  was  not  too 

“ The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  McClellan,  Ala.,”  by  Capt. 
C.  A.  Hoberecht,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


724 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


far  distant  from  any  organization  in  camp,  and  yet  it  was  not  on  the  main 
road,  noise  and  dust  being  thus  eliminated. 

The  first  officers  arrived  for  duty  August  17,  1917.  With  the  continued 
arrival  of  commissioned  and  enlisted  personnel  the  organization  was  gradually 
effected  and  was  practically  complete  by  the  end  of  September,  1917.  The 
Box  Springs  Farm  House  was  used  as  headquarters  prior  to  the  completion  of 
the  hospital  buildings.  At  this  time,  ward  cases  were  received  and  cared  for  by 
the  Virginia  National  Guard  field  hospital.  Emergency  major  cases  were  taken 
for  operation  to  one  of  the  hospitals  in  Anniston.  During  the  construction  of 
the  camp  an  emergency  hospital  was  maintained  by  the  construction  company 
for  the  workmen.  This  was  a one-story  wooden  building,  20  by  120  feet,  and 
contained  20  beds.  The  personnel  consisted  of  one  civilian  doctor  and  one 
female  nurse. 

The  first  ward  of  the  hospital  to  be  finished  and  opened  for  Army  use  was 
occupied  by  both  medical  and  surgical  cases.  Other  wards  were  opened  in 
rapid  succession,  and  the  completion  and  occupation  of  the  receiving  station 
and  the  administration  building  on  October  28,  1917,  marked  the  formal  opening 
of  the  hospital. 

The  function  of  the  base  hospital  was  to  treat  all  cases  arising  in  Camp 
McClellan,  and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal  diseases  from  overseas. 

The  wards  were  separate  buildings  arrayed  on  either  side  of  two  parallel 
covered  board  walks,  and  so  arranged  that  each  ward  faced  an  open  space 
instead  of  another  ward  on  the  opposite  side.  The  distance  from  the  side  of 
one  ward  to  the  side  of  the  next  was  35  feet.  The  interior  arrangement  of  each 
was  the  same.  The  forward  third  was  occupied  by  the  office  of  the  ward 
surgeon,  kitchen,  toilet  and  bath,  linen  closet,  and  a single  small  room  for  the 
isolation  of  cases  seriously  ill  or  under  special  observation.  In  the  ward 
proper  the  beds  were  placed  along  each  side,  with  heads  to  the  wall  and  a 
window  between  each  two.  On  the  outside  a broad  screened  porch  extended 
along  the  entire  length  and  across  the  rear  end  of  the  ward. 

The  receiving  station  and  ward  were  near  the  road.  Two  exceptions  to 
the  general  plan  were  the  convalescent  wards,  locally  called  double-deckers, 
and  the  contagious,  or  isolation,  wards.  The  former  were  two-story  frame 
buildings  arranged  along  a covered  board  walk  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road  from  the  main  part  of  the  hospital.  In  these  buildings  the  entrance, 
office,  stairway,  kitchen,  baths,  and  linen  rooms  were  in  the  middle.  At  either 
end  of  each  floor  was  a large  wardroom,  each  of  which  accommodated  30 
patients.  The  isolation  wards  were  single-story  buildings,  very  similar  to  the 
two-story  wards,  excepting  that  the  end  rooms  were  smaller  on  account  of  each 
building  containing  10  small  rooms  for  the  isolation  of  seriouslv  ill  cases  or 
those  in  which  there  might  be  some  doubt  as  to  the  diagnosis. 

The  officers  were  quartered  in  two  buildings,  known  as  the  old  and 
new  quarters.  The  former  was  first  used  as  such  on  November  15,  1917, 
and  three  and  one-half  months  later,  March  5,  1918,  the  new  quarters  were 
initiated  into  the  service  of  housing  the  ever  growing  commissioned  personnel. 
These  buildings  were  divided  into  rooms,  each  large  enough  to  accommodate 
two  with  a little  crowding,  and  such  was  the  necessity  when  officers  from 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


725 


hospital  units  126  and  127  were  present  and  waiting  for  orders  to  proceed 
overseas.  At  that  time  the  overflow  was  taken  care  of  in  tents  near  the  hospital, 
and  later  on  in  one  of  the  two-story  wards.  Before  the  officers’  quarters  were 
built  the  officers  lived  in  tents,  and  later  on  in  one  of  the  nurses’  barracks  and 
in  some  of  the  newly  finished  wards. 

The  nurses  were  quartered  in  five  buildings  very  similar  in  their  general 
plan  to  those  occupied  by  the  officers.  Two  of  these  five  buildings  were  occu- 
pied by  the  student  nurses,  who  were  kept  entirely  separate  from  the  graduate 
nurses,  and  for  whom  a separate  mess  was  maintained.  The  nurses’  quarters 
were  first  used  as  such  on  November  19,  1917.  During  the  influenza  epidemic 
extra  nurses  were  quartered  in  one  of  the  two-story  wards. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  hospital  the  enlisted  men  lived  in 
tents,  later  in  some  of  the  wards,  and  finally  in  the  barracks,  6 in  number,  each 
accommodating  48  men.  These  buildings  were  similar  in  construction  to  the 
wards,  the  forward  end  of  each  being  divided  into  small  rooms  for  the  noncom- 
missioned officers.  The  toilets  and  baths  were  in  separate  buildings  con- 
veniently located. 

Food  for  the  patients  was  prepared  and  served  in  the  patients’  mess 
building,  which  was  centrally  located.  Here  there  were  accommodations  for 
feeding  1,000  men.  The  enlisted  men’s  mess  was  located  midway  between 
barracks  No.  1 and  No.  6,  and  was  'within  easy  access  to  all.  The  nurses’  mess 
was  in  the  main  nurses’  quarters.  The  officers’  mess  was  planned  to  accom- 
modate 75,  but  during  the  epidemic  of  influenza  its  capacity  was  taxed  to 
accommodate  twice  that  number.  The  first  officers’  mess  was  maintained  in 
one  of  the  vacant  wards,  then  in  one  of  the  buildings  later  occupied  by  nurses, 
and  finally  in  its  permanent  location. 

The  laundry  work  of  the  hospital  was  done  on  contract  by  one  of  the  local 
laundries.  The  building  designated  as  the  laundry  served  as  a place  for  the  sort- 
ing and  counting  of  the  hundreds  of  pieces  of  clothing  and  linen  from  the  46 
wards  of  the  hospital. 

Storage  room  for  the  supplies  of  the  hospital  was  amply  provided  for  in 
four  warehouses,  which  were  occupied  by  the  medical  supply  depot  and  by  the 
hospital  quartermaster  department.  A storeroom  for  the  provisions  was  in 
the  patients’  mess  building. 

At  the  time  of  organization  the  equipment  of  the  hospital  was  somewhat 
lacking,  especially  in  surgical  instruments  and  supplies;  for  this  reason  the  first 
operation  by  the  staff  was  performed  in  one  of  the  hospitals  in  Anniston.  At 
this  time  the  supply  of  beds  and  bedding  was  also  limited.  From  time  to  time 
additional  equipment  was  secured  and  finally  in  March,  1918,  the  last  of  the 
surgical  equipment  was  moved  in.  From  that  date  the  hospital  was  fully 
equipped  for  any  line  of  work  and  capable  of  handling  any  emergency  no  matter 
how  large. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  identical  with  that  of  the  camp,  and  was 
furnished  by  the  city  waterworks  of  Anniston.  Each  building  was  piped 
throughout  for  both  hot  and  cold  water.  The  supply  was  from  springs,  and 
the  water  was  purified  by  chlorination. 

The  sewage  was  taken  care  of  by  means  of  drains  which  led  to  a sewer 
emptying  into  a septic  tank,  and  thence  drained  into  the  brook  already  men- 


726 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


tionecl.  There  were  no  outdoor  latrines.  A more  than  sufficient  number  of 
water-closets  was  conveniently  placed  in  all  the  buildings,  each  ward  having 
two  or  more. 

Formerly  all  kitchen  garbage  was  immediately  burned  in  incinerators 
located  near  the  mess  hall.  Later,  bread  and  other  foodstuff  were  collected  in 
fly-proof  cans  and  used  for  hog  feed.  Stable  manure  was  hauled  to  a farm 
more  than  2 mdes  from  the  hospital. 

Each  ward  contained  at,  least  4 lavatories,  1 shower,  and  1 tub.  In  the 
isolation  wards  each  of  the  small  rooms  already  described  had  a lavatory  and  a 
water-closet.  All  of  these  were  connected  with  the  main  sewer  by  iron  drains 
with  water-tight  joints. 

The  heating  system,  though  adequate,  was  very  expensive.  Coal  stoves 
and  furnaces  were  used  in  each  of  the  buildings  and  were  looked  after  by  the 
enlisted  personnel.  Hot  water  was  supplied  by  a small  coal-heater,  housed 
on  the  outside  of  the  building. 

Electricity,  furnished  by  the  Alabama  Power  Co.,  of  Anniston,  lighted 
the  entire  hospital  and  its  surrounding  grounds. 

No  building  was  constructed  for  devotional  purposes.  A small  structure, 
situated  near  the  mortuary,  was  used  from  time  to  time  for  funeral  ceremonies. 
Religious  services  were  held  regularly  in  one  of  the  wards  in  the  patients’  mess 
hall,  and  later  in  the  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House. 

The  hospital  dispensary  was  run  in  conjunction  with  the  receiving  station. 
Here  the  men  reported  for  sick  call  and  were  examined  by  the  receiving  officer 
or  the  officer  of  the  day.  Treatment  was  prescribed  or  the  case  was  admitted 
to  the  hospital  as  the  occasion  might  require.  The  drug  store  was  under  the 
supervision  of  a sergeant  and  two  assistants,  all  of  whom  were  graduate  pharma- 
cists. The  supplies  were  those  prescribed  by  the  War  Department  for  base 
hospitals.  Any  drug  not  carried  might  be  secured  through  the  Red  Cross. 

The  post  exchange  was  started  October  1,  1917,  in  the  rear  of  ward  2, 
and  the  stock  consisted  of  a few  dozen  bottles  of  pop  and  two  or  three  boxes 
of  cigars.  The  stock  was  increased  until  its  valuation  was  $12,000.  A barber 
shop  and  a tailor  shop  were  run  there. 

There  was  no  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  at  the  base 
hospital.  The  American  Red  Cross  erected  two  excellent  buildings,  the  first 
a recreation  house  for  the  nurses.  A small  branch  of  the  American  Library 
Association  was  housed  herein.  The  floor  was  prepared  for  dancing  and  a 
good  piano  and  a victrola  were  supplied.  The  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House 
for  patients  was  opened  January  5,  1919.  Here  daily  papers,  books,  and  games 
were  furnished  to  while  away  the  weary  hours  of  recuperation  following  illness. 
Good  moving  pictures  were  shown  every  evening.  One  evening  of  each  week 
this  building  was  turned  over  to  the  officers  for  a dance  and  on  another  to  the 
enlisted  men  for  the  same  purpose.  The  Red  Cross  was  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able institutions  having  any  relationship  to  the  base  hospital  and  to  the  camp. 
Four  men  and  three  women  were  kept  constantly  employed.  Letters  were 
written  for  the  seriously  ill  and  illiterates  and  various  articles  for  the  comfort 
of  the  patients  were  distributed  at  regular  intervals.  During  the  great  influ- 
enza epidemic  blankets,  sheets,  pillowcases,  clothing,  and  medicines  were 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


727 


furnished  in  great  quantities,  and  had  it  not  been  for  this  worthy  organization 
the  suffering  of  the  stricken  hundreds  would  have  been  far  greater. 

Various  athletic  teams  composed  of  base  hospital  personnel  were  organ- 
ized. During  the  winter  of  1917-18  the  basket-ball  games  played  in  the  Red 
Cross  Convalescent  House  afforded  entertainment  for  all  who  cared  to  attend. 
Convalescent  patients  were  admitted  to  these  contests. 

This  hospital  was  closed  in  June,  1919. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  McClellan,  Anniston,  Ala.,  from  Avgust, 

1917,  to  June,  1919,  inclusive .“ 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

16 

16 

5 

6 

5 

15 

5 

14 

165 

1 

185 

37 

148 

525 

148 

60 

1,000 

24 

1,232 

765 

2 

21 

444 

9,629 

November 

444 

1,245 

4 

1,708 

977 

4 

4 

2 

135 

3 

583 

14’ 485 

December 

583 

1,292 

23 

9 

1,907 

1, 135 

9 

2 

2 

77 

4 

678 

14,  282 

1918. 

January 

678 

1,772 

27 

8 

2,485 

1,594 

10 

1 

11 

12 

9 

848 

February 

848 

1,276 

7 

13 

2, 144 

1,451 

4 

1 

1 

2 

3 

14 

668 

16, 625 

March...* 

668 

1,174 

10 

13 

1,279 

4 

2 

1 

1 

9 

569 

19]  112 

April 

569 

1,696 

10 

1!? 

2.  293 

1,821 

7 

1 

7 

15 

442 

16, 398 

May 

442 

1,293 

2 

9 

1,746 

1, 115 

4 

3 

38 

11 

575 

19,  919 

June 

575 

515 

3 

24 

1, 117 

800 

3 

8 

20 

7 

279 

12^  885 

July 

279 

393 

5 

32 

709 

383 

0 34 

2 

10 

280 

8,  678 

August 

280 

1,493 

36 

1,809 

965 

2 

29 

2 

32 

779 

14,  943 

September 

779 

1,803 

29 

2,611 

1,493 

9 

8 

1 

15 

1,080 

October 

1,080 

6,267 

29 

28 

7,404 

4,293 

238 

3 

5 

352 

17 

2, 496 

50, 142 

2, 496 

1,364 

3 

17 

3^  880 

2. 757 

31 

3 

9 

17 

1 \ 063 

41,947 

December 

1,063 

1,218 

60 

39 

2.  380  1. 341 

IS 

5 

11 

'951 

30, 771 

1919. 

January 

951 

1,372 

87 

2. 465  1 622 

69 

3 

68 

703 

30, 386 

February 

703 

321 

53 

59 

1, 136 

617 

11 

8 

2 

51 

16 

47 

384 

13^067 

March..  ~ 

384 

62 

4 

6 

456 

190 

3 

1 

96 

138 

8 

20 

4. 306 

April 

20 

18 

12 

50 

27 

3 

8 

12 

7 510 

May 

12 

9 

13 

34 

11 

1 

1 

15 

6 

258 

June 

6 

u 

22 

39 

13 

3 

23 

97 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

9 

7 

September 

September 

3 

15 

18 

October 

1 

1 

4 

9 

13 

November 

3 

9 

12 

December 

3 

10 

13 

1918. 

1919. 

January 

428 

428 

2 

9 

11 

February 

464 

464 

2 

4 

6 

March..* 

464 

3 

2 

469 

March.  /. 

1 

3 

4 

April 

464 

3 

2 

469 

686 

35 

721 

May 

May 

34 

690 

June 

681 

37 

718 

July 

2 

5 

7 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  McClellan,  Anniston.  Ala.,  from 
August,  1917,  to  June,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

August 

12 

126 

126 

Sept  ember 

23 

126 

126 

October 

36 

127 

127 

46 

385 

385 

21 

December 

50 

3S0 

3^0 

38 

1918. 

January 

54 

54 

374 

19 

393 

45 

53 

53 

371 

19 

390 

March. .' 

60 

2 

2 

64 

378 

20 

39< 

78 

April 

65 

1 

2 

68 

370 

20 

390 

79 

May 

67 

1 

2 

70 

354 

IS 

372 

Juiie 

64 

1 

2 

67 

354 

40 

394 

.86 

.1  uly 

65 

3 

1 

69 

339 

50 

389 

88 

August. 

62 

4 

1 

67 

309 

48 

357 

71 

September 

61 

5 

1 

67 

404 

44 

44S 

76 

October 

78 

4 

1 

83 

392 

43 

435 

S9 

November 

70 

4 

2 

76 

398 

45 

443 

109 

December 

67 

4 

2 

73 

574 

45 

619 

10S 

1919. 

January 

52 

4 

2 

5S 

714 

39 

753 

103 

February 

45 

3 

2 

50 

406 

7 

413 

84 

Marcli 

6 

1 

2 

9 

74 

6 

80 

4 

1 

5 

IS 

2 

20 

3 

1 

4 

14 

1 

15 

2 

1 

3 

10 

10 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  MEADE,  MD.« 

The  site  selected  for  the  location  of  Camp  Meade  was  between  the  cities 
of  Washington  and  Baltimore,  27  miles  from  the  former  and  IS  miles  from  the 
latter  city.  The  camp’s  arteries  of  communication  with  both  cities  were 
numerous.  To  the  east  were  the  main  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
and  the  electrified  Washington,  Baltimore  & Annapolis  Railway;  on  the  west 
was  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad.  Tracks  from  both  the  Pennsylvania 
and  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroads  led  to  the  camp. 

The  elongated  plan  of  the  camp  extended  approximately  north  and  south, 
and  at  its  northern  extremity  was  located  the  base  hospital.  Here  the  terrain 
is  rolling,  and  when  the  hospital  was  erected  the  surrounding  country  was 
fully  50  per  cent  wooded.  The  soil  is  sandy  and  very  absorbent,  giving  rise 
to  little  or  no  dust  in  dry  weather  and  to  an  absence  of  much  mud  or  stagnant 
pools  after  rains. 

The  roads  within  the  camp  were  made  of  concrete,  as  was  the  highway  be- 
tween Baltimore  and  Washington.  Elsewhere,  however,  the  roads  were 
typical  dirt,  country  roads,  possessing  all  the  disadvantages  of  such  routes  of 
travel  in  both  wet  and  prolonged  dry  weather. 

The  climate  is  moderate.  During  the  summer  the  humidity  is  relatively 
high,  giving  rise  to  some  degree  of  discomfort,  and  during  the  winter  there  are 
occasional,  prolonged  cold  spells  that  might  be  catagoried  as  severe,  though 
rarely  does  the  thermometer  fall  much  below  the  freezing  point. 

a The  statements  of  fact  anpearing  herein  are  based  on  the  ‘ ‘ History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Meade,  Md.,”  by  Capt.  J . H. 
Truitt,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the  compila- 
tion of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the  His- 
torical Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C.—Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


729 


The  sanitary  condition  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  hospital  was  good.  There 
was  a small  amount  of  swampy  ground,  which  was  readily  eliminated  by  the 
construction  of  drainage  ditches,  and,  since  the  region  was  malarious,  there 
was  thus  removed  what  otherwise  would  have  been  a menace. 

In  August,  1917,  steps  were  taken  for  the  organization  of  the  base  hospital 
at  Camp  Meade,  when  the  commanding  officer  was  assigned.  He  established 
headquarters  in  the  camp  proper  and  superintended  the  construction  of  the 
hospital.  Ground  was  broken  for  the  buildings  on  September  1,  1917,  at  which 
time  the  commanding  officer  and  40  officers  moved  to  quarters  in  the  base 
hospital.  The  detachment,  Medical  Department,  at  this  time  was  composed 
of  50  enlisted  men.  The  hospital  was  not  ready  for  occupancy  and  the  adequate 
care  of  the  sick  until  November  10,  1917,  when  the  first  patients  were  admitted. 

During  the  period  of  construction  of  the  hospital  those  who  required  med- 
ical care  were  looked  after  mostly  in  infirmaries  in  the  camp  and  in  temporary 
wards  arranged  in  the  hospital;  the  more  serious  cases  were  sent  to  Walter 
Reed  General  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  base  hospital  was  constructed  on  the  standard  plan,  and  when  com- 
pleted comprised  a group  of  more  than  105  buildings,  occupying  a somewhat 
isolated  site  about  a mile  and  a half  from  the  headquarters  of  the  camp.  Of 
these,  36  were  wards,  with  a capacity  of  34  beds  each. 

Officers’  quarters  were  located  apart  from  the  hospital  proper.  Fifty-five 
rooms  were  for  sleeping  quarters,  accommodating  108  officers.  There  were 
seven  bathrooms. 

The  hospital  mess  furnished  food  to  all  patients  and  to  members  of  the 
detachment,  Medical  Department,  whose  duties  required  that  they  use  this 
mess.  This  mess  prepared  and  served  food  for  about  1,200  men. 

The  detachment  mess  prepared  food  for  from  350  to  400  men  of  the  Medical 
and  Quartermaster  Departments  on  duty  at  the  base  hospital.  It  was  entirely 
separated  from  the  hospital  mess,  except  that  all  supplies  were  drawn  through 
the  latter. 

The  officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital  had  their  own  mess.  A considerable 
amount  of  then’  supplies  was  drawn  through  the  hospital  mess,  for  which 
supplies  the  officers’  mess  was  charged  cost  price. 

The  nurses  had  a separate  mess  in  which  were  employed  civilian  cooks,  maids 
and  dining-room  help.  Their  supplies  were  drawn  through  the  hospital  mess 
and  the  limit  of  expenditures  was  kept  within  the  income  derived  from  rations 
for  nurses  and  civilian  employees. 

The  hospital  storehouse  consisted  of  two  buildings  and  an  office.  Men 
were  constantly  on  duty  to  protect  the  goods,  to  repair  the  breakage  when  pos- 
sible, and  to  issue  supplies  upon  proper  requisition. 

As  was  the  case  at  the  other  base  hospitals,  a laundry  building  was  con- 
structed but  no  equipment  for  it  was  furnished.  Up  to  November,  1918,  all 
laundry  was  taken  by  ward  orderlies  to  the  laundry  collection  room,  whence  it 
was  removed  by  quartermaster  trucks  to  the  camp  laundry. 

The  chapel  was  in  constant  use  as  an  office  and  storeroom.  Religious 
services  conducted  by  chaplains,  civilian  clergymen,  Knights  of  Columbus, 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association, 
were  held  in  barracks,  in  wards,  and  in  the  officers’  quarters. 


730 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  function  of  the  base  hospital  was  to  care  for  cases  arising  in  Camp 
Meade,  and  medical,  surgical,  and  venereal  cases  from  overseas. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  identical  with  that  of  the  camp.  Its  source 
was  the  watersheds  of  the  Little  Patuxent  River.  The  water  was  filtered 
with  chlorine.  Because  the  watersheds  were  inhabited,  the  water  was  treated 
by  sedimentation,  rapid  sand  filtration,  and  chlorination.  It  was  stored  in 
large  elevated  tanks. 

The  hospital  sewerage  system  was  connected  with  that  of  the  camp. 

Garbage  from  the  kitchens  and  wards  was  deposited  in  galvanized  iron 
cans,  arranged  on  a stand  in  the  rear  of  the  kitchen  building.  The  garbage, 
which  was  in  solid  or  semisolid  state,  was  separated  into  the  following  classes: 
Bottles  and  tin  cans,  bones  and  grease,  vegetable  waste,  and  papers.  Paper 
and  paper  boxes  were  hauled  away  daily  by  the  hospital  police  wagon;  ashes 
were  used  for  repairing  roads  in  and  near  the  hospital  grounds;  and  the  bottles 
and  tin  cans,  bones  and  grease,  and  vegetable  waste,  were  hauled  away  daily 
by  the  Quartermaster  Department.  The  large  cans  containing  the  garbage 
were  replaced  by  clean  empty  cans  daily.  The  Quartermaster  Department 
was  responsible  for  the  cleaning  of  the  cans. 

All  lavatories  and  baths  were  connected  to  the  sewer  by  means  of  cast- 
iron  soil  pipes.  The  plumbing  was  modern  and  sanitary.  Each  ward  had  a 
tub  bath  and  shower  bath  in  separate  compartments. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity,  furnished  by  a 2, 200- volt,  25-cycle 
transmission  line  and  stepped  down  by  use  of  transformers  to  110  volts  for 
lighting. 

Heat  was  supplied  from  a central  power  plant.  There  were  eight  150- 
horsepower  Kewanee  horizontal  return  tubular  boilers  installed  in  four  bat- 
teries. Each  boiler  had  an  independent  stack  3 feet  in  diameter  and  80  feet 
high.  Six  of  the  boilers  were  designed  to  supply  high-pressure  steam  to  the 
laundry,  the  main  kitchen,  the  diet  kitchens,  and  the  sterilizing  apparatus. 
The  camp  utilities  managed  and  maintained  the  steam  plant.  The  total  area 
of  radiation,  excluding  piping,  was  approximately  156,000  square  feet;  the 
total  steam  condensed  in  zero  weather  was  approximately  150,000  gallons  per 
24  hours;  and  the  longest  steam-supply  line  was  4,000  feet  in  length.  The 
handling  of  fuel  for  this  plant  was  a serious  problem,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  hospital  was  located  2 miles  from  the  coal  trestle,  necessitating  the  use  of 
trucks  to  haul  fuel  to  the  plant.  Due  to  an  inadequate  protection  of  exposed 
pipes,  to  the  poor  quality  of  coal,  and  to  inexperienced  firemen,  the  plant 
was  neither  efficient  nor  adequate  in  cold  weather. 

When  the  hospital  was  first  opened  the  equipment  was  meager,  chiefly 
because  the  railroads  were  lacking  in  proper  shipping  facilities.  This,  together 
with  the  lack  of  material,  made  it  difficult  to  complete  the  equipment.  Finally, 
however,  the  entire  hospital  was  brought  up  to  standard  equipment,  the 
wards,  laboratories,  and  operating  rooms  equaling  and  in  many  cases  surpassing 
civilian  hospitals  of  years’  standing. 

A separate  building  was  provided  for  the  post  exchange,  where  various 
necessities  were  supplied.  The  building  housed  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  a sanitary  barber  shop,  and  a tailoring,  cleaning,  pressing,  and 
repair  service. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


731 


The  Red  Cross  building,  which  was  completed  during  the  summer  of  1918, 
was  devoted  to  the  usual  purposes  of  comfort  and  recreation  for  convalescent 
patients  and  visiting  relatives  and  friends.  Representatives  of  the  Red  Cross 
were  stationed  in  the  hospital  to  render  such  assistance  as  occasions  demanded. 
The  cultivation  of  about  15  acres  of  ground  between  two  of  the  wards  for 
convalescents  was  undertaken  by  the  Red  Cross,  in  cooperation  with  the  com- 
manding officer.  Ten  acres  were  devoted  to  vegetables  and  5 acres  to  flowers 
and  shrubbery.  Part  of  the  work  of  cultivation  was  done  by  convalescents. 

Band  concerts,  moving  pictures,  graphopliones,  games,  books,  and  peri- 
odicals contributed  to  the  recreation  of  the  patients  and  personnel. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Meade,  Md.,  from  September,  1917, 

to  June,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

From  command.  ! 

> 

Cl. 

missions. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1917. 

i 

0 

21 

6 

269 

137 

267 

1,286 

9 

1918. 

January. ......... 

696 

2,010 

ii 

964 

1,552 

March,. I.... 

987 

1,  754 

i9 

856 

May.... ..... 

637 

2,326 

1,234 

1,636 

1,089 

1,714 

1, 174 

2, 435 

l\  101 

5, 206 

October.......... 

S'  346 

3,688 

November 

l'  138 

1,566 

17 

December 

'887 

1,611 

428 

1919. 

January 

1,163 

1,407 

965 

28 

February 

1,283 

538 

525 

197 

March. 

1,169 

5S3 

4S7 

137 

April 

1, 149 

661 

509 

72 

May 

805 

808 

524 

62 

June. 

760 

732 

3 

35 

Completed  eases. 


1 

03 

2 

'3 

O 

EH 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

1 

1 

21 

13 

2 

412 

139 

3 

3 

1,562 

844 

7 

2,717 

1,721 

25 

1 

6 

2,  516 

1,508 

20 

1 

2,760 

1,881 

22 

1 

2,313 

1,437 

18 

1 

1 

10 

9 

2,953 

1,704 

13 

2 

10 

2,870 

1,712 

7 

2 

1 

9 

45 

5 

2, 803 

1,  575 

10 

11 

1 

30 

2 

3,609 

2,359 

11 

47 

22 

69 

6,307 

2,  7S2 

53 

64 

1 

12 

49 

7, 034 

3,804 

61 

2 

1,247 

28 

2,721 

1,709 

23 

69 

7 

19 

7 

2, 926 

1,625 

17 

49 

11 

19 

39 

3,566 

2,117 

19 

26 

3 

36 

82 

2,  543 

1,069 

5 

9 

4 

60 

221 

2, 376 

1,030 

6 

13 

96 

82 

2, 391 

1,396 

5 

16 

5 

104 

60 

2, 199 

1,243 

5 

20 

10 

112 

49 

1,530 

885 

3 

7 

143 

26 

Remaining. 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


6 

267 

696 


18 

3,056 

6,095 


961 
987 
856 
837 
1,234 
1,089 
1, 171 
1,101 
3,346 
1,138 
887 
1,166 


23,308 
26,434 
29,  977 
26, 638 
32,  571 
35,  265 
32, 02S 
36, 327 
46,446 
64, 820 
28, 557 
28, 255 


1,283 
1,169 
1, 149 
805 
760 
466 


39, 687 
34, 416 
34,683 
27,  S26 
26,269 
18,648 


PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September. 

31 

1 

32 

196 

196 

October... 

31 

1 

32 

196 

196 

Noyember 

42 

1 

43 

315 

December 

42 

1 

43 

315 



315 

27 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns,  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section^Adjutant  General's  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


732 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Meade,  Md.,  from  September,  1917,  to 

June,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY— Continued. 


Officers. 


Enlisted  men. 


Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps." 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

January 

65 

2 

2 

69 

372 

17 

3S9 

72 

February 

71 

2 

2 

75 

390 

17 

407 

92 

March 

86 

4 

2 

92 

453 

19 

472 

104 

April 

96 

2 

2 

100 

470 

20 

490 

106 

May 

99 

2 

2 

103 

473 

20 

49.3 

144 

June 

93 

2 

3 

9S 

479 

IS 

497 

134 

July 

79 

3 

2 

84 

461 

19 

480 

145 

August 

75 

4 

1 

80 

49S 

20 

518 

137 

September 

71 

4 

1 

76 

729 

17 

746 

1.54 

October 

89 

5 

1 

95 

721 

17 

73S 

221 

November 

85 

6 

2 

93 

690 

20 

710 

214 

December 

70 

5 

1 

76 

636 

18 

654 

111 

1919. 

January 

58 

6 

1 

65 

629 

16 

645 

104 

February 

61 

S 

5 

74 

630 

14 

644 

109 

March 

62 

8 

8 

78 

584 

13 

597 

117 

April 

51 

8 

9 

68 

52S 

11 

539 

110 

May 

37 

8 

10 

00 

444 

7 

451 

102 

June 

33 

8 

9 

50 

395 

G 

401 

05 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  PIKE,  ARK.“ 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Pike  was  located  at  the  northern  end  of  the 
cantonment  8.79  miles  from  the  city  of  Little  Rock,  Ark. 

The  terrain  of  the  region  possesses  a rolling  wooded  surface  with  a sandy 
loam  soil.  During  the  dry  season  there  is  much  high-flying  dust;  and  after 
rain,  mud  of  sticky  consistency  is  present.  The  spring  and  fall  months  are 
delightful  in  character,  the  days  being  clear  and  brilliant,  with  moderate  breezes. 
The  summer  months,  especially  August  and  September,  are  very  hot  and  dry, 
the  thermometer  in  the  sun  frequently  registering  as  high  as  110°  F.  Room 
temperature  during  this  season  averages  between  80°  and  90°.  The  winter 
months  are  for  the  most  part  clear  and  moderately  cold,  with  frequent  cold 
rains  and  mist  and  rarely  snow.  During  the  spring  and  early  summer  months 
there  are  electrical  storms  of  great  severity. 

The  roads  about  the  base  hospital  were  of  sand  and  gravel,  with  an  oil 
binder;  and  though  the  hospital  site  was  much  exposed  to  wind,  being  the 
highest  point  in  camp,  there  was  little  dust  because  of  the  improved  condition 
of  the  roads  and  drill  fields,  the  latter  having  been  oiled.  The  wooded 
surroundings  also  helped  in  preventing  what  dust  there  was  from  reaching  the 
hospital  buildings. 

The  sanitary  condition  of  the  hospital  neighborhood  was  good.  It  was 
improved  by  a system  of  drainage  which  handled  the  sudden  and  heavy  rain- 
fall adequately. 

The  base  hospital  was  organized  on  September  27,  1917.  LTntil  that 
time,  from  about  August  11,  1917,  Regimental  Infirmary  No.  1 was  used  for 
base  hospital  purposes.  During  the  construction  period,  employees  of  the  con- 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Pike,  Ark.”,  by  Col.  L.  A. 
Fuller,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the  compila- 
tion of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the  His- 
torical Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


733 


tractors  who  were  sick  or  injured  were  treated  in  the  same  building.  A few 
accident  cases  were  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Fort  Logan  II.  Roots.  The 
first  occupation  and  opening  of  the  hospital  may  be  dated  on  September  27, 
1917.  The  plan  and  the  distribution  of  the  hospital  buildings  followed  the 
standard  plan  of  the  War  Department. 

Officers’  quarters  originally  consisted  of  three  buildings.  These  proved 
inadequate  and  necessitated  the  assignment  of  officers  to  various  parts  of  the 
hospital  for  sleeping  quarters,  at  times.  Later,  by  the  addition  of  wings,  the 
officers’  quarters  were  made  entirely  adequate. 

Originally  the  nurses  were  assigned  two  buildings,  and  for  a while  it  was 
necessary  to  furnish  them  with  a ward,  for  use  as  a dormitory.  Four  additional 
buildings  were  constructed  for  nurses’  quarters,  which,  with  the  original  build- 
ings, furnished  adequate  housing  facilities  for  the  nurses.  There  never  was 
adequate  dormitory  space  for  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  in  spite 
of  the  additional  construction  of  two  barracks.  The  situation  was  ameliorated 
by  the  use  of  two  vacant  two-story  wards,  but  as  the  hospital  population  grew 
these  wards  had  to  be  given  up,  and  tents  were  utilized. 

Upon  the  opening  of  the  hospital,  officers,  nurses,  and  the  enlisted  personnel 
were  all  messed  in  the  general  mess.  No  provisions  had  been  made  for  a mess 
hall  for  officers  until  the  erection  of  a separate  wing  on  one  of  the  sets  of  officers’ 
quarters  had  been  effected.  Later,  a new  mess  hall  was  authorized  in  connec- 
tion with  the  additional  quarters  constructed.  The  new  mess  hall  had  a capac- 
ity for  seating  at  least  150.  For  a while  the  nurses’  mess  was  operated  in  the 
first  nurses’  quarters  to  be  constructed.  The  mess  hall  was  very  small,  and 
the  cafeteria  plan  of  feeding  had  to  be  adopted  to  obviate  having  three  or  four 
sittings.  A new  mess  hall  was  about  to  be  constructed  when  the  armistice 
was  signed,  which  placed  a halt  on  all  construction  work.  As  with  the  officers 
and  the  nurses,  the  mess  hall  for  the  patients  proved  inadequate  in  size.  The 
general  kitchen  and  the  diet  kitchen  were  enlarged  and  remodeled,  and  the 
general  mess  hall  was  considerably  enlarged.  The  equipment  for  the  general 
mess  was  made  more  modem,  and  many  additions  were  made  to  it.  Thereafter 
no  difficulty  was  experienced  in  its  operation.  The  mess  for  the  officer  patients, 
located  in  the  officers’  ward,  satisfactorily  answered  all  purposes.  The  mess 
for  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  was  situated  in  one  of  the  group 
of  barrack  buildings  provided  for  the  enlisted  personnel.  At  first,  entirely 
inadequate,  it  was  made  satisfactory  by  the  enlargement  of  the  kitchen,  and  the 
conversion  of  an  adjoining  barracks  into  a mess  hall. 

There  were  four  storehouses,  two  with  shelves  and  two  without,  in  the 
medical  supply  depot.  They  were  steam  heated,  electric  lighted,  and  protected 
by  heavy  iron-wire  mesh  over  windows.  The  supply  officer  had  his  office  in 
building  No.  1.  It  was  necessary  to  turn  over  one  of  these  buildings  to 
the  quartermaster  of  the  base  hospital  for  his  supplies.  The  remaining  three 
buildings  constituted  the  medical  supply  depot  for  Camp  Pike,  and  in  them 
were  stored  all  medical,  dental,  and  veterinary  supplies  for  the  camp  and  for 
the  base  hospital.  The  steam  railroad  from  Little  Rock  to  the  base  hospital 
ran  by  these  storehouses  and  was  convenient  for  loading  and  unloading  supplies. 


734 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


A laundry  building  was  erected,  but  it  was  not  equipped.  It  was  used 
principally  for  the  disinfection  of  clothing,  bedding,  etc.,  by  means  of  a steam 
sterilizer.  The  laundry  of  the  hospital  was  done  in  Little  Rock. 

The  chapel  was  opened  the  latter  part  of  November.  It  was  put  in  use 
at  once  for  religious  services.  It  was  also  used  in  the  evenings  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  officers  and  noncommissioned  officers,  and  to  some  extent  for  the 
instruction  of  nurses. 

The  hospital  water  supply  was  the  same  as  that  used  in  tne  city  of  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  and  in  the  cantonment.  The  water  was  pumped  from  the  Arkansas 
River  and  was  chlorinated. 

A water-carriage  system  for  the  removal  of  the  sewage  was  in  use  in  con- 
nection with  the  general  system  of  the  cantonment.  The  sewage  from  the 
whole  cantonment  was  treated  in  a septic  tank.  The  various  latrines,  toilets, 
showers,  and  sinks  were  connected  with  a vitrified  clay  pipe  sewer  forming 
part  of  the  general  system.  It  was  necessary  at  times  to  use  latrines,  which 
were  systematically  tilled  in  and  abandoned  as  soon  as  their  use  could  be 
discontinued. 

A small  amount  of  hospital  garbage  and  waste  was  incinerated.  Kitchen 
garbage  was  removed  by  the  contractor  for  the  cantonment.  Manure  from  the 
hospital  farm  was  carted  away. 

Originally  the  hospital  was  heated  by  a central  low-pressure  steam  plant. 
During  the  first  winter  the  heat  radiation  was  very  unsatisfactory;  the  boiler 
capacity  was  none  too  large;  scale  and  other  substances  choked  the  disk  or  seat, 
causing  the  return  pipes  and  even  the  radiators  to  fill  with  water  of  condensa- 
tion, at  times  giving  rise  during  the  coldest  weather  to  freezing  of  the  contents 
and  a consequent  bursting  of  the  equipment.  These  defects  were  remedied 
by  the  provision  of  more  boiler  space  and  a high-pressure  system. 

The  steam  and  hot-water  pipes  were  carried  above  ground  on  A frames  of 
wood,  and  all  the  pipes  were  insulated. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  an  electric  current  furnished  by  the  Little 
Rock  Railway  & Electric  Co.,  of  Little  Rock,  a 13,000-volt  line  running  to 
the  substation  at  the  corner  of  Twelfth  and  South  Boulevard  in  the  canton- 
ment, and  thence  a 2,300-volt  line  to  the  base  hospital,  a 110  to  220  volt  distri- 
bution being  made  to  the  hospital  buildings. 

The  equipment  of  the  hospital  in  the  early  days  of  its  organization  was 
that  of  a unit  of  500  beds  complete.  This  equipment  steadily  increased  in 
nearly  every  particular  and  ultimately  became  adequate  for  the  official  bed 
capacity  of  2,220  beds. 

The  post  exchange  was  established  on  September  20,  1917,  supplies  being 
obtained  on  credit.  The  exchange  was  at  first  a branch  of  the  division  exchange. 
Afterwards,  for  some  months,  it  led  an  independent  existence.  About  January 
15,  191S,  it  again  became  a branch  of  the  division  exchange.  From  the  start 
the  exchange  had  a prosperous  existence.  The  surplus  accumulated  amounted 
to  more  than  $28,973.75,  and  monthly  sales  eventually  averaged  $14,000. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  popularly  known  as  Base  Hospital 
Y,  continued  in  service  throughout  the  existence  of  the  hospital,  except  during 
the  influenza  epidemic,  when  it  was  closed  and  turned  over  to  the  base  hospital 
authorities  for  use  as  barracks  for  additional  enlisted  men.  The  1 secretaries 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


735 


performed  many  duties  in  addition  to  that  of  furnishing  amusement  to  the 
soldier.  Among  these  duties  were  letter  writing,  educational  work,  and  the 
supervision  of  athletic  contests.  During  the  influenza  epidemic  the  staff  vol- 
unteered their  services  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital,  and  they  were 
of  great  help  in  meeting  relatives  of  sick  soldiers,  acting  as  guides,  performing 
religious  services  for  the  dying  or  those  seriously  ill,  and  in  locating  chaplains 
of  any  faith  as  requested  by  the  individual  soldier. 

Three  Red  Cross  buildings  were  eventually  in  active  use.  The  first  one 
constructed  was  situated  near  the  railroad  tracks  at  the  base  hospital  and  was 
called  the  rest  cottage.  It  was  designed  to  serve  the  relatives  and  friends  of 
sick  soldiers  and  functioned  admirably  in  this  respect.  The  second  building, 
known  as  the  “ convalescent  house,”  served  the  convalescent  soldiers.  It 
furnished  reading  material,  the  base  hospital  library  being  situated  there,  and 
also  housed  various  entertainments  for  the  soldiers  in  hospital.  The  third  was 
a clubhouse  for  nurses,  furnishing  a social  center  for  them. 

Programs  arranged  by  the  Red  Cross  and  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Asso- 
ciation furnished  almost  nightly  entertainment  for  all.  The  enlisted  personnel 
of  the  base  hospital  maintained  baseball  and  football  teams  and  a field  was 
supplied  for  their  use.  There  was  a tennis  court  for  officers,  which  was  very 
popular. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Pike,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  from  September, 

1917 , to  June,  1919,  inclusive .a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

1 Remaininer  from  last 

1 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for . 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

C 

c 

O 

£ 

c 

£ 

From  other 
sources. 

>> 

0 

T3 

a> 

P 

t- 

a> 

& 

T3 

a> 

5 

0 . 

5b 

£ <3 
O 

5 

'd 

a? 

s 

0 

'o*  • 

O'  q 

^ P 

03  0 

£■§ 

• -4  s— c 

Q 

Si 

— d 

II 

§ I 

S 

O 

OT 

T5  C~ 
2 0 

■2-5 

< n <X> 

r° 

0 

aj-d 

QJ 

$ 0 

t_. 

OJ 

Xi 

O 

c 

£ <D 

PQ 

O) 

<5 

£ 

O 

3 

*P< 

O 

a 

03 

D 

O’ 

*c3 

*Ph 

O 

w 

OT 

OJ 

a 

d 

C? 

1917. 

September 

137 

50 

1 

188 

34 

8 

69 

248 

October 

69 

286 

1,400 

1 

703 

8 

51 

1 

4 

20 

969 

13,470 

November 

969 

1,536 

'384 

23 

2,912 

1,603 

67 

43 

1 

1 

28 

1,169 

23,920 

December 

i 

169 

3 778 

0 

6 

4,953 

2,472 

126 

215 

8 

393 

6 

l'  733 

42,286 

1918. 

January 

1 

733 

3,972 

ii 

5,716 

3,492 

137 

32 

4 

326 

10 

1,715 

41,696 

February 

1 

715 

2, 820 

87 

36 

I!  658 

2,370 

42 

149 

6 

327 

36 

1,728 

41,899 

March...' 

! 

728 

3,547 

92 

16 

5,383 

2,889 

49 

80 

12 

1 

317 

170 

l'  865 

37  970 

April 

1 

865 

3,019 

57 

21 

4, 962 

2,494 

41 

91 

10 

463 

14 

1,849 

38,716 

May 

i 

849 

3,231 

21 

15 

5,116 

2,  713 

42 

94 

11 

21 

1,960 

53, 107 

June 

i 

960 

2.907 

22 

37 

4, 926 

2,501 

18 

100 

6 

374 

29 

l'  898 

46, 560 

July 

i 

898 

4. 

387 

53 

6,838 

3, 468 

56 

6 

540 

39 

2,714 

76  522 

August 

2 

714 

3,832 

47 

6, 593 

3,677 

43 

107 

404 

67 

2,295 

September 

2.295 

5,  415 

9 

12 

7'  731 

3,730 

49 

48 

28 

3,423 

73,  666 

October 

3 

423 

4.395 

157 

5 

7,980 

5, 667 

414 

87 

82 

6 

1,724 

November 

1 

724 

1. 

308 

3 

16 

3,551 

2, 309 

26 

47 

151 

1 

l' 017 

38,616 

December 

1 

017 

2.375 

89 

3,496 

2,383 

27 

25 

21 

13 

1,027 

36,112 

1919. 

January 

1 

027 

1,710 

244 

17 

2,998 

1,930 

28 

12 

7 

15 

1,006 

34  902 

February 

1 

006 

1,074 

264 

9 

2,353 

1,270 

8 

11 

12 

17 

1,035 

27  331 

March 

1 

035 

620 

473 

16 

2,144 

1,277 

7 

9 

1 

15 

14 

821 

27  762 

April 

821 

438 

518 

15 

1,792 

992 

6 

3 

28 

6 

752 

22  686 

May 

752 

447 

678 

36 

1,913 

1,039 

1 

10 

19 

37 

807 

20J  052 

June 

807 

356 

32 

1,195 

667 

1 

4 

53 

44 

426 

A 540 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adiutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


736 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital , Camp  Pike,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  from  September, 
1917,  to  June,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

0 

0 

1918. 

November 

2 

31 

33 

February 

0 

0 

December 

2 

31 

33 

March... 

0 

0 

April 

0 

1919. 

May 

0 

January 

0 

June 

0 

February 

29 

34 

July 

13 

8 

21 

March..'. 

16 

49 

14 

8 

22 

19 

39 

58 

IS 

36 

54 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

26 

2 

1 

29 

122 

122 

19 

36 

2 

1 

39 

201 

201 

27 

47 

1 

1 

49 

276 

276 

59 

1 

1 

424 

424 

70 

1918. 

62 

1 

1 

64 

445 

445 

91 

February 

73 

1 

1 

75 

423 

16 

439 

133 

March 

79 

i 

1 

SI 

420 

20 

440 

131 

April 

99 

i 

1 

101 

534 

20 

554 

157 

May 

103 

1 

1 

105 

552 

20 

572 

156 

June 

106 

i 

l 

108 

565 

20 

5S5 

195 

July 

87 

3 

1 

91 

733 

20 

753 

212 

August 

63 

7 

1 

Tj 

766 

19 

7S5 

20S 

September 

7S 

6 

1 

85 

1,010 

IS 

1,028 

200 

i )ctober 

109 

6 

1 

116 

910 

IS 

928 

243 

November 

101 

4 

1 

106 

909 

IS 

927 

248 

December 

77 

5 

3 

85 

912 

IS 

930 

194 

1919. 

January 

65 

6 

3 

74 

S13 

IS 

S31 

176 

February 

65 

5 

5 

75 

677 

16 

693 

167 

March 

57 

6 

6 

69 

533 

16 

549 

154 

April 

50 

6 

6 

62 

4S1 

14 

495 

103 

May 

4S 

4 

6 

5S 

406 

14 

420 

84 

June 

32 

4 

5 

41 

241 

12 

253 

oo 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  FORT  RILEY,  KANS.“ 

The  base  hospital  at  Fort  Riley  was  the  one  exception  where,  among  the 
16  National  Army  cantonments,  a group  of  semipermanent  buildings  was  not 
constructed  de  novo  for  the  hospital  care  of  the  troops  of  the  National  Army 
divisions  to  be  mobilized.  The  Fort  Rile}'  reservation  comprised  19,446  acres 
of  Government-owned  property  upon  which  there  was  ample  room  to  establish 
Camp  Funston.  The  portion  of  the  reservation  chosen  for  the  location  of  the 
camp  was  a ‘'flat,”  bounded  on  three  sides  by  the  Kansas  River,  3 miles  to  the 
east  of  the  post.  The  post  proper  comprised  two  permanently  constructed 
regimental  garrisons,  for  which  there  was  a large  post  hospital,  and  was  readily 
convertible  into  hospital  buildings.  Since  there  was  no  greater  purpose  to  which 


a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Hans.,'’  by  Col.  E. 
R.  Schreiner,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General"  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


737 


the  permanent  buildings  at  Fort  Riley  could  be  put  than  to  use  such  of  them 
as  would  be  necessary  for  hospital  purposes,  the  construction  of  a semipermanent 
base  hospital  as  a part  of  the  cantonment  was  never  seriously  considered. 

The  terrain  presents  a moderately  narrow,  flat  strip  along  the  Kansas 
River,  which  roughly  forms  the  reservation’s  southern  boundary.  From  this 
strip,  on  the  north,  there  is  a fairly  abrupt  rise  of  approximately  100  feet  to 
the  highlands  beyond,  where  the  characteristics  of  a rolling  prairie  are  found. 

The  soil  most  commonly  found  in  the  vicinity  is  a loam,  though  along  the 
flatland  there  is  a sufficient  admixture  of  clay  to  cause  the  soil  to  resemble 
the  “gumbo”  of  Texas.  Since  the  base  hospital  was  located  in  the  permanent 
garrison,  where  there  were  well-constructed  roads  and  walks,  while  the  land 
elsewhere  was  grass  covered,  no  disadvantageous  qualities  were  imparted  to 
the  soil  by  either  dry  or  wet  weather. 

Because  Fort  Riley  is  situated  far  inland,  in  a treeless  section,  the  climate 
is  one  of  extremes.  The  winters  include  some  intensely  cold  weather,  but  this 
is  not  continuous,  and  many  weeks  of  the  winter  months  are  favorable  to  out- 
door drill.  The  summers  are  decidedly  warm,  some  of  the  days  and  nights, 
when  the  hot  winds  are  blowing  from  the  southwest,  being  little  more  than  just 
bearable.  However,  the  permanent  nature  of  the  hospital  construction  allevi- 
ated the  condition  to  a considerable  extent. 

The  hospital  was  organized  September  27,  1917.  Prior  to  its  organization 
as  such,  however,  the  permanent  post  hospital  building  at  Fort  Riley  had  been 
used  for  base  hospital  purposes. 

This  building,  subsequently  becoming  section  “K,”  served  as  the  surgical 
department  of  the  base  hospital.  Six  two-story  gray  stone  artillery  barracks 
fronting  on  the  artillery  parade  ground,  were  adapted  to  hospital  purposes 
almost  coincidentally  with  the  organization  of  the  base  hospital.  Temporary 
wooden  structures  were  subsequently  added  and  equipped. 

The  plan  and  distribution  of  the  hospital  buildings  were  both  convenient 
and  attractive.  The  general  appearance  of  the  group,  with  the  tree-fringed 
parade  as  a center,  furnished  a very  pleasing  effect.  Facing  the  parade  from 
the  west  was  the  headquarters  building  in  which  were  housed  the  administra- 
tive offices  and  the  laboratory.  Forming  a semicircle  about  the  upper  portion 
of  the  parade  were  the  officers’  quarters.  These  were  used  principally  as 
quarters  for  bachelor  officers,  and  consequently  housed  a considerable  number. 
After  these  was  Randolph  Hall,  consisting  of  two-room  apartments,  the  officers’ 
mess  and  clubhouse,  which,  with  the  10  sets  of  quarters  mentioned  above, 
accommodated  practically  the  entire  commissioned  personnel  of  the  hospital. 
Around  the  lower  portion  of  the  parade  were  eight  brick  buildings  utilized 
principally  for  the  neurological  section  of  the  hospital,  and  for  officer  patients. 
North  of  the  parade  and  beyond  the  boulevard  connecting  the  hospital  with 
Camp  Funston,  there  was  a surgical  department  (the  old  post  hospital),  and 
to  its  left  a section  used  for  the  isolation  and  treatment  of  cases  of  meningitis 
(formerly  the  isolation  section  of  the  post  hospital) . To  the  rear  and  on  the  right 
of  section  “K”  was  a group  of  semipermanent  buildings  constructed  for  the 
eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  cases  and  orthopedic  and  genitourinary  cases.  On 
the  boulevard  and  east  of  section  “Iv,”  a receiving  section  was  constructed. 
Just  east  of  the  parade  were  six  temporary  wooden  wards  which  were  used  for 
45269°— 23 47 


738 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


genitourinary  patients,  and  100  yards  farther  east  and  slightly  to  the  north, 
were  12  semipermanent  buildings  utilized  for  the  various  contagious  diseases. 
Occupying  the  summit  of  a hill,  100  yards  to  the  east  of  the  contagious  disease 
section,  a group  of  10  wards  was  constructed,  utilized  as  a convalescent  section 
of  the  hospital.  For  the  group  a separate  kitchen  and  mess  hall  was  provided. 

For  the  nurses,  two-story  buildings  were  constructed,  on  the  standard  War 
Department  plan. 

Quarters  for  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  were  two-story  frame 
buildings.  For  the  emergency  quartering  of  a part  of  the  Medical  Department 
personnel,  the  stone  artillery  gun  sheds  south  of  the  parade  were  remodeled  and 
made  habitable. 

Because  of  the  peculiar  structural  characteristics  of  the  base  hospital  at  Fort 
Riley,  a considerable  number  of  separate  messes  was  necessitated.  The  commis- 
sioned personnel  of  the  hospital  was  fed  in  several  small  messes  of  the  capacity  of 
7 or  8 men  each,  and  in  one  large  mess  in  the  officers’  mess  hall  which  accommo- 
dated 50  men.  These  messes  were  variously  conducted  by  the  officers  composing 
the  respective  groups.  They  were  efficiently  managed,  and  general  satisfaction 
prevailed  among  the  participants.  The  permanent  artillery  barracks,  which 
were  adapted  to  either  ward  or  detachment-quarters  use,  contained  also  an 
existent  kitchen  from  which  the  personnel  located  in  a particular  barracks  was 
fed.  At  first,  because  of  the  wide  separation  of  the  hospital  buildings,  and  there 
being  no  separate  kitchen  or  mess  hall  for  the  Medical  Department  personnel, 
it  was  impracticable  to  feed  patients  separately.  Ultimately,  however,  a kitchen 
and  dining  room  for  the  Medical  Department  personnel  was  constructed,  and 
a separation  of  the  messes  was  then  made  possible.  The  rapid  expansion  of  the 
hospital,  while  the  construction  of  cantonment  wards  was  in  progress,  made  it 
necessary  to  utilize  several  temporary  kitchens  which  subsequently  were 
replaced  by  permanent  construction.  A mess  for  nurses  was  established  in 
one  of  the  permanent  sets  of  officers’  quarters;  during  October  this  fed  an 
average  of  10  nurses.  During  November,  because  of  the  increase  in  the  number  of 
nurses,  an  additional  nurses’  mess  was  opened  in  another  set  of  officers'  quarters, 
and  these  two  operating  messes  fed  an  average  of  42  during  November.  The 
nurses’  home,  the  temporary  wooden  structure  mentioned  above,  was  completed 
and  occupied  on  January  8,  1918,  and  subsequently  an  average  of  200  people, 
including  the  housemaids  and  other  help,  were  fed  from  this  kitchen.  To  keep 
nurses  attending  contagious  cases  isolated  from  those  performing  ordinary 
duty,  one  of  the  messes  operating  in  an  officers’  set  of  quarters  was  continued 
in  use.  At  this  mess  about  30  nurses  were  fed  subsequent  to  March  1,  191S. 

In  the  old  barracks  which  were  made  over  into  wards,  a diet  kitchen  was 
provided  on  the  second  floor  of  each  section.  In  the  new  ward  buildings  which 
were  constructed  a diet  kitchen  was  installed  in  each.  For  the  supervision  of 
these  diet  kitchens  six  dietitians  were  employed. 

Enlisted  personnel  attached  to  the  kitchens  and  mess  comprised  11  mess 
sergeants,  35  cooks,  and  a varying  number  of  men  on  kitchen  police  for  dining 
room  duty. 

From  the  time  the  hospital  was  organized  storage  was  a difficult  problem. 
At  the  beginning  two  vacant  gun  sheds  which  were  available  were  utilized  for 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


739 


storage  purposes.  However,  these  were  not  entirely  satisfactory;  they  were 
not  large  enough  to  contain  a sufficient  reserve  stock  for  the  new  sections 
which  were  then  being  constantly  opened.  One  of  these  gun  sheds  was  event- 
ually taken  over  for  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the  adjacent  medical  officers’ 
training  camp.  An  unused  stable  was  then  occupied  as  a storeroom,  and  the 
basement  of  the  old  post  hospital  building  was  used  as  an  issue  room. 

No  laundry  building  was  constructed  at  this  hospital.  At  the  time  the 
base  hospital  was  organized  its  laundry  work  was  done  by  the  post  laundry 
at  Fort  Riley.  This  arrangement  was  continued  until  the  opening  of  the  camp 
laundry  at  Camp  Funston,  in  November,  1917.  At  this  time  the  work  had 
grown  to  such  proportions  that  the  Fort  Riley  post  laundry  could  no  longer 
handle  it,  and  the  work  was  transferred  to  the  camp  laundry  at  Camp 
Funston. 

There  was  no  chapel  at  the  hospital,  but  the  post  chapel  of  Fort  Riley, 
within  a hundred  yards  of  the  hospital  parade,  though  not  placed  under  con- 
trol of  the  base  hospital,  was  always  available  for  hospital  uses.  There,  every 
Sunday,  the  chaplain  attached  to  the  base  hospital  conducted  a religious 
service  for  both  the  commissioned  and  enlisted  personnel. 

The  water  system  originally  provided  for  the  post  of  Fort  Riley  furnished 
all  the  water  used  by  the  base  hospital.  It  was  obtained  from  wells  on  the 
reservation  whence  it  was  pumped  into  a reservoir  and  distributed,  without 
treatment  or  filtration.  The  supply  was  separate  from  that  at  Camp  Funston. 

The  lighting  of  the  hospital  was  by  electricity,  the  current  for  which 
was  obtained  from  the  Junction  City  Light  & Power  Co.  Its  operation  was 
successfully  maintained. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  an  augmentation  of  the  original 
post  sewerage  system  which  emptied  directly  into  the  Kansas  River,  untreated. 

Garbage  was  collected  daily  by  persons  under  contract  and  hauled  away 
by  them.  Manure  was  dumped  on  a flat  near  the  Kansas  River  and  there 
burned. 

The  permanent  buildings  used  by  the  hospital  were  separately  heated  by 
steam  plants  originally  provided  there.  All  of  the  buildings  constructed  of 
frame,  for  hospital  use,  were  steam  heated  by  separately  located  heating  plants. 
Those  frame  barracks  which  were  taken  over  by  the  hospital  and  used  as  wards 
were  heated  by  stoves.  All  of  the  various  heating  measures  were  operated 
satisfactorily. 

On  June  1 , 1918,  a building  was  made  available  and  within  it  a post  exchange 
was  established.  The  basement  floor  of  this  building  had  been  used  as  a sub- 
exchange  of  the  Fort  Riley  post  exchange.  These  rooms  were  occupied  and 
the  stock  on  hand  taken  over  at  an  invoice  price  of  approximately  $2,000. 
It  was  found  later  that  under  the  provisions  of  a War  Department  general 
order,  1917,  the  exchange  would  be  administered  by  the  exchange  officer  at 
Camp  Funston.  On  June  8,  an  order  was  issued  by  the  headquarters  at  Camp 
Funston,  designating  an  exchange  officer,  and  subsequent  to  that  time  busi- 
ness pertaining  to  the  hospital  exchange  was  conducted  through  the  Camp 
Funston  exchange.  Financial  transactions  increased  from  $200  on  the  opening 
day  to  an  average  of  about  $400  a day  for  the  month  of  June,  1918. 

In  the  midst  of  the  buildings  comprising  the  convalescent  group  of  the 
hospital,  the  American  National  Red  Cross  erected  a typical  Red  Cross  conva- 


740 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


lescent  house  for  the  use  of  the  patients  and  their  visitors.  As  in  Red  Cross 
houses  provided  at  other  camps,  the  upper  floor  of  this  building  contained  12 
rooms  which  were  utilized  as  sleeping  quarters  for  the  local  representatives  of 
the  Red  Cross  and  for  the  accommodation  of  relatives  of  critically  ill  patients 
who  visited  the  camp. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  occupied  a permanent  one-story 
gray  stone  building  at  the  lower  end  of  the  parade  ground.  This  building 
was  formerly  a part  of  the  post  at  Fort  Riley,  but  had  been  transferred  to  the 
Medical  Department  for  use  for  hospital  purposes.  The  Young  Men’s  Chris- 
tian Association  was  fully  organized  and  performed  an  efficient  service  to  both 
patients  and  enlisted  personnel  of  the  Medical  Department. 

Baseball  and  football  teams  were  organized  among  the  enlisted  personnel 
of  the  hospital,  and  they  were  decidedly  successful  in  furnishing  the  necessary 
diversion  for  the  men. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Kans.,  from  September,  1917,  to 

June,  1919,  inclusive .a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  eases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  form. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals^ 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

September 

124 

218 

406 

12 

760 

405 

21 

1 

1 

2 

13 

317 

5,476 

October 

317 

296 

1,107 

17 

1,737 

925 

16 

3 

20 

13,398 



November 

758 

3,315 

38 

21 

4,132 

2,468 

77 

1 

12 

1,574 

40.739 

December 

1,574 

3.358 

70 

42 

5,014 

3,188 

79 

11 

43 

1,723 

54, i6s 

1918. 

January 

1,723 

3,518 

22 

5,263 

2,948 

52 

11 

1 

1 

16 

2,234 

59,080 

February 

2, 234 

3,521 

1 

23 

5i  779 

3,580 

20 

6 

2 

19 

2, 152 

March.  /. 

2, 152 

3, 647 

24 

5'  823 

3j  612 

67 

9 

1 

2 

24 

2, 108 

6S^  426 

April 

2,108 

2,397 

9 

4' 514 

2',  564 

44 

6 

1 

l'  $84 

60'$S2 

May 

1,884 

2,593 

20 

4'  497 

2' 375 

33 

3 

15 

26 

2,045 

56,906 

2, 045 

1*782 

25 

3'  852 

l'  577 

14 

24 

20 

25 

2, 192 

61, 41S 

July 

2,192 

2, 502 

26 

4',  720 

2',  552 

21 

19 

48 

29 

2' 051 

43.  744 

2, 051 

2,304 

20 

4',  375 

2,522 

8 

6 

8 

15 

i;sie 

77, 147 

i'sio 

6' 385 

14 

8,215 

3,996 

25 

2 

50 

23 

4'  1 19 

October 

4,119 

7,511 

15 

11,645 

7' 878 

958 

3 

39 

2'  702 

130.462 

2, 702 

2 ',839 

13 

3' 329 

44 

10 

2 

67 

29 

2, 073 

46,551 

2*073 

3 '649 

123 

11 

5j  856 

4,105 

46 

36 

21 

1' 641 

58*  771 

1919. 

1,641 

2,961 

590 

16 

5, 208 

3, 794 

36 

5 

24 

19 

1,323 

7 

44.610 

72 

1,323 

1*084 

586 

20 

3,013 

1,741 

12 

8 

29 

20 

l'  203 

33'  563 

1,203 

653 

31 

2, 643 

1,583 

12 

6 

40 

40 

21,403 

102 

962 

3 

72 

838 

21 

2' 193 

1*325 

13 

51 

22 

26'  069 

775 

87 

19 

1,851 

"999 

47 

IS 

763 

24 

26, 474 

24 

767 

404 

72S 

38 

1,937 

1,073 

5 

11 

3? 

32 

7S0 

15'  S33 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

1,652 

210 

14S 

2,010 

October 

1,322 

198 

141 

1,661 

N ovember 

1,173 

189 

124 

1,486 

December 

1,156 

174 

121 

1,451 

1918. 

January 

984 

174 

142 

1,300 

February 

943 

168 

140 

1,251 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

March 

971 

192 

162 

1,325 

sss 

April 

743 

9S 

47 

May 

941 

142 

79 

1,162 

1,003 

151 

92 

1,246 

1,049 

978 

101 

76 

1,226 

99 

75 

1, 152 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS.  741 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Riley,  Kans.,  from  September,  1917 , to 

June,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

55 

2 

1 

58 

228 

228 

October 

68 

2 

1 

71 

402 

402 

28 

November. 

98 

3 

1 

102 

477 

477 

67 

December. . 

108 

3 

1 

112 

484 

484 

101 

1918. 

January. 

122 

3 

1 

126 

543 

543 

117 

February 

no 

4 

1 

115 

588 

17 

605 

176 

March 

107 

5 

1 

113 

657 

20 

677 

175 

April 

99 

5 

1 

105 

876 

20 

896 

184 

May 

96 

4 

1 

101 

906 

20 

926 

211 

June 

93 

4 

1 

98 

922 

20 

942 

185 

July 

94 

3 

1 

98 

643 

20 

663 

192 

August 

88 

4 

1 

93 

790 

20 

810 

182 

September 

85 

4 

3 

92 

1,  024 

20 

1,044 

189 

October 

89 

3 

3 

95 

959 

20 

979 

259 

N ovember 

85 

5 

4 

94 

936 

20 

956 

297 

December 

94 

6 

4 

104 

907 

39 

946 

293 

1919. 

January 

90 

7 

4 

101 

879 

15 

894 

278 

February 

86 

7 

6 

99 

852 

14 

866 

268 

March 

77 

9 

8 

94 

607 

12 

619 

189 

April 

62 

9 

9 

80 

546 

5 

551 

146 

May 

55 

8 

7 

70 

482 

1 

483 

133 

54 

8 

7 

69 

471 

471 

106 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  FORT  SAM  HOUSTON,  TEX.a 

The  base  hospital  was  located  within  the  confines  of  Fort  Sam  Houston, 
San  Antonio,  Tex.,  at  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  post.  It  had  formerly 
been  Base  Hospital  No.  1,  which  comprised  a main  building  of  nine  wards,  a 
mess  hall  and  kitchen,  an  X-ray  and  operating  room.  Adjacent  structures 
contained  the  laboratory  and  the  mortuary.  During  the  fall  of  1916,  20 
pavilion  wards  and  a kitchen  were  erected  to  the  east  of  the  main  building  to 
provide  an  increased  capacity  necessitated  by  the  mobilization  of  troops  on 
the  Mexican  border. 

The  terrain  of  the  region  is  gently  rolling.  The  soil  is  a mixture  of  loam, 
clay,  and  gravel,  which  readily  pulverizes  in  dry  weather  and  becomes  a tenacious 
mud  following  rains.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  hospital  there  were  very  few  trees 
to  afford  surcease  from  the  rays  of  the  sun.  The  climate  is  excellent  during  a 
great  part  of  the  year,  with  a predominance  of  sunshine.  During  the  short 
winter  the  thermometer  seldom  goes  below  the  freezing  point.  In  summer, 
however,  one  is  made  overly  conscious  of  the  heat  because  of  the  relatively 
high  degree  of  humidity.  This  heat  of  the  day  usually  lingers  until  well  along 
toward  the  early  morning  hours,  when  a breeze  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  gently 
neutralizes  it. 

There  were  a few  good  roads  in  the  hospital  area  at  the  time  of  its  enlarge- 
ment. These  were  added  to  during  the  year  1918.  Connecting  Fort  Sam 

® The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex.,”  by 
Capt  R.  D.  Wilson,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  materia!  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


742 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Houston  with  its  surroundings  were  many  serviceable  and  durable  gravel  roads 
which  had  been  covered  with  an  asphaltum  compound. 

In  the  summer  of  1917,  10  additional  pavilion  wards  were  constructed  at 
a place  just  to  the  east  of  that  where  the  20  temporary  wards  had  been  erected 
the  year  previously.  In  the  fall  of  1917,  a main  kitchen  was  constructed,  and 
an  extension  of  the  main  building  was  made  to  provide  for  a new  operating 
room,  an  X-ray  department,  and  a ward  for  women  patients.  In  the  spring 
of  1918  a new  building  was  constructed  for  the  department  laboratory,  and 
the  building  which  had  been  previously  used  as  a laboratory  was  converted 
into  a mortuary.  Not  long  after  this  time  the  contagious  disease  section  grew 
to  such  proportions  as  to  necessitate  a reorganization,  and  10  temporary  build- 
ings were  constructed  with  a view  to  their  use  for  isolation  purposes.  For  this 
reason  they  were  placed  at  a point  separate  from  the  remainder  of  the  wards 
and  were  provided  with  an  auxiliary  kitchen  which  permitted  the  practice  of 
absolute  quarantine.  Two  wards  for  psychiatric  cases  were  completed  later 
in  the  spring,  giving  the  hospital  a very  valuable  addition  to  its  services. 

The  main  hospital  building,  constructed  for  peace-time  needs,  was  con- 
veniently arranged  in  its  plan.  It  was  adequately  heated  by  steam,  was  well 
ventilated,  and  lighted  by  electricity.  The  temporary  pavilions,  however, 
were  hastily  planned  and  constructed.  They  had  been  placed  quite  too  closely 
together,  and  because  of  this  interrupted  the  free  access  of  breezes. 

The  original  quarters  for  the  nurses  were  inadequate  for  the  increase  in 
their  number,  so  4 two-story  dormitories  were  constructed  during  1918  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  excess.  The  same  condition  of  affairs  was  true  regarding 
the  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Department,  and  an  additional  barrack  of  300 
capacity  was  erected.  Prior  to  its  construction,  men  who  could  not  be  quar- 
tered in  barracks  were  given  tents  in  which  to  sleep. 

Three  kitchens  were  operated  at  the  hospital.  In  the  main  kitchen  was 
prepared  the  food  for  the  medical  officers,  the  officer  patients,  and  the  nurses. 
The  pavilion  kitchen  was  used  in  which  to  prepare  the  food  for  the  sick  in  the 
various  pavilion  wards  and  the  enlisted  men  of  the  detachment,  Medical 
Department.  In  the  auxiliary  kitchen  food  was  cooked  only  for  those  in  isola- 
tion in  the  detached  group  of  isolation  wards.  From  the  kitchens  in  which 
food  was  prepared  for  patients,  the  cooked  food  was  conveyed  to  the  various 
wards  in  insolated  food  trays  mounted  on  trucks. 

An  ample  water  supply  was  already  existent.  This  was  the  supply  of  Fort 
Sam  Houston  and  San  Antonio,  the  source  of  which  was  in  wells  located  on 
Edwards  Plateau,  75  miles  distant.  It  was  excellent  in  quality,  though  a bit 
hard,  and  needed  no  treatment. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  a part  of  that  of  Fort  Sam  Houston. 
Wastes  were  disposed  of  in  the  incinerator  or  were  carted  to  the  city  dump. 
All  refuse  food  was  classified,  the  edible  portions  being  sold  to  a contractor  for 
hog  feed. 

No  laundry  building  was  provided  the  hospital;  soiled  linen  was  washed  in 
the  post  laundry,  an  activity  controlled  by  Fort  Sam  Houston. 

In  the  midst  of  the  hospital  buildings,  the  Red  Cross  constructed  a conva- 
lescent house  for  the  patients.  This  Red  Cross  house  was  built  on  the  plan 
commonly  used  at  other  base  hospitals,  and,  as  elsewhere,  it  proved  a valuable 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


743 


asset  to  efforts  looking  to  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  ambulant  patients.  The 
Red  Cross  Society  also  provided  a recreation  hall  for  the  nurses.  The  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association  was  fairly  active  at  the  hospital.  It  provided 
funds  for  the  construction  of  a hut  which  was  largely  used  for  the  comfort  and 
entertainment  of  members  of  the  detachment,  Medical  Department. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  from 
April,  1917,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive .« 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

*6 

© 

© 

8 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters.  , 

1917. 

351 

758 

326 

1,530 

921 

5 

27 

2 

19 

49 

498 

6 

12, 70S 

267 

501 

1,011 

382 

61 

1,961 

1.421 

8 

31 

1 

2 

24 

48 

419 

7 

13, 946 

251 

426 

826 

33 

1,838 

1,253 

7 

19 

5 

53 

498 

3 

14,568 

245 

501 

389 

708 

1,675 

1.113 

7 

30 

1 

1 

65 

ASS 

14,552 

458 

703 

173 

1,891 

1,290 

8 

32 

8 

43 

510 

16, 303 

64 

510 

367 

1 090 

2.042 

1,243 

40 

7 

42 

705 

16,444 

252 

1,905 

68 

2,930 

1.9.53 

10 

40 

1 

31 

60 

835 

25.0S7 

835 

315 

1 , 905 

53 

3, 108 

2,014 

23 

21 

246 

749 

23,881 

749 

458 

1 . 89S 

53 

3,158 

1.744 

30 

33 

49 

1,045 

24,428 

191S. 

1 . 045 

313 

3. 118 

4,532 

2,802 

70 

1 

47 

38 

1,574 

42 , 054 

10 

1 574 

2 389 

IS 

4,044 

2.348 

61 

12 

161 

417,588 

97 

2.497 

18 

4,162 

2.509 

37 

53 

13 

68 

L4S2 

34, 262 

1.482 

130 

1,305 

30 

2.947 

1,  750 

29* 

61 

104 

40 

963 

35,434 

963 

-78 

1,298 

68 

2,407 

1.018 

12 

88 

1 

170 

92 

1,026 

30, 706 

1,026 

53 

1. 150 

61 

2 '290 

1.094 

5 

67H 

1 

43 

45 

1,035 

31.372 

1,035 

92 

1. 154 

70 

2,351 

998 

8 

81 

75 

72 

1,117 

34.209 

1. 117 

97 

954 

69 

2,237 

1.026 

4 

115 

24 

126 

942 

32.41S 

942 

73 

806 

204 

2,025 

865 

6 

63 

2 

172 

917 

26,  404 

917 

290 

2,562 

579 

4,348 

2.799 

102 

62 

2 

12 

190 

1,181 

52, 254 

1 181 

101 

753 

529 

2.564 

1 176 

31 

46 

2 

4 

470 

835 

19, 309 

835 

102 

798 

305 

2.040 

8S7 

23 

52 

2(J 

299 

759 

25.390 

1919. 

52 

67-1 

387 

1,872 

734 

17 

49 

36 

191 

S45 

25. 9S9 

845 

89 

671 

224 

1,829 

534 

6 

12 

149 

1,069 

17.445 

1,069 

411 

215 

1,772 

490 

2 

112 

1 

2 

198 

967 

29,927 

967 

48 

324 

265 

1,604 

351 

6 

207 

1 

5 

161 

873 

27, 427 

873 

48 

709 

217 

1,847 

313 

6 

165 

12 

237 

1. 114 

1, 114 

68 

826 

276 

2,284 

283 

139 

7 

568 

1,281 

51,361 

l'  281 

480 

2.385 

306 

111 

328 

1.26S 

42,909 

1,268 

49 

478 

376 

2. 171 

306 

4 

15S 

2S6 

300 

1.117 

21, 0S1 

1. 117 

53 

317 

277 

1.  764 

361 

156 

140 

163 

93S 



30,066 

938 

31 

290 

225 

1.4S4 

382 

138 

20 

144 

795 



25.989 

35 

203 

168 

1,201 

346 

86 

6 

92 

664 

21,354 

664 

31 

298 

170 

1,163 

28S 

6 

72 

9 

164 

624 

19.407 



CHILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1917. 

April 

264 

210 

1,024 

295 

229 

1, 180 

May 

264 

210 

1,024 

295 

229 

1,180 

June 

550 

264 

210 

1,024 

July 

550 

264 

210 

1,024 

1918. 

August 

586 

275 

219 

1,080 

295 

229 

1 180 

September 

6.56 

295 

229 

1, 180 

295 

229 

1,  ISO 

October 

656 

295 

229 

1,180 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant.  General’s  Office,  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


744  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  from 
April,  1917,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

16 

16 

251 

251 

53 

15 

210 

210 

46 

39 

39 

261 

261 

49 

July 

101 

101 

292 

292 

54 

August 

89 

89 

322 

322 

55 

77- 

77 

376 

376 

50 

67 

1 

68 

402 

40-2 

62 

116 

1 

117 

395 

395 

68 

55 

1 

56 

390 

390 

78 

1918. 

61 

2 

63 

398 

39S 

95 

55 

1 

56 

371 

371 

152 

2 

1 

58 

385 

3S5 

153 

April 

51 

1 

2 

695 

157 

May 

50 

1 

1 

52 

595 

165 

June 

53 

2 

1 

56 

573 

573 

156 

July 

53 

2 

1 

56 

582 

582 

161 

53 

2 

1 

56 

777 

135 

September 

56 

3 

2 

61 

780 

780 

159 

60 

3 

2 

670 

670 

139 

51 

4 

2 

57 

648 

64S 

131 

51 

8 

2 

61 

674 

674 

116 

1919. 

50 

18 

1 

69 

112 

61 

8 

2 

71 

538 

122 

March 

75 

7 

2 

84 

505 

123 

April 

72 

9 

3 

84 

577 

577 

95 

May 

66 

8 

3 

77 

527 

527 

96 

June 

65 

8 

5 

7S 

504 

504 

87 

July 

66 

8 

5 

79 

498 

49S 

92 

August 

54 

8 

6 

6S 

492 

492 

93 

52 

6 

6 

64 

461 

461 

96 

41 

4 

5 

50 

3S1 

381 

97 

November 

36 

4 

3 

43 

323 

323 

85 

32 

5 

3 

40 

329 

329 

SI 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 


BASE  HOSPITALS,  CAMPS  SEVIER,  S.  C.;  SHELBY,  MISS.;  SHERIDAN, 
ALA.;  SHERMAN,  OHIO;  ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  KY.;  TRAVIS,  TEX.; 
UPTON,  N.  Y.;  WADSWORTH,  S.  C.;  AND  WHEELER,  GA. 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  SEVIER,  S.  O 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Sevier  was  located  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  northwest  of  the  railroad  and  station  of  Paris,  S.  C.  It  was  in  Greenville 
County  and  within  4 \ miles  of  the  city  of  Greenville  and  was  situated  on  rolling 
country  sparsely  wooded,  but  nevertheless  very  delightful  in  appearance.  It 
was  nearly  at  the  foot  of  Paris  Mountain,  one  of  the  foothills  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
chain,  its  elevation  being  1,200  feet  above  sea  level.  The  climate  is  very 
equable,  the  thermometer  being  very  moderate  in  its  migrations,  the  maximum 
temperature  being  seldom  more  than  90°  F.  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  while 
12°  above  zero  is  only  occasionally  reached  in  the  coldest  of  weather.  The 
warm  days  of  summer  are  freshened  by  almost  constant  breezes,  and  one  is 
exceedingly  grateful  for  the  pleasant  summer  nights,  as  it  is  seldom  uncom- 
fortable enough  to  prevent  a refreshing  sleep.  There  is  almost  a total  absence 
of  oppression  from  heat,  and  there  is  sufficient  change  in  seasons  and  in  the 
days  to  make  a continual  residence  agreeable  and  to  secure  the  maximum  of 
work  with  a minimum  of  discomfort  throughout  the  year. 

The  soil  is  rich  in  nitrites,  of  a generally  sandy  consistency,  with  a top  of 
red  clay  loam.  It  is  readily  convertible  into  a thick  sticky  mud  in  wet  weather 
and  as  quickly  becomes  a fine  irritating  dust  in  dry  seasons. 

The  streams  in  the  vicinity  are  small  and  swiftly  running  in  gravel  beds, 
which,  with  the  permeable  soil,  materially  assisted  in  solving  the  sanitary 
problem  of  the  camp.  The  zone  immediately  surrounding  the  camp  was 
under  the  supervision  of  a sanitary  officer  who  supervised  the  drainage  of  low- 
land and  stagnant-water  areas,  removing  any  possible  menace  from  malaria- 
carrying mosquitoes. 

The  roads  about  the  hospital  were  of  the  so-called  “sandy  clay”  type, 
which  required  considerable  attention  to  keep  them  passable.  They  became 
very  muddy  and  slippery  in  stormy  weather  and  were  the  greatest  source  of 
dust  at  other  times.  To  keep  them  in  the  best  possible  condition,  they  were 
well  crowned  and  drained. 

From  a casual  inspection  of  the  hospital  layout,  two  decided  mistakes  were 
self-evident.  The  first  was  that  the  unevenness  of  the  ground  caused  some 
of  the  buildings  to  be  high,  whereas  others  were  quite  near  the  earth’s  surface; 
in  fact,  frequently  one  end  of  a ward  would  be  considerably  higher  than  the 
other.  The  second  mistake  was  the  location  of  the  hospital  in  its  relation  to 
the  railroad.  It  was  impossible  to  construct  a spur  direct  to  the  main  line. 

® The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sevier,  S.  C.,”  by  Maj. 
W.  E.  Kershner,  M.  C.,  TJ.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


745 


746 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  hospital  proper  was  of  semipermanent  frame  construction,  built  upon 
the  pavilion  system  from  plans  authorized  by  the  War  Department.  The 
hospital  faced  the  north  and  was  originally  planned  and  constructed  for  a 
capacity  of  500  beds.  The  communicating  corridors  were  open,  all  windows 
were  well  screened,  and  the  doors  doubly  so.  The  original  plans  were  enlarged 
upon,  and  ultimately  double  capacity  of  the  original  plans  was  attained. 

The  actual  organization  of  the  hospital  occurred  on  September  21,  1917, 
when  patients  were  received  in  two  of  the  wards.  To  these  wards  belong  the 
honor  of  jointly  starting  the  hospital  upon  its  designated  mission  and  the  staff 
upon  the  arduous  duties  which  the  following  months  were  to  see.  With  the 
opening  of  these  wards  little  did  those  present  realize  that  in  less  than  four 
months  the  hospital,  with  that  small  beginning,  would  be  efficiently  handling 
more  than  double  the  number  of  patients  the  completed  institution  was  designed 
for.  Ward  completions  from  this  time  on  went  forward  steadily  and  at  two  or 
three  day  intervals  wards  were  thrown  open  for  the  reception  of  patients. 
Frequently  ward  equipment  and  patients  were  being  taken  into  the  front  door 
of  a ward  as  workmen  were  making  their  exit  from  the  rear.  The  last  ward  to 
be  completed  was  ward  10,  which  was  occupied  by  patients  on  Thanksgiving 
Day,  1917.  By  the  first  of  the  month  following,  all  of  the  buildings  of  the 
original  plan  were  completed  except  for  some  minor  details,  thus  making  in  all 
38  buildings.  Subsequently  the  head  house  was  completed  and  large  additions 
were  made  to  the  quarters  for  the  officers  and  nurses.  In  addition  to  these, 
9 two-story  frame  ward  buildings  were  constructed,  as  well  as  a nurses’  ward. 

The  officers’  quai’ters  and  the  mess  were  located  at  the  north  of  the  hospital, 
across  the  road  and  facing  the  officers’  ward.  They  contained  accommodations 
for  about  80  officers.  The  original  officers’  quarters  contained  24  rooms  about 
9 feet  by  12,  but  with  the  increase  in  the  staff  three  wings  were  constructed, 
those  on  the  east  and  west  of  the  building  being  designed  for  additional  quarters, 
and  the  middle  wing  for  utilization  as  a mess  hall  and  kitchen.  The  original 
nurses’  quarters  were  on  the  right  flank  of  the  hospital,  at  the  east  of  the  receiv- 
ing ward.  Additional  quarters  were  constructed  across  the  street,  which 
included  dormitories,  a mess  hall,  and  kitchen.  These  provisions  enlarged  the 
capacity  of  the  nurses’  quarters  to  the  extent  that  a little  over  100  nurses  could 
be  comfortably  cared  for.  The  enlisted  men’s  barracks,  four  in  number,  were 
of  the  usual  frame  construction.  Many  of  the  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical 
Department  were  quartered  under  canvas. 

In  addition  to  the  above  buildings,  there  were  three  large  frame  storehouses, 
situated  east  of  the  hospital.  These  were  used  for  both  medical  and  quarter- 
master supplies  and  were  in  charge  of  an  officer  belonging  to  the  division  at 
the  beginning  of  the  work.  From  him  the  hospital  received  its  supplies  on 
memorandum  receipt.  This  proved  to  be  an  unsatisfactory  arrangement,  and 
in  the  early  part  of  1918  a property  officer  for  the  hospital  was  designated  and 
the  office  which  he  represented  was  separate  from  that  of  the  property  office 
of  the  division. 

Of  the  buildings  constructed  with  the  original  plan,  the  one  most  vividly 
portraying  quaint  humor  was  the  chapel.  For  even  a small  hospital  it  was 
entirely  too  small  and  inadequate  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  intended, 
but  it  had  its  uses  as  an  emergency  ward  under  difficult  conditions  and  at 
different  times,  and  subsequently  became  an  adjunct  to  the  general  laboratory. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


747 


It  did  prove  of  material  value  for  the  more  serious  cases  during  the  early  epi- 
demics, when  many  patients  were  of  necessity  cared  for  under  canvas.  It  is  not 
to  be  inferred  that  religious  services  were  discontinued  here,  because  the  chapel 
happened  to  be  too  small;  these  services  were  held  in  the  more  commodious 
mess  halls. 

Previous  to  the  opening  of  the  base  hospital,  patients  were  collected  and 
treated  at  the  regimental  infirmaries.  There  were  no  hospital  facilities  at  the 
camp  for  the  employees  of  the  construction  company  and  the  civil  hospital  in 
Greenville  cared  for  this  class  of  patients. 

The  water  supply  of  the  base  hospital  was  identical  with  that  of  Camp 
Sevier  as  a whole,  and  of  the  city  of  Greenville.  Its  source  was  from  a reservoir 
on  Paris  Mountain,  and  it  was  distributed  through  the  camp  by  mains.  Chlori- 
nation was  practiced  at  the  source. 

Originallv  the  sewerage  was  wholly  surface.  Baths  and  latrines  were  built 
in  the  rear  of  each  ward.  The  latrines  were  of  a modified  “Havard”  type,  and 
the  baths  were  warmed  by  independent  heating  plants.  Subsequently  a com- 
plete sewerage  system  was  installed  and  consisted  of  a gravity  underground 
system,  and  a septic  tank  located  in  the  rim  between  the  hospital  and  Paris 
station.  The  disposal  of  garbage  and  other  wastes  was  accomplished  by 
evaporation  and  incineration. 

Considerable  inconvenience  was  caused  in  the  early  days  of  the  hospital  by 
the  absence  of  stoves.  It  must  be  stated,  however,  that  cold  weather  came  in 
earlier  than  usual  and  was  exceptionally  intense  for  this  climate.  At  first, 
small  heaters  were  placed  in  the  wards,  but  these  proved  entirely  inadequate. 
Later,  large  drum  heaters  were  installed,  which  were  a marked  improvement. 
The  heating  of  the  officers’  quarters  and  nurses’  quarters,  and  in  fact  all  small 
rooms,  was  done  by  individual  heaters.  After  their  installation  it  was  possible 
to  keep  comfortably  warm,  but  the  running  of  so  many  independent  fires  was  a 
source  of  great  danger,  caused  considerable  dust  and  dirt,  was  an  inconvenience, 
and  certainly  represented  a huge  waste. 

The  lighting  system  of  the  hospital  was  in  common  with  that  of  the 
camp.  The  current  for  its  operation  was  obtained  from  the  Southern  Power  Co. 
Its  operation  may  be  said  to  have  been  only  fairly  good : the  current  was  turned 
off  with  nearly  every  shower,  and  this  made  it  decidedly  inconvenient  if  it  hap- 
pened while  a surgical  operation  was  in  progress. 

A laundry  building  was  built,  but  neither  equipment  nor  machinery  was 
furnished.  The  laundry  of  the  hospital  was  taken  to  the  civil  hospital  in 
Greenville,  a practice  which  effected  a decided  handicap  to  the  work  of  the 
hospital,  because  of  its  wastefulness  and  slowness. 

The  equipment  for  the  wards  and  the  hospital  hi  general  was  at  all  times 
sufficient  for  the  estimated  quota  of  patients.  Early  in  the  history  of  the 
hospital,  even  before  construction  was  complete,  epidemics  occurred  at  the 
camp  which  made  it  necessary  for  the  hospital  to  keep  sufficient  property 
ahead  for  needs.  Supplies  came  promptly  when  ordered,  requisitions  were 
promptly  approved,  and  the  problem  was  always  met  and  controlled  exceed- 
ingly well.  Many  apparently  insurmountable  obstacles  arose,  but  in  all  cases 
the  exigencies  of  the  service  were  met  by  the  administrative  heads  of  the 
hospital.  Ultimately  the  institution  became  as  well  and  as  completely  equipped 
as  any  in  military  or  civil  life. 


748 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  post  exchange  of  the  hospital  was  purely  a hospital  institution;  that 
is,  it  had  no  relation  whatsoever  with  any  other  exchange  in  the  camp.  At  its 
inception  sufficient  credit  for  its  operation  was  secured  by  the  backing  of  the 
officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital.  This  initial  credit  was  transferred  to  mer- 
chandise, and  so  satisfactorily  was  the  exchange  business  conducted  that  shortly 
there  was  no  debt,  and  the  stock  was  completely  owned  by  the  hospital. 

For  a while,  Red  Cross  work  at  the  hospital  was  accomplished  by  repre- 
sentatives of  that  society  from  other  sections  of  the  camp.  During  1918,  how- 
ever, a large  and  commodious  Red  Cross  building  was  constructed,  which 
proved  a decided  benefit  to  the  enlisted  men  and  convalescent  patients  and 
visiting  members  of  their  families.  It  also  assisted  materially  in  the  recreation 
problem,  which  before  that  time  was  quite  acute. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sevier,  Greenville,  S.  C.,from  September, 

1917,  to  April  30,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  he  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
' fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quartors. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1917. 

1 

293 

0 

294 

163 

9 

129 

1 090 

129 

9 

910 

2 

1,050 

663 

4 

6 

377 

7 746 

377 

49 

1,802 

2, 228 

1 . 330 

82 

2 

109 

IS'  028 

705 

71 

1,217 

1 

1,994 

lj  136 

56 

2 

2 

798 

11,072 

1918. 

January 

798 

75 

2,082 

2,955 

1.702 

31 

1 

3 

30 

Ill 

1,077 

21,215 

1,077 

46 

1,889 

3,012 

1 , 899 

17 

1 

1 

93 

1,001 

1 ' 001 

40 

1,761 

2,  S02 

1.814 

7 

4 

100 

'877 

24.904 

877 

87 

1,473 

2,437 

1 , 596 

15 

2 

1 

823 

18, 484) 

823 

41 

782 

1,640 

'911 

9 

4 

2 

8 

1 

711 

14,075 

711 

1,048 

560 

8 

2,327 

1,061 

1 

3 

47 

1,210 

19,237 

1,210 

1,254 

8 

2,472 

1,234 

9 

2 

1 

290 

861 

25,  273 

'861 

769 

11 

1,641 

'941 

9 

2 

3 

21 

116 

556 

15,642 

556 

3,132 

16 

3'  704 

990 

13 

3 

2 

21 

92 

2,583 

22, 68S 

2,583 

4,181 

8 

6,772 

5,049 

332 

3 

12 

227 

1,149 

51,527 

1,119 

1,071 

13 

2, 233 

1.122 

19 

27 

11 

13 

469 

572 

20, 0^7 

December 

572 

590 

5 

1, 167 

'640 

19 

15 

1 

11 

151 

330 

13,960 

1919. 

January 

330 

383 

23 

1 

737 

442 

10 

20 

5 

46 

9 

205 

7,035 

205 

211 

3 

15 

434 

244 

7 

26 

32 

125 

3,071 

125 

62 

2 

9 

198 

90 

1 

1 

9 

93 

11 

1*657 

April 

11 

10 

21 

7 

1 

12 

1 



'249 

| 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

1918. 

September 

2 

0 

2 

July 

9 

9 

11 

October 

2 

2 

9 

9 

11 

N ovember 

1 

1 

s 

13 

December 

1 

2 

3 

1 

1 

2 

3 

s 

1918. 

3 

S 

January 

2 

2 

4 

February 

2 

3 

1919 

March. 

2 

3 

1 

s 

9 

April 

2 

5 

7 

1 

9 

10 

May 

2 

8 

10 

1 

6 

J uiie 

2 

9 

11 

6 

4 

10 

“Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office,  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


749 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sevier,  Greenville,  S.  C.,  from  Septem- 
ber, 1917 , to  April  30,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

26 

1 

1 

28 

124 

124 

6 

46 

1 

1 

48 

129 

129 

26 

53 

2 

1 

56 

382 

382 

59 

56 

2 

1 

59 

381 

381 

63 

1918. 

60 

3 

1 

64 

375 

375 

61 

3 

1 

65 

373 

373 

93 

March . .' 

72 

4 

2 

78 

527 

19 

546 

94 

April 

78 

3 

1 

82 

382 

19 

401 

no 

May 

73 

3 

1 

77 

388 

19 

407 

110 

June 

79 

3 

1 

83 

469 

19 

488 

102 

79 

3 

1 

83 

462 

462 

123 

64 

3 

1 

68 

494 

494 

120 

64 

3 

1 

68 

513 

513 

110 

66 

4 

2 

72 

692 

692 

142 

64 

4 

2 

70 

696 

696 

130 

42 

8 

2 

52 

598 

598 

103 

1919. 

January 

29 

5 

2 

36 

451 

13 

464 

87 

February 

22 

5 

2 

29 

233 

13 

246 

64 

11 

1 

1 

13 

97 

97 

1 

1 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  SHELBY,  HATTIESBURG,  MISS.* 

Camp  Shelby  was  located  in  Forrest  County,  Miss.,  10  miles  from  Hatties- 
burg. The  location  ranges  from  300  to  500  feet  above  sea  level,  150  to  200 
feet  above  the  surrounding  country,  and  is  about  55  miles  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  The  soil  is  either  loam,  or  sandy  loam,  with  a substratum  of  clay; 
in  some  places  clay  and  gravel.  The  terrain  is  undulating  and  the  natural 
drainage  is  excellent.  The  climate  is  very  equable.  The  annual  mean  tem- 
perature is  67.8°  F.;  the  annual  mean  rainfall  is  58.8  inches;  and  the  annual 
mean  humidity  is  77  per  cent.  During  the  summer  months  there  is  a delightful 
breeze,  usually  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which  blows  during  the  afternoon  and 
evening. 

The  camp  was  located  on  land  from  which  long-leaf  pine  had  been  removed 
a few  years  previously.  This  land  had  never  been  cultivated;  therefore, 
during  dry  weather,  the  dust  was  not  such  a disturbing  factor  as  in  some 
regions,  though  it  was,  of  course,  an  annoyance  where  the  soil  had  been  pul- 
verized by  much  activity  incident  to  drilling.  After  rains  the  water  ran 
rapidly  from  the  surface  and  the  mud  was  not  of  the  sticky  type. 

There  was  an  abundance  of  gravel  near  the  camp,  and  this  simplified  the 
construction  of  roads  through  the  camp.  Roads  were  sprinkled  around  the 
hospital,  and  in  many  other  parts  of  the  camp,  thus  minimizing  dust.  Many 
of  the  public  roads  in  the  territory  adjacent  to  camp  were  either  graveled  or 
improved  dirt  roads. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Shelby,  Miss.,”  byMaj. 
W.  W.  Crawford,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Office,  Washington,  D.  C .-—Ed. 


750 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  hospital  was  organized  September  17,  1917.  Prior  to  the  completion 
of  the  base  hospital,  a field  hospital  cared  for  the  medical  cases,  and  the 
important  surgical  cases  were  sent  to  the  South  Mississippi  Infirmary,  in 
Hattiesburg. 

On  September  26,  1917,  the  hospital  had  its  formal  opening,  though  some 
of  its  departments — notably  the  surgical  pavilion  and  the  X-ray  department — 
were  not  prepared  to  operate  until  several  weeks  later,  on  account  of  lack  of 
equipment.  The  plan  followed  in  the  construction  and  the  distribution  of  the 
hospital  buildings  was  principally  that  outlined  by  the  Surgeon  General’s 
Office.  Deviation  in  the  location  of  some  buildings  was  made  to  conform  to 
terrain. 

Quarters  were  furnished  for  both  nurses  and  officers.  The  buildings  were 
of  the  same  type,  being  large  one-story  structures,  roughly  furnished  but 
crudely  comfortable.  The  nurses  were  housed  in  two  buildings,  built  and 
equipped  especially  for  this  purpose,  that-  were  situated  at  the  south  boundary 
of  the  hospital  grounds,  facing  each  other,  one  on  either  side  of  the  main 
thoroughfare  through  the  grounds.  These  buildings  were  rectangular  in  shape, 
with  three  wings  built  on  to  the  back.  There  were  26  private  rooms  in  the 
old  building  and  38  in  the  new.  The  two  end  wings  were  used  for  dormitories 
in  the  new  building,  while  the  middle  wing  was  used  for  the  dining  room  and 
kitchen.  Each  building  had  an  office  and  reception  room.  They  were  equipped 
with  running  water,  hot  and  cold  baths,  both  shower  and  tub,  and  they  were 
electric  lighted  throughout.  The  rooms  were  sparingly  furnished,  but  com- 
fortable. A small  infirmary  was  attached  to  one  wing.  The  officers’  quarters 
were  situated  opposite  the  officers’  ward,  facing  the  main  thoroughfare.  It 
was  built  on  the  same  plan  as  the  nurses’  quarters.  It  comprised  a mail} 
building  and  three  wings,  and  had  a total  of  55  rooms.  The  middle  wing 
was  divided  into  an  assembly  room,  dining  room,  and  kitchen.  The  remaining 
wings  were  partitioned  into  separate  rooms,  each  containing  a wardrobe  and 
small  table.  The  building  was  equipped  with  hot  and  cold  water,  a shower 
and  tub  bath,  and  electric  lights. 

During  the  first  few  days  after  the  hospital  was  opened,  meals  were 
served  the  commissioned  personnel  from  the  contractor’s  mess.  This  plan 
was  followed  until  the  officers’  ward  was  opened,  where  meals  were  then 
served  until  April,  1918,  when  the  officers’  mess  was  organized.  The  enlisted 
men’s  mess  was  located  at  the  extreme  northern  portion  of  the  hospital  grounds. 
It  was  of  the  standard  one-story  type,  consisting  of  two  long  parallel  build- 
ings united  by  an  inclosed  corridor.  The  first  wing  was  but  partially  com- 
pleted September  21,  1917,  when  it  began  serving  120  men.  In  November, 
1917,  the  number  served  had  increased  to  270,  and  in  March,  191S,  to  500, 
which  number  necessitated  serving  the  men  in  two  shifts.  Mess  kits  were 
used  until  about  May  1,  1918,  because  table  equipment  could  not  be  obtained 
previous  to  that  time.  In  June,  1918,  the  second  wing  was  completed,  the 
old  kitchen  fixtures  were  torn  out,  and  modern,  up-to-date  equipment  installed. 
Double  screen  doors,  ample  storerooms,  built-in  refrigeration,  etc.,  were 
provided. 

There  were  four  storehouses  connected  with  the  base  hospital.  These 
accommodated  the  needs  of  the  institution  comfortably,  though  they  did  not 
exceed  its  requirement. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


751 


The  laundry  building  was  completed,  hut  no  machinery  was  installed  in 
it.  Laundry  work  was  done  by  local  commercial  companies. 

Located  between  ward  12  and  the  mortuary  was  the  chapel,  which  had  a 
seating  capacity  of  about  200.  During  the  measles  epidemic  of  1917-18,  it 
was  used  as  a ward.  Later,  religious  services  were  held  in  it  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  and  the  various  chaplains  of  the 
division. 

The  original  water  supply  for  both  camp  and  base  hospital  came  from 
a number  of  springs  of  cold  crystal  water,  located  about  1 mile  from  the  hos- 
pital. Three-quarters  of  a million  gallons  of  water  was  daily  provided  from 
this  source.  Though  of  excellent  quality,  it  was  thought  best  to  chlorinate  it 
as  an  added  caution.  Three  6-inch  artesian  wells  were  sunk  to  the  depth  of 
350  feet.  Their  combined  daily  capacity  was  800,000  gallons.  On  account  of 
the  increased  consumption  of  water  incident  to  sprinkling,  etc.,  in  summer, 
the  quartermaster  constructed  another  6-inch  well  to  a depth  of  725  feet. 

Originally  there  was  no  sewerage  system,  which  entailed  the  use  of  latrines. 
Ultimately,  however,  a sewerage  system  was  provided  the  hospital. 

The  garbage  from  the  various  messes  was  placed  in  properly  closed  gal- 
vanized-iron  cans  and  was  removed  once  or  twice  daily  by  a farmer  who 
utilized  it  for  feeding  hogs.  The  tin  cans  were  crushed,  punctured,  subjected 
to  heat  in  an  open  furnace,  and  then  carted  away. 

During  the  early  months  of  the  hospital,  an  extemporized  shower  bath  of 
cold  water  was  the  only  available  form  of  bath.  Later,  each  ward  had  a 
shower  of  hot  and  cold  water,  a modern  tub,  two  lavatories,  two  commodes, 
one  urinal,  and  a sink.  In  addition,  there  were  two  sinks,  one  in  the  diet 
kitchen  and  one  in  the  scrub  room,  and  a lavatory  stand  in  diet  kitchen  and 
in  office. 

The  heating  system  of  the  hospital  was  unsatisfactory:  two  large  stoves 
with  galvanized  hoods  around  them  were  installed  in  each  ward;  the  type  of 
stove  suggested  that  it  was  probably  intended  as  a hot-air  furnace;  but  when 
used  with  its  hood  in  place,  practically  all  the  heat  was  directed  upward  and 
escaped  through  the  ventilators.  The  removal  of  the  hoods  improved  the 
situation,  but  the  amount  of  coal  required  was  enormous.  The  surgical 
pavilion  had  its  own  heating  plant  and  was  quite  popular  during  the  cold 
weather. 

The  camp  and  the  base  hospital  received  their  electric  current  from  the 
Hattiesburg  Traction  Co.  The  supply  was  adequate  and  satisfactory.  Wards 
were  lighted  by  one  central  row  of  ceiling  lights,  shaded  by  opaque  bulbs. 

Located  in  the  quadrangle  of  the  main  hospital  grounds,  the  post  exchange 
building  performed  a threefold  function:  it  provided  a barber  shop,  a recrea- 
tion room,  and  one  large  room  in  the  center  of  building  in  which  were  sold  soft 
drinks,  tobacco,  candy,  cakes,  fruit,  and  a number  of  small  articles  that  were 
so  essential  to  the  comfort  and  pleasure  of  the  patients  and  the  enlisted  per- 
sonnel. The  post  exchange  not  only  filled  a rather  definite  place  in  the 
economics  of  hospital  comfort,  but  its  dividends  were  a source  of  definite 
inflation  of  the  hospital  fund. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  had  no  building,  but  had  a resident 
secretary  who  contributed  to  the  comfort  of  the  patients  in  several  ways. 
The  camp  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  with  its  numerous  buildings,  was 


752 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


a very  definite  factor  in  the  entertainment  and  diversion  of  the  men  in  camp, 
but  inasmuch  as  it  had  no  definite  headquarters  or  recreation  facilities  at  the 
base  hospital,  it  did  not  make  the  same  impression  on  the  convalescent  popu- 
lation as  the  Red  Cross.  The  latter  organization  found  its  definite  place  in 
the  economics  of  the  base  hospital  through  the  advent  of  the  Red  Cross  nurse. 

Subsequent  to  the  opening  of  the  base  hospital,  the  Red  Cross  spent 
approximately  $100,000  for  the  benefit  of  the  soldiers  stationed  at  Camp 
Shelby.  About  $25,000  of  this  amount  was  expended  for  permanent  improve- 
ments, which  included  a nurses’  recreation  building  and  a large  recreation 
building  for  the  convalescent  patients  and  the  enlisted  personnel  of  the  hospital. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Shelby,  Hattiesburg,  Miss.,  from  September, 

1917,  to  June,  1919,  inclusive a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources . 

Returned  to  duty. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1017. 

2 

135 

137 

3 

October 

132 

794 

84 

1,010 

561 

November 

442 

2,273 

40 

2, 755 

1,495 

December 

1,241 

1,224 

155 

4 

2,624 

1,518 

1918. 

959 

1,442 

126 

2, 527 

1,198 

February 

1,096 

1,149 

80 

5 

2,330 

1 , 028 

March 

1,031 

1 , 053 

6 

IS 

2,108 

869 

April 

839 

1 , 369 

116 

14 

2,338 

1,169 

May 

804 

636 

83 

29 

1 , 552 

666 

June 

684 

739 

91 

15 

1 , 529 

702 

July 

635 

1 , 182 

139 

28 

1,984 

838 

August 

911 

2, 755 

35 

22 

3,723 

1,799 

September 

1,521 

1 , 673 

20 

11 

3,225 

1 . 854 

< >ctober 

710 

2,331 

3 

3,044 

959 

1,745 

'884 

2, 629 

1 , 713 

December 

'446 

714 

43 

9 

1,212 

587 

1919. 

January 

471 

661 

112 

1 

1,245 

691 

February 

394 

353 

109 

856 

460 

March 

229 

423 

342 

994 

598 

April 

290 

694 

9 

9 

1,002 

693 

May 

283 

584 

4 

10 

SSI 

658 

June 

188 

168 

1 

11 

36S 

154 

Completed  cases. 


Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 
other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

Remaining. 

days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

Hospital. 

© 

c 

oi 

2 

132 

412 

4 

3 

442 

10,938 



8 

9 

1 

1 

1,230 

11 

27,375 

133 

49 

7 

4 

1 

S6 

943 

16 

32,118 

322 

13 

1 

2 

217 

1,096 

3.112 

320 

11 

4 

1 

1,024 

30',  0S0 

200 

12 

39 

1 

7 

341 

82 S 

11 

27,946 

209 

10 

52 

2 

2 

299 

804 

28, 079 

8 

29 

1 

1 

163 

680 

4 

22, 621 

213 

1 

20 

13 

158 

635 

21,527 

6 

35 

28 

166 

90S 

3 

22,051 

43 

7 

21 

370 

1,513 

8 

37, 283 

12 

18 

12 

619 

'70S 

2 

34.761 

247 

14 

14 

312 

1,734 

11 

29j3S9 

159 

41 

4 

13 

412 

'446 

32j 652 

2S0 

4 

1 

9 

140 

467 

4 

14.573 

235 

8 

1 

9 

142 

391 

3 

13.706 

144 

160 

227 

o 

Sj  776 

101 

1 

9S 

289 

1 

9.046 

2 

6 

18 

283 

9,469 

3 

17 

1SS 

8,686 

1 

76 

14 

123 

4.612 

Aggregate 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

15 

15 

October 

15 

15 

November 

25 

25 

December 

25 

25 

1918. 

January 

20 

20 

February 

20 

20 

March. .'. 

32 

32 

April 

60 

2 

62 

May 

38 

3S 

June 

20 

13 

33 

July 

4 

11 

15 

August 

4 

11 

15 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

191S. 

8 

11 

19 

4 

19 

23 

1919. 

4 

19 

4 

11 

15 

3 

11 

14 

3 

s 

u 

3 

6 

9 

1 

5 

6 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


753 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Shelby,  Hattiesburg,  Miss.,  from  September, 
1917 , to  June,  1919,  inclusive — -Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 
neous. 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

52 

2 

1 

55 

127 

127 

3 

3 

October 

50 

4 

1 

55 

138 

138 

32 

1 

40 

7 

1 

48 

216 

216 

64 

1 

December 

45 

6 

1 

52 

219 

219 

70 

2 

1918. 

January 

50 

3 

1 

54 

216 

216 

71 

February 

58 

3 

1 

62 

216 

216 

88 

March 

73 

4 

1 

78 

293 

293 

91 

April 

85 

3 

1 

89 

493 

20 

513 

132 

Mav 

97 

2 

1 

100 

491 

20 

511 

117 

June 

89 

3 

1 

93 

492 

20 

512 

119 

July 

84 

4 

1 

89 

489 

20 

509 

130 

August 

79 

3 

1 

83 

483 

20 

503 

131 

September 

73 

3 

1 

77 

474 

20 

494 

149 

October 

87 

3 

1 

91 

481 

19 

500 

145 

November 

73 

3 

1 

77 

473 

18 

491 

120 

December 

62 

5 

3 

70 

478 

20 

498 

125 

1919. 

January 

47 

5 

3 

55 

470 

17 

487 

106 

February 

42 

4 

3 

49 

344 

17 

361 

65 

March... 

35 

4 

3 

42 

286 

13 

299 

48 

April 

27 

3 

2 

32 

260 

12 

272 

49 

May 

23 

3 

2 

28 

229 

7 

236 

46 

June 

17 

2 

4 

23 

126 

1 

127 

20 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  SHERIDAN,  ALA.a 

The  base  hospital  of  Camp  Sheridan  was  located  in  Montgomery  County, 
Ala.,  about  5 miles  northeast  of  the  city  of  Montgomery. 

The  terrain  of  this  region  is  a slightly  rolling  open  country.  It  is  well 
watered,  and  is  recognized  as  good  farming  land.  The  soil  is  a sandy  loam,  cover- 
ing a deep  clay  substratum,  and  there  are  areas  of  gravel  along  the  banks  of  an 
adjacent  creek  just  to  the  northeast  of  the  hospital  site.  In  hot,  dry  weather 
there  is  a great  deal  of  dust  but,  inasmuch  as  the  hospital  was  situated  2 miles 
from  the  military  camp,  off  the  line  of  autobuses,  and  beside  a road  that  was 
traveled  mainly  by  vehicles  in  business  association  with  the  institution,  the 
hospital  did  not  suffer  seriously  from  clouds  of  dust  such  as  occasionally  visited 
the  camp. 

Rams  in  this  region  are  very  heavy,  sometimes  torrential  in  character,  but 
the  fields  do  not  become  very  muddy,  and  the  water  is  absorbed  or  carried  off 
so  rapidly  that  walking  over  the  ground  is  possible  within  a few  hours  after. 

The  climate  might  well  be  considered  ideal  for  a military  post.  The  United 
States  Weather  Bureau  has  compiled  the  statistics  of  meteorological  conditions 
for  the  past  45  years,  between  1872  and  1916,  and  these  show  that  the  average 
mean  temperature  for  the  spring  months  (March,  April,  and  May)  is  65.6°  F. ; 
for  the  summer  months,  80.8°;  for  autumn,  65.8°;  and  for  the  winter  months, 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sheridan,  Ala.,”  by  Maj. 
Henry  O.  Reik,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  0 ffice,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

45269°—  23 48 


754 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


49.5°;  which  makes  the  average  annual  temperature  65.5°  F.  During  the 
year  1916,  the  latest  for  which  published  figures  are  available,  the  extremes  of 
temperature  were  as  follows:  Highest,  99°  on  May  27;  lowest,  21°  on  February 
3.  There  was  no  snow  that  year  and  the  same  held  true  for  the  winter  follow- 
ing. The  rainfall,  however,  amounted  to  a total  of  46  inches,  with  5.73  inches 
as  the  greatest  fall  within  24  hours;  that  occurring  July  6 and  7.  Sunshine 
existed  in  63  per  cent  of  the  possible  number  of  hours.  In  the  course  of  the 
year  there  were  62  thunderstorms,  30  of  these  occurring  during  the  months  of 
June  and  July,  while  October  and  November  were  the  only  months  entirely 
free  of  this  phenomenon.  High  winds  are  unusual,  the  average  velocity  for 
the  year  1917-18  being  6.6  miles  per  hour;  only  once  during  the  year  did  the 
extreme  velocity  exceed  36  miles.  In  the  spring  and  summer  months  the  pre- 
vailing winds  are  west  to  southwest,  and  in  the  fall  and  winter  months  north- 
west to  north. 

The  roads  in  and  about  the  hospital  reservation  were  excellent,  being  con- 
structed of  a sand-clay  base  with  a gravel-t-op  dressing. 

The  buildings  occupied  the  high  ground  to  the  east  of  Lomax  Creek,  a tribu- 
tary of  the  Alabama  River,  while  to  the  eastward  spread  out  a rolling  plateau 
for  a distance  of  4 miles,  to  the  Tallapoosa  River,  this  region  being  intersected 
by  many  small  branches  and  creeks  flowing  northward  into  one  or  the  other 
of  the  above-named  rivers.  The  main  road  from  the  city,  or  the  camp,  crossed 
Lomax  Creek  by  a concrete  bridge,  75  feet  long,  with  an  arch  30  feet  above  the 
water.  The  stream  at  this  point  was  some  30  feet  wide  and  quite  shallow,  not 
exceeding  3 feet  deep  in  its  central  pools.  On  each  side  of  the  creek  there  was 
a strip  of  wooded  swamp  which  was  properly  drained  and  prepared  against 
mosquito  development.  The  outflowing  water  from  the  hospital's  septic-tank 
sewage  plant  emptied  into  the  creek  just  below  this  bridge.  There  were  no 
near-by  farmhouses,  none  within  a mile  and  a half  to  the  west,  south,  or  east, 
and  those  to  the  northeast  were  upon  land  that  necessarily  drained  into  the 
streams  flowing  away  from  the  hospital  district. 

The  base  hospital  was  organized  by  the  commanding  officer  reporting  for 
duty  August  15,  1917,  in  compliance  with  Special  Orders,  No.  176  (par.  10S), 
W.  D.,  July  13,  1917.  On  August  21  the  general  plan  of  grounds  for  the  base 
hospital  were  staked  out,  and  the  work  of  grading  same  started  on  August  25. 
There  were  present  for  duty  in  the  beginning  the  commanding  officer,  a supply 
officer,  one  sergeant,  first  class,  Medical  Department,  and  three  sergeants,  Med- 
ical Department. 

Quartermaster’s  warehouse  No.  6 was,  by  permission  of  the  camp  quarter- 
master, first  occupied  as  an  office  for  the  base  hospital  and  for  a medical 
supply  depot.  On  September  13,  1917,  the  infirmary  of  the  74th  Brigade  was 
turned  over  to  the  base  hospital  for  temporary  quarters  and  on  October  9 
removal  was  made  to  the  present  hospital;  the  administration  building,  one 
structure  for  officers’  quarters  and  six  hospital  wards  being  then  sufficiently 
advanced  for  occupancy. 

The  construction  of  the  hospital  had  been  sufficiently  advanced  by  October 
9,  1917,  to  permit  the  use  of  the  administration  buildings  and  six  wards.  From 
this  date  the  organization  of  the  institution  may  be  said  to  have  begun.  Con- 
struction was  subsequently  pushed,  and  within  a comparatively  short  time 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


755 


all  of  the  buildings  originally  planned  for  had  been  completed.  As  constructed, 
the  hospital  groups  covered  an  area  of  40  acres.  Its  pavilions,  arranged  on 
the  standard  plan  for  base  hospital,  ran  east  and  west,  which  limited  the  ex- 
posure of  their  walls  to  the  sun’s  rays  practically  to  the  southern  side.  There 
were  25  wards  originally  constructed;  but,  to  increase  the  capacity  of  the  hos- 
pital, six  two-story  ward  barracks  were  provided  during  the  early  part  of  1918. 
In  the  same  year  an  extension  was  made  to  the  laboratory  building,  almost 
doubling  its  capacity;  and  a head  surgery  building  was  erected,  with  special 
clinic  rooms  for  ophthalmology,  otolaryngology,  and  dentistry.  The  ward 
additions  made  a total  authorized  bed  capacity  of  1,310. 

The  officers’  and  nurses’  quarters  were  frame  buildings  of  the  simplest 
form  of  construction — buildings  25  by  100  feet,  with  a central  hall  running 
lengthwise,  and  the  small  rooms  (10  by  10  feet)  opening  off  either  side.  Near 
the  center,  one  room  was  fitted  with  toilet  facilities  and  one  for  bathing  pur- 
poses. The  enlisted  men  occupied  barracks  constructed  in  much  the  same 
manner  save  that  they  were  in  the  form  of  a dormitory  instead  of  having 
separate  rooms. 

There  were  three  large  kitchens  and  mess  halls.  The  largest,  situated 
nearly  in  the  center  of  the  hospital  quadrangle,  was  for  the  patients  and  the 
enlisted  personnel.  The  others  were  for  the  officers  and  the  nurses  in  their 
respective  quarters.  All  were  well  equipped  with  the  essential  apparatus. 

Five  warehouse  buildings  were  used  for  the  storage  and  issue  of  supplies; 
one  was  the  camp  medical  supply  depot,  one  the  hospital  medical  supply  depot, 
one  the  hospital  quartermaster’s  supply  station,  and  two  were  general  store- 
houses, one  of  these  being  used  in  part  as  a carpenter  shop. 

A separate  building  at  the  south  end  of  the  grounds  was  provided  for  a 
laundry,  but  it  was  not  equipped  for  work,  and  it  was  used  solely  as  a sorting 
room,  all  the  linen  being  sent  to  the  city  laundries. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  organization  there  was,  quite  naturally,  consider- 
able delay  in  securing  satisfactory  equipment,  and  the  work  had  to  be  done 
under  many  difficulties.  The  surgical  department  suffered  perhaps  more  from 
this  than  did  the  medical.  The  operating  pavilion  was  not  started  until  after 
most  of  the  wards  had  been  completed,  and  even  then  there  was  a long  delay 
in  procuring  the  necessary  furniture  and  supplies  and,  especially,  in  installing 
the  steam  sterilizers.  Pending  that,  all  of  the  surgical  work  was  performed  in 
the  city;  all  surgical  cases  being  transported  to  St.  Margaret’s  Hospital,  where 
every  facility  was  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Army  surgeons. 

Ultimately,  the  equipment  of  the  hospital  was  almost  perfect,  and  the 
most  complicated  and  technical  surgical  procedures  could  have  been  under- 
taken 'with  the  same  assurance  of  success  as  would  attend  similar  operations 
in  civil  hospitals.  At  first  some  of  the  surgeons  had  to  rely  upon  instruments 
of  their  own,  fortunately  brought  along,  but  this  condition  rapidly  became 
corrected  by  requisition. 

The  water  supply  for  both  the  hospital  and  the  camp  was  obtained  from 
the  general  supply  of  Montgomery  City  through  the  medium  of  a special  pipe 
line.  The  origin  of  this  water  was  a series  of  artesian  wells,  and  it  was  so  pure 
that  neither  filtration  nor  any  form  of  sedimentation  was  necessary. 


756 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UKITED  STATES. 


In  the  early  days  of  the  hospital  regulation  Army  latrines  were  used,  but 
these  were  all  disposed  of,  and  all  wards  and  nearly  all  the  other  buildings  were 
equipped  with  water-closets  connecting  with  underground  sewer  pipes  that  con- 
veyed the  sewage  to  a large  septic  tank  located  on  the  bank  of  the  creek  about 
100  yards  to  the  west  of  the  hospital. 

No  animals  being  kept  at  the  hospital,  manure  disposal  was  not  a prob- 
lem. Kitchen  waste  and  general  garbage  were  destroyed  in  open-air  in- 
cinerators. 

Each  of  the  officers’  quarters,  nurses’  quarters,  and  ward  buildings  was 
supplied  with  a lavatory  and  bathroom,  provided  with  hot  and  cold  water, 
the  heating  being  done  by  a stove  installed  in  a shed  outside  each  building. 

It  was  unfortunate  that  no  central  heating  plant  was  established.  In  the 
wards  a large  soft-coal  burning  furnace  was  located  in  the  central  part  of  the 
room.  In  quarters  and  in  the  smaller  buildings  reliance  was  placed  upon  small 
egg-shaped  stoves,  also  burning  soft  coal.  Naturally,  the  heating  was  imperfect 
and  irregular,  an  inordinate  amount  of  service  attention  was  required,  great 
waste  was  a necessary  evil,  and  fire  risk  was  beyond  exaggeration. 

January  18,  19 IS,  fire  broke  out  in  the  officers’  quarters  at  5 p.  m.,  causing 
an  estimated  loss  of  $1,000,  beside  the  heavy  personal  losses  of  those  resident  in 
that  building.  February  11,  1918,  fire  in  ward  41,  at  11.45  a.  m.,  caused  an 
estimated  loss  of  $750.  An  efficient  volunteer  fire  department,  and  the  fact 
that  both  fires  occurred  during  the  daytime,  were  all  that  prevented  serious 
catastrophes. 

The  lighting  of  the  hospital  was  by  electricity  furnished  from  the  Mont- 
gomery Electric  Light  & Power  Co.  The  service  was  both  efficient  and 
cheap.  In  fact,  the  rate,  54  cents  a kilowatt  hour,  was  considered  exception- 
ally low.  Montgomery  enjoyed  this  rate  by  virtue  of  the  fact  that  the  electricity 
could  be  made  by  water  power  from  the  Alabama  River.  In  consequence,  the 
lighting  of  the  hospital  buildings,  corridors,  and  grounds  was  very  satisfactory. 

The  chaplain  of  the  old  2nd  Ohio  was  attached  for  special  duty  to  the 
base  hospital  on  November  8,  1917.  The  following  Sunday,  November  11, 
religious  services  were  held.  As  the  little  building  designated  “the  chapel  ’ 
was  so  distantly  related  to  the  main  part  of  the  hospital,  it  was  decided  to  use 
one  of  the  rooms  in  the  receiving  ward,  which  was  much  more  convenient,  as 
the  place  of  worship. 

The  hospital  post  exchange  opened  September  5,  1917,  in  an  unused  camp 
mess  hall.  When  the  new  hospital  was  opened  a special  exchange  building 
was  provided,  and  here,  in  addition  to  the  store,  a barber  shop,  tailoring  shop, 
and  the  post  office  were  established.  The  exchange  was  well  patronized  and 
considerable  profit  was  derived  from  it,  which  was  periodically  invested  to  the 
benefit  of  the  enlisted  men  of  the  hospital. 

There  was  no  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building  at  the  hospital, 
but  representatives  of  the  organization  provided  entertainment  for  the  patients 
and  personnel,  making  use  of  the  patients’  mess  hall  and  Red  Cross  convalescent 
building. 

The  American  Red  Cross  constructed  a handsome  building  for  its  activities 
and  a recreation  building  for  the  nurses. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


Y5  7 


During  the  early  weeks  of  the  base  hospital’s  existence  no,  or  at  best  but 
sporadic,  attempts  were  made  to  furnish  diversion  and  amusement  for  the  sick 
and  injured.  The  hospital  itself  was  far  from  being  completed  and  the  energies 
of  everyone  were  bent  in  that  direction.  In  November  the  1st  and  7th  Ohio 
Regiments  were  absorbed  by  the  147th  Infantry,  leaving  their  bands  unattached. 
One  of  these  bands  was  secured  by  the  hospital  and  detailed  there  by  order  of  the 
division  commander.  This  was  the  band  of  the  former  1st  Ohio  Infantry,  Cin- 
cinnati. The  members,  being  quartered  in  one  of  the  old  barracks,  entered  into 
their  new  duties  with  enthusiasm  and  in  a short  time  converted  the  band  from 
a marching  body  into  a concert  organization.  Concerts  were  given  daily  in  the 
quadrangle  between  the  operating  pavilion  and  the  patients’  mess  hall.  Later, 
when  the  weather  became  cooler,  the  concerts  were  held  Tuesday  evenings  in 
the  temporary  chapel.  Soon  the  townspeople  began  to  show  an  interest  and 
the  concerts  were  augmented  by  vocal  and  instrumental  solo  selections,  to  which 
the  faculty  of  the  Women’s  College  lent  no  little  aid.  On  Sunday  afternoons 
at  2 o’clock  the  band  held  open-air  concerts  in  front  of  the  hospital. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sheridan,  Montgomery,  Ala.,  from  August, 

1917,  to  May  15,  1919,  inclusive,  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for . 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

T5 

a 

o3 

a 

a 

o 

o 

a 

o 

£ 

From  other 
sources. 

"3 

O 

© 

a 

a 

© 

P$ 

© 

s 

^3 

o . 

aa 

t-  ft 

a a 
.a 

o 

c/3 

S 

© 

© 

© 

ft 

ft  • 

* ft 
© £ 
^ © 

© o 
££> 

a 

c3  o 
ft  £ 

C/3  03 
•— < u< 

A 

a 

sn 

"©^ 

C/3 

© 03 
© 

a § 
a w 

S 

o 

'd  ft 

£ g 
© ^ 
© 

1° 

*3 

O 

©'d 

C/3  © 
© ^ 
o 

a 

o3  • 
t-  s- 

© 

1 

© 

£ 

o 

*3 

’ft 

C/3 

o 

H 

C/3 

© 

Hi 

a 

c3 

’ft 

C/3 

o 

w 

C/3 

© 

Ui 

03 

a 

O* 

1917. 

August 

i 

1 

i 

1 

101 

105 

207 

96 

1 

106 

4 

1,284 

187 

October 

110 

518 

65 

2 

695 

363 

2 

l 

1 

325 

3 

6,  466 

87 

328 

826 

25 

2 

1,181 

810 

2 

6 

3 

360 

12, 230 

December 

360 

806 

16 

1 

1,183 

835 

3 

9 

2 

334 

10;  439 

1918. 

334 

1,728 

33 

1 

2,096 

1,410 

13 

673 

17, 129 

February 

673 

847 

1 

1,521 

978 

14 

7 

i 

12 

509 

15, 331 

March..  I 

509 

863 

8 

3 

1,383 

870 

7 

3 

6 

497 

18, 147 

April 

497 

2, 021 

6 

6 

2,530 

2,002 

7 

2 

5 

514 

20, 577 

May 

514 

777 

3 

3 

1,297 

827 

3 

10 

2 

13, 677 

June 

700 

7 

7 

1, 169 

590 

3 

12 

6 

558 

15, 202 

July 

558 

507 

10 

7 

1,082 

508 

4 

22 

15 

533 

15'  722 

August 

533 

1,120 

19 

19 

1,691 

754 

3 

6 

1 

4 

18 

905 

23'  474 

September 

905 

1,240 

30 

17 

2,192 

962 

4 

lJ 

1 

4 

104 

1, 103 

28, 294 

October 

1,103 

4,732 

88 

5, 923 

4,655 

146 

5 

2 

2 

49 

1 064 

60, 100 

November 

1,064 

690 

12 

6 

1,772 

1, 130 

26 

10 

46 

560 

23,921 

December 

560 

623 

78 

4 

1,265 

729 

9 

6 

2 

1 

3 

41 

474 

16,633 

1919. 

January 

474 

489 

115 

18 

1,096 

776 

4 

1 

6 

15 

287 

12  966 

February 

287 

212 

127 

5 

631 

389 

1 

4 

9 

11 

217 

March 

217 

53 

16 

352 

189 

7 

117 

31 

2 001 

April 

5 

10 

1 

1 

17 

14 

1 

2 

May 

2 

2 

2 

2 

8 

1 

1 

3 

47 

3 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


758  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sheridan,  Montgomery,  Ala.,  from 
August,  1917,  to  May  15,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

September 

40 

2 

2 

44 

127 

127 

October 

32 

2 

1 

35 

129 

129 

November 

28 

2 

1 

31 

287 

287 

December 

28 

3 

1 

32 

284 

284 

26 

1918. 

January 

35 

4 

1 

40 

275 

275 

February 

39 

4 

1 

44 

323 

15 

338 

62 

March 

38 

5 

1 

44 

325 

16 

341 

91 

April 

40 

4 

2 

46 

347 

16 

363 

92 

May 

41 

5 

1 

47 

318 

16 

334 

92 

June 

36 

3 

1 

40 

336 

15 

351 

88 

July 

34 

1 

1 

36 

464 

14 

478 

100 

August 

30 

1 

1 

32 

424 

16 

440 

76 

September 

23 

3 

1 

27 

429 

13 

442 

85 

October 

31 

3 

1 

35 

426 

13 

439 

88 

November 

33 

3 

1 

37 

435 

12 

447 

89 

December 

32 

6 

1 

39 

477 

12 

489 

77 

1919. 

January 

30 

6 

1 

37 

591 

12 

603 

72 

February 

23 

6 

1 

30 

421 

9 

430 

66 

March 

6 

5 

11 

36 

36 

18 

April 

5 

5 

10 

37 

37 

6 

May 

4 

2 

6 

20 

20 

6 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  SHERMAN,  CHILLICOTHE,  OHIO.« 

The  hospital  group  was  about  3 miles  from  the  center  of  the  town  of 
Chillicothe  (15,000  inhabitants,  1915),  Ross  County,  Ohio,  and  54  miles  from 
Columbus,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

The  choice  of  a site  upon  which  to  build  Camp  Sherman,  and  with  it  the 
base  hospital  group,  was  influenced  by  the  fact  that  it  is  an  historic  military 
spot.  In  this  region,  then  a part  of  the  old  Northwest  Territory,  a detention 
camp  was  established  for  British  prisoners  of  the  War  of  1S12;  and  it  is  an 
interesting  commentary  on  that  fact  that  some  of  their  descendants  assisted 
in  the  erection  of  the  buildings  and  in  preparing  the  grounds  of  the  hospital. 
Moreover,  a portion  of  the  camp  site  was  occupied  in  the  early  days  by  an 
old  Indian  stockade,  used  for  camping  and  war  purposes  by  the  aborigines. 

The  Scioto  Valley,  in  which  the  base  hospital  was  situated,  although  not 
far  from  the  Kentucky  line,  is  usually  quite  cold  in  winter;  the  thermometer 
in  January  and  February  often  reaches  zero,  Fahrenheit,  or  below  it,  and  there 
is  generally  plenty  of  snow  during  these  months.  The  summers  are  sometimes 
quite  hot. 

The  hospital  buildings  were  erected  facing  the  Frankfort  Pike,  between  it 
and  the  low  range  of  hills  that  encircle  the  flat  valley  plateau  on  which  the  camp 
proper  was  built.  There  are  scattered  groups  of  trees  along  the  highways  and 
on  the  hills. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  o n the  “ History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sherman,  Ohio,”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  Casey  A.  W ood,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A. , while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


759 


The  soil  (cultivated  farm  land)  is  a sandy  gravel  covered  by  a layer  of 
gumbo  clay  of  varying  thickness.  Water-smoothed,  small-sized  gravel,  con- 
taining very  few  bowlders  and  admirably  adapted  for  road  building,  can  almost 
everywhere  be  found  at  a depth  of  from  3 to  10  feet.  The  principal  objection, 
from  a hospital  standpoint,  to  the  site  as  a cantonment  hospital  was  tills  upper- 
soil  deposit  of  clay,  commonly  known  as  gumbo.  After  rains  this  stratum  is 
readily  converted  into  an  adherent  mixture  that  is  easily  carried  into  the 
hospital  buildings,  and  which,  in  spite  of  steel  scrapers  and  other  devices,  is 
almost  impossible  to  remove  from  the  footwear.  In  continued  dry  weather 
also  the  clay  forms  a fine,  impalpable  dust  which  rises  in  clouds  from  the  dirt 
roads  and  filters  through  the  screens  of  neighboring  windows.  There  are  no 
disagreeable  prevailing  winds. 

At  first  there  were  few  concrete  or  asphalted  roads  or  streets  in  or  near 
the  hospital.  This  defect  was  slowly  remedied,  however,  until  in  the  spring 
of  191S  cindered  walks  and  roads  were  built  all  over  the  site  of  the  hospital 

The  water  supply,  from  artesian  wells,  was  demonstrated  to  be  remarkably 
clear  and  bacteria  free,  but  impregnated  with  iron  and  lime  salts,  hence  cjuite 
hard  and  pleasant  to  drink,  although  far  from  ideal  for  washing  purposes  or 


Fig.  197.— View  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Shennan,  CMllicotlie,  Ohio. 


for  use  in  the  boilers  of  the  heating  plant  and  laundry,  owing  to  the  deposition 
in  them  of  ferrocalcitic  salts.  The  water  supply  of  the  whole  camp  was  obtained 
from  one  large  dug  well  and  five  drilled  wells  located  in  the  northeastern  por- 
tion of  the  cantonment  property,  near  the  Scioto  River.  All  of  these  wells 
secured  their  supply  from  an  excellent  water-bearing  gravel  stratum  at  depths 
varying  from  80  to  90  feet  from  the  surface.  The  dug  well  was  20  feet  in 
diameter  and  about  70  feet  deep  and  was  cased  with  steel  piling  supported  by 
a wood  templet  or  centering.  The  top  of  the  well  was  curbed  with  brick  and 
concrete  and  provided  with  a tight  wooden  cover.  Two  of  the  drilled  wells 
were  6 inches  and  three  of  them  8 inches  in  diameter.  They  were  located 
about  250  feet  apart.  The  water  from  the  wells  was  pumped  by  means  of 
motor-driven  centrifugal  pumps.  Four  of  these  pumps  were  located  in  the 
main  pumping  station  and  were  of  sufficient  capacity  to  furnish  750  gallons 
per  minute  each  against  a head  of  250  feet.  The  small  centrifugal  pumps  had 
a capacity  of  400  gallons  per  minute  and  pumped  the  water  into  a suction  well 
of  25,000  gallons  capacity  near  the  pumping  station,  the  suction  lines  for  the 
main  pumps  being  connected  with  this  well. 


760 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  water  was  pumped  directly  through  the  distribution  system  to  four 
100,000-gallon  storage  tanks  located  on  a hill  northwest  of  the  cantonment. 
These  tanks  were  constructed  of  redwood  on  concrete  foundations  and  were 
about  220  feet  above  the  water  in  the  wells.  There  were  also  two  25,000-gallon 
tanks  located  on  the  hill  above  the  hospital  group  at  the  same  elevation  as  the 
main  storage  tanks.  This  additional  water  supply  not  only  helped,  from  the 
ordinary  consumption  point  of  view,  but  it  meant  more  protection  in  case  of 
lire.  The  distribution  system  was  made  up  largely  of  wood  pipe  from  6 to  14 
inches  in  size,  and  extended  throughout  the  cantonment.  Hydrants  were 
provided  at  frequent  intervals,  and  small  service  pipes  were  connected  with  the 
various  lavatories  and  kitchens.  As  an  additional  sanitary  precaution  a liquid 
chlorine  disinfection  device  was  provided  at  the  pumping  station  to  disinfect 
the  water  supply  in  case  of  emergency. 

The  main  sewerage  system  of  Camp  Sherman,  of  which  the  hospital  system 
formed  a part,  consisted  of  two  trunk  sewers  from  8 to  24  inches  in  size,  one  of 
which  was  located  on  each  side  of  the  cantonment,  discharging  into  an  outfall 
sewer  30  inches  in  size.  This  sewer  in  turn  joined  a treatment  plant,  located 
along  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad,  to  an  outlet  in  the  main  channel  of  the 
Scioto  River,  a small  stream  that  skirted  the  east  boundary  of  the  camp  at 
a point  near  the  outlet  of  the  most  northerly  sewer  for  the  town  of  Cliillicothe. 
Connected  with  the  main  trunk  sewers  was  a large  number  of  6-inch  lateral 
sewers  extending  to  the  various  lavatories  and  kitchens  throughout  the  canton- 
ment. Manholes,  located  at  frequent  intervals,  were  constructed  of  concrete 
with  wood  covers.  The  sewage  was  disposed  of  in  two  concrete  tanks  50  by 
150  feet  in  plan  and  having  a capacity  of  500,000  gallons.  The  effluent  from 
these  tanks  was  treated  with  liquid  chlorine  disinfectant  solution.  This  device 
was  located  in  a separate  house  adjacent  to  the  tanks  and  automatically  fed 
into  the  tank  effluent  in  proportion  to  the  rate  of  flow  through  the  tanks. 

The  urinals  and  closets  were  of  the  latest  and  best  types  of  permanent 
construction;  they  emptied  into  the  sewerage  system  just  mentioned. 

Hospital  construction  at  Camp  Sherman  may  be  divided  into  two  periods: 
first,  that  of  camp  construction  in  general,  and  second,  that  of  readiness  for 
the  reception  of  patients. 

During  the  former  period  the  so-called  emergency  hospital  was  very  useful 
and  served  especially  the  Bentley  organization,  and  was  commonly  known  as  the 
Bentley  Hospital.  It  was,  however,  inaugurated  and  controlled  bv  the  Aetna 
Insurance  Co.,  which  had  charge  of  all  the  insurance  of  the  Bentley  employees. 
This  small  building  was  placed  at  the  entrance  of  the  camp,  and  prominent 
signs  posted  all  over  the  cantonment  gave  instructions  to  rush  all  injured  men 
to  it.  There  were  generally  but  a few  patients  in  this  small  hospital,  but  it 
acted  as  an  emergency  hospital  for  the  Cliillicothe  hospital  mainly,  and,  later, 
the  embryo  base  hospital. 

On  June  20, 1917,  the  first  contingent  of  troops  (to  guard  construction  work) 
appeared,  when  Company  D,  of  the  Ohio  Engineers,  from  Cleveland,  pitched 
them  tents  on  the  grounds.  Shortly  after,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  base 
hospital  was  selected,  and  his  staff  began  to  arrive  at  Cliillicothe.  At  that 
time  the  organization  consisted  of  a small  group  of  officers  in  barracks  B-33. 
The  commanding  officers’  offices,  officers’  mess,  and  the  enlisted  men’s  mess 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


761 

were  all  in  barracks  A-34.  With  one  or  two  exceptions  the  officers  of  the  staff 
slept  and  had  their  quarters  in  barracks  B-33.  By  the  end  of  November,  1917, 
the  staff  numbered  about  65. 

The  single  operating  room  of  the  future  base  hospital  was  for  the  time  the 
kitchen  of  barracks  A-34,  the  second  story  of  the  building  being  given  up  to 
ward  space.  The  small  number  of  patients,  between  20  and  30,  were  more 
than  amply  provided  as  to  ward  masters,  nurses,  and  orderlies  by  the  assign- 
ment of  an  ambulance  company  of  100  men,  recruited  from  Northwestern 
University  and  Evanston,  111.,  and  at  that  time  stationed  at  Fort  Sheridan,  111. 
Tliis  fine  body  of  men,  with  the  patients  and  personnel  of  the  hospital  itself, 
were  transferred  to  the  permanent  buildings  of  the  base  hospital  group  on  the 
17th  of  September,  1917.  This  portion  of  the  enlisted  equipment,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  some  half  dozen  men,  subsequently  was  detached  from  the  hospital 
service  to  various  other  organizations,  but  especially  to  the  aviation  section  of 
the  Signal  Corps.  In  addition  to  these,  21  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  Regular  Army  were  assigned  to  the  base  hospital,  of  whom  15  were 
still  on  the  same  duty  on  November  20,  1917. 

At  last  the  commanding  officer  decided  that  the  wards  of  the  base  hospital 
were  sufficiently  finished  to  permit  of  their  partial  use  in  receiving  bedridden 
patients,  so  on  September  17,  1917,  the  equipment  of  the  primitive  hospital 
was  conveyed  by  ambulances  and  automobile  lorries  to  what  were  later  known 
as  wards  9 and  10  of  the  permanent  base  hospital,  the  services  being  divided 
into  medical  and  surgical.  At  the  same  time  the  staff  officers  moved  to  regular 
officers’  quarters.  In  this  connection  it  is  to  be  noted  that  the  original  plans 
of  the  base  hospital  provided  for  two  such  buildings,  one  on  each  side  of  the 
house  allotted  to  the  commanding  officer.  However,  it  was  discovered  that 
the  site  assigned  on  the  plan  for  the  second  building  was  the  middle  of  the  high 
road  or  pike  and  so  it  was  not  constructed  in  that  locality  and  not  until  the 
following  year.  In  consequence,  late  arrivals  had  to  be  quartered  in  the  officers’ 
ward  and  elsewhere. 

For  the  1,000-bed  hospital  there  were  buildings  for  administration,  receiving 
ward,  officers’  quarters,  officers’  ward,  nurses’  quarters,  operating  room,  X-ray 
and  research  laboratory,  32  single  wards,  4 isolation  wards,  kitchen,  mess 
hall,  exchange,  powerhouse  and  heating  plant,  laundry,  commissary  stores, 
repair  shop,  6 barracks  with  2 lavatories,  a chapel,  mortuary,  fire-engine 
house,  garage,  and  guard  house.  All  of  these  buildings  (65  in  number)  were 
built  of  frame  construction. 

The  ward  buildings,  administration,  officers’  and  nurses’  quarters,  and  ex- 
change had  porches. 

At  first  there  was  little  privacy  and  but  little  chance  of  improvement,  even 
in  permanent  officers’  quarters.  Before  a fortnight  had  elapsed,  however,  a 
remarkable  change  had  taken  place  in  them  as  well  as  in  all  the  hospital  build- 
ings. In  the  early  days  only  wards  9 and  10  were  occupied,  by  all  classes  of 
patients,  there  being  at  that  time  no  general  infectious  cases.  The  dispensary 
was  settled  in  ward  10.  There  was,  at  first,  an  irregular  supply  of  water,  doubt- 
ful and  insufficient  lighting,  and  no  heat,  except  from  a scant  supply  of  coal-oil 
stoves,  a few  electric  heaters,  and  one  or  two  electric  lamps.  It  was  also  quite 
a common  occurrence  to  have  the  electric  light  fail  during  the  mess  hour  or  at 


762 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


some  other  critical  period,  when  those  officers  who  possessed  candles  became 
quite  popular  with  their  fellows.  However,  these  were  only  incidents  in  the 
game,  “all  in  the  day’s  work,”  and  nobody  complained  either  then  or  after- 
wards, because  it  was  realized  that  everyone  was  doing  the  best  he  could  and 
that  it  was  his  privilege  as  well  as  his  duty  to  help  others  by  being  as  cheerful 
and  as  hopeful  as  possible. 

Gradually  the  necessary  equipment  was  furnished,  which,  supplemented  by 
private  efforts  and  the  loans  and  purchases  of  members  of  the  staff,  produced 
a really  effective  hospital. 

The  number  of  patients  in  the  permanent  hospital  on  September  17,  1917, 
was  17;  on  November  30,  1917,  they  numbered  811;  while  on  March  31,  1918, 
the  base  hospital  was  caring  for  910  patients  in  all  lines  of  medicine  and  surgery. 
The  maximum  number  of  patients  was  9,736  in  October,  1918.  This  rapid 
increase  in  the  number  of  patients  was  mainly  due  to  transfers  from  the  regi- 
mental infirmaries.  Additional  wards  were  opened  and  equipped  as  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  service  demanded,  although  the  equipment  was  quite  scarce  and 
often  insufficient,  because  Government  supplies  came  in  slowly.  However,  in 
a few  weeks  the  whole  16  wards  of  the  inner  hospital  group,  and  finally  many 
of  the  outer  group,  were  called  into  requisition,  partly  because  of  the  natural 
increase  due  to  the  arrival  of  the  draft,  partly  because  of  epidemics,  such  as 
tonsillitis,  cerebrospinal  meningitis,  pneumonia,  and  venereal  diseases — the 
latter  especially  among  the  colored  troops  from  Oklahoma. 

Following  the  modified  plan  of  the  base-hospital  group,  ground  was  broken 
for  the  head  surgery  hospital  at  Camp  Sherman  on  September  28,  1917.  Per- 
haps as  good  an  idea  as  can  be  formed  of  the  almost  marvelous  fashion  in  which 
the  construction  and  erection  of  buildings  in  this  camp  were  carried  on  is  obtain- 
able from  the  fact  that  this  special  building,  with  its  four  operating  rooms  and 
their  surroundings  of  special  chambers  for  special  work,  was  practically  roughed 
in  and  completed  in  its  essentials  within  a space  of  10  days.  Although,  owing 
to  the  difficulties  of  heating  and  lighting,  it  was  not  utilized  until  the  end  of 
October,  yet  there  was  soon  established  a large  and  flourishing  eye,  ear,  nose 
and  throat  clinic. 

The  reason  the  laboratories,  wards,  and  operating  rooms  of  the  hospital  at 
Camp  Sherman  were  earlier  and  better  equipped  than  most  of  the  cantonment 
hospitals  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  commanding  general,  wearying  of  the  continued 
and  persistent  excuses  which  all  the  medical  officers  were,  of  necessity,  obliged 
to  offer  in  explanation  of  a lack  of  the  implements  and  appliances  needed  for  their 
service,  and  of  the  constant  apologies  they  were  obliged  to  make  not  only  to 
the  general  himself  but  to  visitors  and  friends,  decided  upon  a radical  step. 
One  day  he  called  together  the  commissioned  officers  of  the  base  hospital,  the 
chiefs  of  services  and  their  assistants,  and,  after  telling  them  that  he  expected 
a change  in  this  state  of  affairs,  ordered  them  to  buy  at  once  such  instruments 
and  other  equipment  as  would  convert  the  defective  hospital  into  one  of  the 
first  class.  As  a result  of  this  order,  there  were  obtained  from  Columbus, 
Cincinnati,  and  other  neighboring  towns  numerous  medical  and  surgical  supplies, 
including  a large  amount  of  drugs  and  other  requisites.  Four  surgical  operating 
rooms  received  several  coats  of  white  enamel  paint,  numerous  pine  examination 
booths  were  colored  a dead  black,  a few  floors  were  oiled  and  some  of  them 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


763 


covered  with  linoleum  of  various  hues,  and  windows  were  decorated  with 
curtains.  Unattractive  floors  were  stained,  and  every  necessary  appliance 
that  could  be  had  was  added  to  the  previous  scanty  equipment.  This  emer- 
gency equipment  undoubtedly  enabled  the  medico-military  officials  of  the  head 
surgery  building  of  the  base  hospital  and,  to  some  extent,  the  heads  of  other 
services,  to  do  much  effective  work  that  would  have  been  impossible  or  fur- 
ther postponed  until  the  necessarily  tardy  arrival  of  the  Government  outfit. 

Hospital  storehouses  were  four  in  number.  Three  were  for  medical 
supplies  and  one  for  quartermaster  supplies.  The  buildings  were  150  feet 
long  and  24  feet  wide,  with  heat  and  light.  Medical  supplies  for  the  canton- 
ment hospital  and  the  organizations  of  the  division,  as  well  as  the  veterinary 
and  dental  supplies  for  the  division,  were  all  kept  in  these  buildings. 

Hospital  linen  was  washed  at  Washington  Court  House,  Ohio,  until 
November  6,  1917,  when  the  camp  laundry  took  over  the  work;  but  it  was  not 
entirely  satisfactory. 

The  chapel  at  Camp  Sherman  base  hospital  was  used  for  religious  purposes; 
just  as  frequently,  however,  it  was  put  to  such  secular  uses  as  lectures,  con- 
ferences, and  instruction  classes  of  various  kinds.  Here  the  clinical  society 
of  the  hospital  first  met. 

Kitchen  wastes  were  divided  into  four  classes,  sorted  and  sold  to  con- 
tractors. They  consisted  of  (a)  bones  and  fats;  ( b ) other  kitchen  garbage; 
(c)  cans,  bottles,  coffee  grounds,  etc.;  (<Z)  combustible  waste. 

The  hospital  heating  plant  consisted  of  eight  boilers.  Steam  and  hot- 
water  pipes  were  carried  overhead,  insulated.  Pipes  in  the  corridors  were  not 
covered  until  late  in  the  winter  of  1917  and  the  heating  plant  was  inadequate. 
Oil  stoves  (over  100)  were  in  use  throughout  the  hospital.  At  one  time  the 
coal  supply  was  deficient.  One  very  cold  night  in  February,  §1,500  worth 
of  radiators  froze  and  burst. 

Electricity  was  obtained  from  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  until  November  1,  1917; 
subsequently,  from  Columbus.  The  former  supply  was  uncertain  and  unsatis- 
factory, but  the  latter  was  excellent. 

Manure  was  collected  at  a central  point,  sold  to  contractors,  and  loaded 
on  freight  cars. 

There  never  was  a proper  hospital  exchange.  The  one  that  was  in  exist- 
ence was  a part  of  the  division  exchange  system,  run  on  the  concession  plan, 
and,  as  such,  was  of  no  appreciable  advantage  to  the  hospital. 

Buildings  were  constructed  by  the  Ked  Cross,  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association,  and  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  which  formed  part  of  the  hospital. 
In  them  the  entertainment  and  recreation  of  both  patients  and  duty  personnel 
were  fostered. 


764 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  Stales  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sherman,  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  from  September, 

1917,  to  July  20,  1919,  inclusive. a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

From  command . j 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

j Discharged,  expi- 
| ration  of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1917. 

332 

1 

379 

235 

4 

132 

93 

960 

1,185 

712 

7 

11 

453 

2,072 

68 

2, 593 

1,678 

8 

1 

878 

2,059 

88 

3,  025 

2, 078 

1 

1918. 

910 

2,938 

107 

2,  329 

17 

16 

1, 156 

3,  304 

232 

7 

4,  699 

2, 182 

13 

65 

1 204 

2,864 

171 

1 

i,  240 

1,  855 

34 

56 

906 

2,  916 

201 

4,  023 

1,786 

53 

1,241 

2.  570 

78 

5 

3,  891 

1,835 

112 

1,  361 

1,937 

15 

2 

3,315 

1,412 

4 

61 

July 

1,  697 

3,  064 

15 

7 

4,  783 

2,  510 

7 

96 

l'  693 

3, 113 

21 

4.  842 

2,  659 

9 

127 

l'  386 

4,202 

9 

lJ 

5.611 

1.878 

28 

141 

2,  832 

6,  898 

6 

9, 736,5,887 

1,056 

30 

1,766 

1,656 

38 

3 

3,46312,102 

31 

61 

1, 154 

917 

270 

6 

2.347  1.414 

22 

32 

1919. 

844 

1,137 

1,323 

3 

3,3071,829 

20 

1,370 

892 

7 810 

8 

3, 080  1,  540 

11 

15 

1,  420 

677 

1,027 

19 

3, 143  1,  539 

6 

8 

l'  513 

7S7 

965 

7 

3.2721.658 

4 

1 

1 

1,  478 

600 

1,040 

10 

3',  128 

1, 921 

9 

8 

i;  104 

215 

101 

1,  781 

1, 117 

4 

July 

'491 

339 

103 

7 

940 

7 457 

1 

1 

Remaining. 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


435 

2 

1,235 

1,158 

231 

892 

6 

1 

570 

135 

6 

471 

6 

634 

27 

723 

9 

9S0 

17 

103 

12 

30 

5 

59 

29 

83 

11 

55 

22 

100 

30 

74 

12 

163 

6 

468 

14 

1, 156 
1,201 
906 
1, 241 
1,361 
1.697 
1,693 
1,386 
2,832 
1,766 
1, 1.51 
844 


1,370 
1,420 
1,513 
1,478 
1, 104 
491 
0 


c 


1,440 

11,996 

20,686 

25,615 


31, 655 
32,000 
33,854 
35,404 
42, 102 
38, 315 
50,  728 
48,441 
41,298 
85. 188 
32,348 
28,953 


39, 907 
40,271 
42,602 
43.  666 
44,302 
23,532 
9.S64 


PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscella- 
neous. 
(Q  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

34 

2 

36 

151 

151 

47 

3 

1 

51 

304 

304 

35 

1 

65 

5 

1 

71 

42S 

428 

64 

73 

1 

81 

471 

471 

66 

1 

1918. 

75 

6 

1 

82 

495 

17 

512 

S5 

81 

5 

1 

87 

498 

17 

134 

March . ." 

83 

4 

1 

8S 

516 

18 

534 

116 

1 

April 

100 

6 

1 

107 

497 

18 

515 

156 

2 

May 

93 

6 

1 

100 

582 

IS 

600 

154 

i 

J une 

89 

5 

1 

95 

669 

IS 

6S7 

130 

2 

J uly 

83 

5 

1 

89 

642 

642 

152 

1 

August 

82 

4 

1 

87 

l-±4 

1 

September 

5 

1 

81 

905 

905 

183 

0 

October 

94 

3 

1 

98 

701 

701 

184 

1 

November 

101 

4 

2 

107 

741 

741 

20S 

1 

December 

93 

4 

2 

99 

749 

749 

167 

1 

1919. 

January 

80 

5 

6 

91 

711 

711 

126 

i 

77 

5 

4 

S6 

694 

694 

137 

March. ." 

76 

4 

85 

665 

130 

April 

72 

4 

81 

612 

612 

123 

May 

56 

3 

6 

548 

548 

122 

June 

43 

2 

52 

354 

354 

106 

July 

32 

3 

4 

39 

251 

251 

2 S 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General, 
on  file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


765 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  KY.« 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Zachary  Taylor  was  located  about  one-half 
mile  from  the  center  of  the  camp,  in  Jefferson  County,  Ky.,  and  about  5 miles 
southeast  from  the  center  of  the  city  of  Louisville.  The  terrain  of  the  region  is 
for  the  most  part  flat  or  slightly  rolling.  The  land  was  largely  under  cultiva- 
tion when  it  was  taken  over  for  cantonment  purposes,  but  there  were  scattered 
wooded  areas  for  a distance  of  from  one-half  to  3 miles  in  all  directions.  The 
soil  is  clayey,  mixed  with  loam,  as  a residt  of  the  truck  gardening  which  had 
been  practiced.  The  soil  readily  pulverizes  in  dry  weather  and  becomes  con- 
verted into  a tenacious,  heavy  mud  after  rains.  Before  the  permanent  system 
of  roadways  for  the  camp  had  been  completed  there  was  much  inconvenience 
from  both  dust  and  mud;  and  even  subsequent  to  the  provision  of  the  good 
roadways  the  dust  readily  carried  from  the  camp  drill  grounds,  one  eighth  mile 
from  the  hospital. 

The  climate  of  this  part  of  Kentucky  is  decidedly  pleasant;  the  winters 
are  mild,  the  falls  and  springs  are  delightful,  and  the  summers,  though  hot, 
are  quite  bearable. 

The  buildings  in  the  camp  were  made  ready  for  occupancy  before  work 
on  the  hospital  was  concentrated.  While  the  hospital  was  being  constructed, 
temporary  use  was  made  of  barracks,  which  had  been  provided  for  a por- 
tion of  the  84th  Division.  The  first  use  of  these  barracks  was  made  on  August 
20,  1917,  and  they  were  temporarily  occupied  until  September  13,  1917.  There 
were  no  emergency  hospitals,  but  a first-aid  station  was  established  in  one  of 
the  barracks  of  the  84th  Division,  where,  under  the  direction  of  a civilian  physi- 
cian employed  by  the  construction  company,  emergency  treatment  was  given 
laborers  engaged  in  construction  work. 

On  September  13,  1917,  the  first  of  the  buildings  of  the  base  hospital  was 
occupied,  and  thereafter,  as  the  necessity  arose,  additional  wards  were  filled. 
The  hospital  as  originally  planned  was  completed  on  November  25,  1917,  or  at  a 
time  which  was  approximately  three  months  after  that  when  the  buildings  of 
the  cantonment  had  been  completed.  In  design,  the  hospital  as  it  was  originally 
constructed  conformed  to  the  plans  furnished  by  the  War  Department.  As  at 
other  base  hospitals  planned  for  the  National  Army  cantonments,  subsequent 
additions  were  made  to  augment  the  bed  capacity.  These  additions  included 
12  two-story  ward  barracks;  an  increased  number  of  barracks  for  the  enlisted 
men,  Medical  Department;  extra  buildings  for  the  officers  and  nurses;  and 
enlargements  of  the  various  messes.  There  were  four  main  corridors  in  the 
hospital,  the  direction  of  which  was  north  and  south.  From  these  corridors  the 
wards  extended  at  right  angles,  and  at  intervals  of  about  75  feet.  In  the  space 
between  the  fourth  corridor  and  the  neuropsychiatric  pavilion,  which  had  been 
located  600  feet  distant  from  the  fourth  corridor,  sufficient  room  remained  to 
permit  the  erection  of  the  12  ward  barracks.  The  location  of  these  ward  bar- 
racks in  this  area  made  them  an  integral  part  of  the  hospital,  thus  obviating 
all  the  difficulties  incident  to  a greater  separation  of  this  group  of  convalescent 
buildings  found  to  be  existent  at  so  many  of  the  other  base  hospitals. 

“ The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Zachary  Taylor,  Ky.,” 
by  Maj.  II.  B.  McMurdo,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by 
him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is 
on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


766 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  first  officers’  quarters  provided  accommodated  but  30.  It  was  therefore 
necessary  to  quarter  the  excess  number  of  officers,  on  duty  at  the  hospital,  in 
wards  until  the  additional  quarters  were  provided.  Similar  conditions  obtained 
with  regard  to  the  nurses.  About  April  1,  1918,  an  addition  was  made  to  the 
existent  officers’  set  of  quarters  and  an  additional  building  was  provided.  A 
new  set  of  quarters  was  also  provided  for  the  nurses,  to  which  a later  addition 
was  made.  With  these  provisions  the  quarters  for  both  the  medical  officers  and 
the  nurses  were  inadequate,  and,  while  the  strength  of  the  personnel  was  at  its 
maximum,  it  was  necessary  to  house  35  officers  in  one  of  the  hospital  wards  and 
to  give  up  two  wards  in  their  entirety  to  the  nurses  for  quarters. 

The  general  mess  was  adequate  for  at  least  1,400  patients.  The  seating 
capacity  of  the  general  mess  hall  was  880;  but,  at  the  height  of  activities,  the 
average  number  of  patients  who  ate  in  the  mess  hall  was  650.  The  detachment, 
Medical  Department,  messed  separately.  Until  the  construction  of  other 
additional  sets  of  officers’  quarters,  which  was  begun  April  1,  1918,  the  medical 
officers  ate  in  the  dining  room  of  the  patient  officers’  ward.  Here  the  space  was 
totally  inadequate.  Nor  was  there  sufficient  room  in  the  officers’  mess,  as 
ultimately  provided,  to  permit  all  officers  to  eat  at  one  sitting.  The  nurses’ 
mess  was  conducted  in  the  set  of  quarters  which  had  been  provided  for  them. 

Properly  speaking,  there  was  no  hospital  storehouse.  Medical  Department 
storehouses  existed  in  the  camp  and  they  were  used  as  camp  and  divisional 
medical  supply  depots.  It  was  from  the  camp  medical  supply  depot  that  sup- 
plies for  the  hospital  were  obtained  from  time  to  time  as  they  were  needed. 

A chapel  was  constructed.  It  was  first  used  for  religious  purposes  dining 
March,  1918.  Thereafter,  the  only  purposes  to  which  it  was  put  were  for  funeral 
services  and  formal  religious  ceremonies. 

The  water  supply  was  an  extension  of  that  provided  the  camp  and  formed 
part  of  the  water  supply  of  Louisville.  The  source  of  the  water  was  the  Ohio 
River,  which,  necessitated  careful  treatment  to  render  the  water  potable.  This 
purification  treatment  comprised  sedimentation  (enhanced  by  aluminum  sul- 
phate), chlorination,  and  sand  filtration.  The  results  attained  were  eminenty 
satisfactory. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  also  a part  of  the  camp  sewerage 
system,  which  connected  with  the  city  system.  Ample  toilet  facilities  existed 
throughout  the  hospital. 

The  heating  plant  of  the  hospital  was  originally  a nonreturn  steam  radiator 
system.  The  steam  pipes,  connecting  the  central  heating  plant  and  the  various 
buildings,  were  all  overhead,  suspended  on  A trestles.  During  the  winter  of 
1917-18  the  advent  of  severe  weather  antedated  the  completion  of  the  heating 
system,  and  there  was  experienced  in  consequence  considerable  discomfort  and 
some  suffering.  During  the  extremely  cold  weather  of  the  same  winter  there 
was  an  insufficient  amount  of  steam  pressure  in  the  heating  system  to  keep  all 
parts  of  the  hospital  comfortably  warmed,  and  it  was  necessary  to  close  off 
some  mains  to  insure  adequate  heating  of  only  a portion  of  the  hospital  build- 
ings. To  relieve  this  deplorable  condition,  as  many  coal  stoves  as  possible  were 
obtained  from  the  quartermaster  of  the  camp,  and  to  these  were  added  oil 
stoves,  obtained  by  private  contributions,  and  they  were  placed  in  the  various 
buildings.  During  the  summer  of  1918  the  heating  system  was  converted  into 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


767 


a high-pressure  return  system  and  the  heating  plant  was  enlarged.  The  results 
obtained  were  equivalent  to  an  added  efficiency  of  50  per  cent;  and,  thereafter, 
it  was  possible  to  effectually  maintain  a comfortable  temperature  throughout 
the  hospital. 

In  common  with  the  camp,  the  hospital  was  electrically  lighted.  The 
system  gave  thorough  satisfaction  at  all  times. 

The  disposal  of  garbage  and  wastes  formed  a part  of  the  general  system  of 
the  camp.  Kitchen  wastes  were  deposited  in  well  covered  galvanized  cans  which 
were  removed  daily,  by  a sanitary  squad  controlled  by  the  quartermaster  of  the 
camp,  to  a central  disposal  plant  whence  it  was  carried  away  by  a civilian  under 
contract.  Portions,  which  were  unfit  for  use  as  food  for  hogs,  were  incinerated. 

The  hospital  exchange  began  its  operations  on  October  17,  1917.  Its 
stock  on  hand  comprised  candies  and  tobacco,  principally,  which  had  been 
obtained  on  credit.  Its  business  grew,  so  that  by  midsummer,  1918,  its  capital 
amounted  to  $6,000. 

In  the  convalescent  ward  area  the  Red  Cross  and  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  constructed  recreation  buildings  for  the  use  of  both  patients  and 
personnel. 

Within  each  ward  there  was  a phonograph  for  which  there  was  a supply 
of  choice  records.  Frequently,  entertainments  were  provided  in  the  patients’ 
mess  hall,  at  first,  then  in  the  recreation  buildings.  For  the  convalescent 
patients,  such  games  as  baseball,  tennis,  etc.,  were  fostered. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Zachary  Taylor,  Louisville,  Ky.,  from 
September,  1917,  to  July  18,  1919,  inclusive.11 

SICIC  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

P 

d 

03 

a 

a 

o 

o 

a 

o 

1-4 

P-l 

From  other 
sources. 

>> 

d 

p 

o 

P 

© 

© 

Ph 

© 

s 

'B 

.o  . 

aa 

a 03 

rd 

s 

© 

© 

© 

A 

* a 
© £ 

© o 

d 

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■ A 1-4 

A 

.tjj 

p £ 

© >, 

t-  CO 

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© 

gl 

EH 

o 

'd’p* 

2 S 

co  o> 

CO 

•B 

O 
©P 
w © 

5 o 

fc  ft 
P 

o 

d 

-t-3  © 

A 

© 

co 

© 

rd 

o 

*03 

'Hh 

CO 

o 

H 

© 

f- 

C3 

O' 

u 

CO 

o 

H 

-M 

03 

d 

<y 

1917. 

September 

6 

26 

389 

421 

195 

1 

48 

3 

174 

2,048 

October 

174 

857 

1,031 

488 

6 

134 

2 

30 

6 

365 

9^043 

November 

365 

1,400 

1,765 

820 

7 

39 

8 

134 

757 

15' 478 

December 

757 

1,529 

2,286 

1,287 

28 

24 

1 

1 

9 

936 

27;  607 

1918. 

January 

936 

1,956 

2,892 

1,518 

28 

31 

9 

1,306 

27,725 

February 

1,306 

1,924 

3,230 

1,676 

21 

48 

13 

l’  472 

26; 962 

March..  1 

1,172 

2,622 

4,094 

2,387 

25 

77 

1 

19 

l , 585 

34,517 

April 

1,585 

2,393 

1 

3,979 

2,494 

51 

34 

1 

17 

1,382 

34, 861 

May 

1,382 

2,147 

3,529 

1,985 

14 

36 

21 

1, 473 

31,431 

June 

1.473 

1,970 

3,443 

1,713 

7 

54 

10 

13 

1^646 

19, 136 

July 

1 

646 

2,042 

3^688 

1 , 940 

5 

142 

2V 

17 

1 ’563 

34,922 

August 

1,563 

2,725 

4, 288 

2,566 

14 

132 

32 

22 

1 , 522 

38, 526 

September 

1,522 

6,890 

8,412 

2, 921 

28 

118 

51 

15 

5^279 

51,397 

October 

5,279 

10,354 

15,633 

1,724 

857 

52 

12 

53 

3,935 

155,070 

November 

3 935 

2,169 

6;  104 

4,156 

67 

87 

40 

51 

1,703 

54,059 

December 

1 

703 

1,568 

379 

3,650 

2,070 

60 

51 

22 

54 

1,393 

55,884 

1919. 

January 

1 

393 

1,206 

449 

10 

3,058 

1 , 473 

17 

9 

15 

39 

1,505 

25,370 

February 

1 

1,475 

344 

15 

3,339 

1,372 

40 

19 

33 

150 

l’  725 

27,756 

March 

1,725 

1,436 

400 

20 

3,581 

1,481 

12 

18 

27 

431 

1 , 612 

31,237 

April 

1,612 

1,113 

554 

3,279 

1,664 

6 

7 

1 

83 

372 

1,146 

31  366 

May 

1.146 

647 

389 

14 

2,196 

1,174 

5 

85 

199 

733 

20  606 

June 

733 

479 

7 

11 

1, 230 

580 

4 

7 

120 

86 

433 

12, 266 

July 

433 

225 

11 

669 

306 

2 

2 

63 

296 

6,574 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  (he  Office  of  the  Surgeon  Genera], on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


768  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1 1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Zachary  Taylor,  Louisville,  Ky.,  from 
September,  1917,  to  July  18,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscella- 
neous. 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

32 

4 

1 

37 

87 

87 

1 

45 

1 

306 

306 

7 

1 

54 

2 

1 

57 

299 

299 

62 

2 

1 

65 

297 

297 

1918. 

January 

77 

3 

1 

81 

325 

17 

342 

67 

4 

February 

89 

3 

2 

94 

317 

17 

334 

131 

3 

March 

87 

5 

2 

94 

326 

18 

344 

137 

3 

116 

4 

2 

122 

267 

18 

285 

138 

May 

104 

2 

111 

653 

19 

672 

88 

5 

1 

94 

642 

19 

661 

July 

'.In 

5 

1 

104 

861 

20 

881 

166 

81 

3 

1 

600 

20 

620 

191 

September 

83 

4 

i 

88 

973 

19 

992 

176 

2 

October 

144 

4 

i 

149 

1,648 

18 

1,666 

230 

2 

November 

133 

4 

i 

138 

821 

16 

837 

234 

2 

December 

103 

6 

3 

112 

900 

16 

916 

194 

2 

1919. 

January 

92 

5 

3 

100 

819 

10 

829 

1.54 

1 

February 

83 

5 

3 

91 

845 

6 

851 

155 

1 

March 

91 

3 

6 

100 

873 

5 

878 

159 

1 

April 

9G 

3 

9 

108 

726 

3 

729 

141 

i 

May 

76 

3 

9 

88 

596 

2 

598 

136 

4 

June 

42 

3 

7 

52 

419 

1 

420 

76 

i 

July 

16 

1 

1 

18 

219 

219 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  TRAVIS,  TEX.“ 

Camp  Travis  was  situated  at  the  northeast  portion  of  San  Antonio,  Tex., 
and  was  contiguous  to  the  military  reservation  of  Fort  Sam  Houston.  Since 
the  general  physical  characteristics  of  that  locality  have  been  described  in  con- 
nection with  the  liistory  of  the  base  hospital  at  Fort  Sam  Houston,  they  will 
not  be  reiterated. 

The  site  selected  for  the  location  of  the  base  hospital  at  Camp  Travis  was 
at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  camp,  thus  making  it  the  farthest  removed 
activity  from  San  Antonio.  It  was  the  most  elevated  portion  of  the  camp  and 
it  was  therefore  well  drained. 

The  actual  organization  of  the  base  hospital  dates  from  August  22,  1917; 
but,  as  no  hospital  buildings  were  ready  for  occupancy  at  that  time,  use  was 
made  of  the  infirmary  buildings  in  the  camp.  It  was  not  until  November  23, 
1917,  that  the  wards  of  the  base  hospital  had  been  completed  and  it  was  upon 
this  date  that  the  hospital  was  opened. 

The  plan  of  the  hospital  conformed  to  the  original  block  plan  for  base 
hospitals  at  National  Army  cantonments.  Its  capacity  was  materially  in- 
creased during  the  year  1918,  by  the  addition  of  12  two-story  ward  barracks, 
2 barracks  for  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  a large  nurses’  quarters 
as  well  as  4 smaller  ones,  and  increased  space  in  the  general  kitchen  and  mess 
hall. 


a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Travis,  Tex.,”  by  Capt. 
D.  S.  Childs,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  the  official  reports  from  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


769 


The  medical  officers  were  quartered  in  a one-story  building  which,  very 
early  in  the  history  of  the  hospital,  had  to  be  enlarged.  Adecpiate  accommo- 
dations were  never  provided  the  officers,  at  their  maximum  number,  and 
the  quartering  of  the  excess  number  in  one  of  the  ward  barracks,  was  necessi- 
tated. The  original  set  of  nurses’  quarters  was  also  enlarged,  and  additional 
sets  were  provided. 

No  storehouse  was  controlled  by  the  hospital.  Supplies  were  obtained 
from  the  medical  supply  depot  which  was  a part  of  the  activities  of  the  camp. 

There  were  five  separate  messes  in  the  hospital.  The  general  kitchen  was 
used  for  the  preparation  of  the  food  for  the  patients.  Attached  to  it  there  was 
operated  a special  diet  kitchen,  in  which  were  prepared  the  special  articles  of 
food  for  the  sick.  The  mess  for  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  was 
located  in  one  of  the  buildings  of  the  barracks  group.  The  medical  officers 
and  the  nurses  had  separate  messes  located  in  their  respective  quarters.  There 
was  a fifth  mess,  maintained  in  the  officers’  ward  for  the  patients  therein. 

A chapel  was  constructed  at  the  northwestern  edge  of  the  hospital  group. 
Besides  being  used  for  funeral  and  church  services,  it  was  utilized  by  the  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association  to  provide  entertainment  and  indoor  recreation  for 
the  members  of  the  detachment,  Medical  Department. 

The  water  supply  of  the  hospital  was  a part  of  that  of  the  camp.  Its 
source  was  artesian  wells,  and  it  required  no  purification  methods. 

The  sewerage  system  emptied  into  the  camp  sewerage  system,  which,  in 
turn,  emptied  into  the  city  sewage  disposal  system.  Each  ward  of  the  hospital 
had  a connecting  lavatory  section,  in  which  there  were  adequate  toilet  facilities. 

The  group  of  hospital  buildings  was  steam  heated.  To  operate  the  heating 
system  a central  heating  plant  was  provided,  which,  for  the  first  year,  con- 
sisted of  low-pressure  boilers.  The  experience  of  the  winter  1917-18  amply 
demonstrated  the  inefficiency  of  this  method  of  attempting  to  heat  the  build- 
ings. To  maintain  a sufficient  degree  of  heat  in  the  wards  it  was  necessary 
to  totally  disconnect  the  quarters  of  the  entire  personnel  from  the  system. 
But,  even  with  these  drastic  measures,  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  heat  the 
buildings  of  the  isolation  section.  During  the  midyear  of  1918  new  high- 
pressure  boilers  replaced  the  old  ones,  and  a return  system  was  provided.  Sub- 
sequently the  heating  system  was  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  hospital  was  lighted  by  electricity,  the  current  for  which  was  obtained 
from  San  Antonio.  The  lighting  system  was  very  satisfactorily  arranged,  and 
it  operated  with  entire  success. 

A post  exchange  was  operated  by  the  hospital.  It  began  to  function  in 
November,  1917,  within  a short  time  of  the  opening  of  the  hospital,  and  soon 
was  on  a very  successful  basis. 

The  activities  of  the  Red  Cross  and  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 
were  so  divided  that  the  Red  Cross  concerned  itself  principally  with  the  patients 
and  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  with  the  duty  personnel.  Both 
organizations  provided  buildings  in  which  to  carry  on  their  separate  activities. 
There  were  provided  for  the  personnel  opportunities  and  material  for  such 
athletic  contests  as  base  ball,  running,  etc.,  as  well  as  indoor  entertainments. 
The  patients  likewise  had  access  to  these  things. 

45269° — 23 49 


770  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Travis,  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  from  October, 

1917,  to  March,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 


1917. 

October 

November.. 

December.. 

1918. 

January 

February. . . 
March... . . . 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September . 

October 

November.. 
December. . 

1919. 

January 

February. . . 
March 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

From  command. 

From 

sou 

d 

c3 

s 

PQ 

other 

•ces. 

© 

© 

O 

0 

5 

3, 375 

100 

3,475 

1,496 

4,122 

197 

5 

5,820 

1,283 

4,890 

179 

12 

6,364 

1,815 

3, 226 

84 

6 

5, 131 

1,114 

2,394 

60 

n 

3,579 

1,338 

3,565 

39 

ii 

4,953 

1,204 

3,603 

33 

13 

4, 853 

1,452 

2,310 

20 

11 

3,793 

1,098 

2,920 

5 

14 

4,037 

1,443 

26 

2, 583 

4,052 

1,260 

56 

2,918 

13 

4,247 

1,609 

247 

1 1 , 504 

30 

13, 390 

3,697 

84 

1,418 

13 

5,212 

1,301 

97 

2,017 

16 

3,431 

1,067 

1S9 

2,215 

13 

3,484 

947 

148 

1,479 

9 

2,583 

1,015 

111 

81S 

4 

1, 948 

Completed  cases. 


Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

4 

1, 8S2 

2 

3,801 

58 

64 

2,890 

64 

44 

1,345 

34 

38 

882 

23 

30 

2,049 

33 

25 

1,584 

29 

45 

1,452 

11 

59 

1,577 

12 

67 

2,  577 

17 

65 

2,449 

8 

38 

1,856 

197 

34 

1.312 

31 

16 

678 

34 

21 

1,009 

13 

15 

1,267 

9 

17 

1,098 

6 

92 

1 

95 

608 


1.535 
2,593 
1,293 
1,631 
1,729 
1,162 

926 

100 

131 

7,548 

2.535 
1,611 

1,462 

215 

56 


Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

r 

^3 

?■ 

P. 

’E 

t- 

E 

t: 

d 

O 

§ 

1-1 

1-1 

1,496 

16,521 

6 

1,283 

44^  546 

16 

1,815 

50,469 

124 

7 

1,110 

4 

44,011 

106 

13 

1,338 

38,028 

270 

11 

1,204 

38, 492 

14 

1,452 

45!  273 

a 

i;098 

38, 904 

12 

1,443 

37! 121 

33 

1.260 

40, 379 

12 

1, 609 

44!  091 

58 

3,672 

25 

146^842 

512 

17 

1,2.84 

17 

69.380 

525 

20 

1, 052 

15 

36, 307 

177 

38 

933 

14 

^3, 899 

565 

60 

1,015 

24,975 

152 

64 

632 

25,372 

28 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1918. 

1 

10 

11 

0 

73 

0 

73 

February 

8 

20 

6 

34 

November 

0 

21 

0 

21 

3 

83 

151 

0 

21 

0 

21 

April 

8 

157 

45 

210 

May 

1919. 

June 

January 

28 

2S 

July 

February 

28 

2S 

0 

16 

0 

16 

March.." 

2 

52 

September 

0 

20 

0 

20 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

October 

30 

30 

130 

130 

November 

40 

40 

279 

279 

12 

December 

44 

2 

1 

47 

280 

280 

47 

1918. 

January 

46 

3 

1 

50 

281 

281 

98 

February 

62 

3 

1 

66 

279 

15 

294 

110 

March 

78 

3 

2 

S3 

279 

18 

297 

118 

April 

78 

2 

2 

82 

517 

IS 

535 

139 

May 

75 

2 

3 

SO 

508 

IS 

526 

138 

June 

77 

2 

1 

SO 

713 

18 

731 

15 1 

July 

89 

5 

1 

95 

703 

IS 

721 

148 

August 

78 

6 

1 

S5 

652 

18 

670 

144 

September 

71 

6 

1 

78 

697 

17 

714 

14S 

October 

75 

4 

1 

so 

697 

IS 

715 

154 

November 

74 

4 

2 

so 

717 

18 

735 

246 

December 

66 

6 

2 

74 

721 

17 

73S 

241 

1919. 

January 

66 

7 

3 

76 

700 

16 

716 

1S9 

February 

56 

6 

3 

65 

57  S 

IS 

596 

126 

March 

47 

7 

4 

5S 

524 

12 

536 

116 

° Compiled  from  monthly  returns  andsick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjulant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


771 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  UPTON,  N.  Y.a 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Upton,  N.  Y.,  was  located  in  Suffolk  Count}7, 
Long  Island,  17  miles  from  Patchogue,  the  county  seat  of  Suffolk,  and  about 
65  miles  east  of  New  York  City.  It  lay  inland,  about  midway  between  Long 
Island  Sound  on  the  north  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean  on  the  south.  While  the 
terrain  is  generally  flat  in  all  this  section,  the  hospital  buildings  were  located 
on  the  eastern  aspect  of  a rolling  incline  of  about  1 per  cent.  The  soil  is  a sand 
loam  formation,  covered  with  pine  trees  of  moderate  size  and  a dense,  low  brush. 
In  dry,  windy  weather  there  was  much  high-flying  dust  from  the  cleared  areas, 
and  after  a rain  there  was  much  easily  carried  mud,  though  the  trouble  from 
the  latter  was  partially  overcome  by  the  splendid  system  of  connecting  corridors 
in  the  hospital. 

The  climate  in  this  region  is  temperate,  though  the  winter  of  1917-18  was 
unusually  severe.  Still,  the  temperature  range  is  not  great,  the  locality  bene- 
fiting, as  does  all  this  coast  region,  from  its  close  proximity  to  the  Gulf  Stream. 
On  the  whole,  the  climatic  advantages  are  splendid,  and  the  location  from  that 
viewpoint  was  nearly  ideal  for  a general  hospital  of  this  type.  The  hospital 
site  was  completely  surrounded  by  wooded  areas,  which  served  to  protect  it 
from  the  high  winds  which  occasionally  prevailed  for  short  periods. 

The  roads  in  and  about  the  hospital,  very  bad  when  the  first  buildings 
were  occupied,  were  somewhat  improved.  They  consisted  partly  of  cinders, 
partly  of  dirt,  and  partly  of  tarred  macadam.  A tarred  macadam  road  con- 
nected the  main  camp  with  the  hospital.  All  roads  leading  into  the  camp 
from  the  surrounding  country  were,  until  the  completion  of  the  military  road 
connecting  with  Merrick  Load  at  Tangier,  Long  Island,  dirt  roads.  Their 
condition  during  the  spring  thaw  of  1918  is  indescribable;  and  even  afterwards, 
when  the  ground  had  dried  and  settled,  they  were  still  obviously  very  dis- 
agreeable, though,  of  course,  negotiable. 

The  base  hospital  was  organized  on  September  1,  1917.  It  was  on  this 
date  that  the  first  patient  was  admitted.  Previous  to  this  time,  17  patients 
were  given  hospital  care  in  a regimental  infirmary. 

Prior  to  the  construction  of  the  hospital  proper,  regulation  two-story 
barrack  buildings,  located  in  the  center  of  the  camp,  were  used  for  hospital 
purposes.  One  building  was  used  for  administration,  surgery  of  the  head, 
a mess  for  officers,  a receiving  office;  and  one  building  was  assigned  to  each 
of  the  following  divisions:  Medicine,  surgery,  and  genitourinary  diseases. 
Later  on,  about  three  weeks  prior  to  moving  to  the  permanent  buildings,  the 
number  of  patients  increased  so  rapidly  that  it  was  necessary  to  utilize  another 
building.  During  all  this  time,  the  base  hospital  maintained  a dispensary  and 
clinic,  and  treated  practically  all  the  ambulatory  cases  in  the  whole  camp. 

The  constructing  engineers  maintained  an  eight-bed  emergency  hospital 
for  their  employees.  In  connection  with  this  hospital  they  also  maintained 
a dispensary,  civilian  physicians  being  in  attendance.  The  equipment 
was  very  limited  and  the  efficiency  of  the  institution  low.  It  was  inspected 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Upton,  N.  Y.,”  by  Col. 
Harlow  Brooks,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the 
Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C.  — Ed. 


772 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


daily  by  staff  officers  of  the  base  hospital  under  direction  of  the  commanding 
officer. 

The  first  buildings  of  the  permanent  hospital  were  completed  and  occupied 
on  November  2,  1917,  the  evacuation  of  the  old  buildings  being  accomplished 
in  about  six  hours.  At  this  time,  only  nine  wards  were  available.  These  nine 
wards  were  fairly  well  equipped,  and  the  general  operating  rooms  were  suffi- 
ciently completed  to  permit  emergency  surgery. 

The  officers’  quarters  contained  56  rooms,  some  of  which  were  suitable 
for  two  men;  22  of  the  rooms  were  steam  heated.  During  the  winter  of  1917-18, 
toilet  and  bathing  facilities  were  limited  and,  at  times,  a complete  failure. 
However,  new  toilets,  showers,  and  tubs  were  installed  later,  and  these,  with 
the  hot-water  apparatus,  increased  the  comforts  very  materially.  The  nurses’ 
quarters  were  built  on  the  same  plan  as  were  those  for  the  officers.  Because 
of  the  increase  in  the  size  of  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  it  was 
necessary  to  construct  three  additional  barracks. 

The  main  mess  hall  and  kitchen  for  the  patients,  the  mess  for  the  con- 
tagious service,  that  for  the  neuropsychiatric  service,  and  that  for  the  enlisted 
personnel,  Medical  Department,  were  all  under  the  general  supervision  of  one 
commissioned  officer,  who  had  the  necessary  number  of  assistant  noncommis- 
sioned officers  and  enlisted  men.  In  the  main  mess  alone,  were  employed  4 non- 
commissioned officers,  2 dietitians,  3 cooks,  and  about  30  enlisted  men.  In  this 
mess,  all  ambulant  patients,  except  those  from  contagious  and  neuropsychiatric 
services,  were  rationed.  All  other  patients,  who  for  any  reason  were  confined 
to  the  wards,  were  provided  food  rapidly  transported  on  food  wagons  and 
trays  and  kept  warm  by  steaming  tables  until  served. 

The  general  mess  was  equipped  originally  to  feed  1,000  patients.  Sub- 
sequently, equipment  was  added  from  time  to  time  to  keep  pace  with  the 
increasing  capacity  of  the  hospital.  Food  was  served  to  ambulant  patients 
in  the  cafeteria  style.  This  manner  of  serving  permitted  the  seating  of  800 
patients  in  the  mess  hall  at  one  tune. 

The  commissioned  personnel  maintained  their  own  mess,  according  to  the 
usual  custom.  When  the  hospital  was  first  occupied,  the  medical  officers  ate 
in  the  main  mess  hall,  being  served  at  hours  when  the  hall  was  not  needed 
for  patients.  After  about  three  weeks  a separate  room  became  available  in 
the  officers’  sick  ward,  and  this  room  was  used  as  a dining  room  until  May 
18,  191S,  when  the  mess  hall  and  kitchen  in  the  officers’  quarters  was  com- 
pleted and  occupied. 

The  hospital  did  not  maintain  a separate  laundry.  All  laundry  work  was 
done  at  the  immense  cantonment  laundry,  which  was  completed  on  December  5, 
1917.  Prior  to  that  date,  the  hospital  laundry  work  was  done  in  Brooklvn,  X.  Y. 

A commissioned  officer  was  detailed  to  the  base  hospital  as  medical  sup- 
ply officer  for  Camp  Upton  and  property  officer  for  the  base  hospital.  Three 
storehouses,  about  120  by  36  feet,  were  used  at  first.  Later,  two  additional 
houses  were  needed  and  constructed. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  never  used  for  religious  services.  Services  for 
11  sects  were  held  in  the  post  exchange  building,  until  the  completion  of  the 
Red  Cross  building,  which  was  then  used  for  all  religious  services. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


773 


The  equipment  furnished  the  hospital  in  the  early  days  of  its  organiza- 
tion was  not  all  that  could  be  desired.  However,  sheets,  blankets,  mattresses, 
beds,  etc.,  were  sufficient;  and  while  surgical  and  diagnostic  apparatus,  drugs, 
and  sera  were  limited,  the  nearness  of  the  hospital  to  New  York  City  and 
the  ease  of  communication  served  to  provide  any  special  equipment  or  supplies 
in  any  emergency  that  presented.  Patients  at  no  time  suffered  in  any  way 
through  lack  of  care,  equipment,  or  supplies  of  any  sort.  Ultimately,  the 
institution  was  well  equipped,  and  practically  all  the  essential  supplies  were 
provided  or  procurable  on  short  notice. 

The  water  supply  was  obtained  from  the  same  source  as  that  of  the  main 
camp.  About  3 miles  to  the  west  of  the  camp  the  Government  had  sunk 
18  deep  wells.  From  these  wells  the  water  supply  of  the  hospital  and  the 
entire  camp  was  obtained.  Four  huge  tanks  of  about  850,000  gallons  capacity, 
and  located  sufficiently  high  to  furnish  good  pressure  to  every  building  on  the 
reservation,  were  used  as  a reservoir.  The  water  was  abundant  in  quantity, 
of  an  excellent  quality  and  taste,  and  did  not  require  filtration,  sedimenta- 
tion, or  treatment  of  any  sort. 

Each  ward  on  the  inner  corridors  had  its  own  individual  lavatory,  shower, 
and  bathtub.  On  the  outside  corridors  and  between  each  two  wards  a larger 
lavatory  with  shower  and  tub  was  installed.  The  sewerage  system  of  the 
hospital  unit  was  connected  with  the  sewerage  system  of  the  main  camp,  all 
sewage  being  conveyed  to  a point  about  3 miles  east  of  camp,  where  it  was 
disposed  of  by  an  immense  septic  tank  and  sand  filters. 

The  kitchen  waste  and  all  hospital  garbage  was  at  first  destroyed  in  inciner- 
ators. Later,  all  kitchen  waste  of  edible  value,  together  with  all  similar  waste 
from  the  wards  and  the  entire  camp,  was  sold  by  the  Government  to  civilians 
for  use  as  food  for  hogs.  All  useless  waste  of  the  hospital  was  incinerated. 

All  buildings  of  the  hospital  were  heated  from  a central  heating  plant, 
located  across  the  road  from  the  rectangle,  to  the  west  of  the  main  mess  hall. 
The  heating  plant  was  equipped  with  8 boilers,  2 of  which  were  high  pressure 
and  6 low  pressure.  It  was  located  on  the  highest  ground  in  the  vicinity, 
and  this  obviously  prevented  any  return  flow.  It  was  necessary,  therefore, 
constantly  to  pump  cold  water  into  the  boilers,  the  quantity  needed  in  cold 
weather  amounting  to  thousands  of  gallons  daily.  The  cost  of  maintenance 
was  thus  tremendously  increased  and  the  efficiency  of  the  plant  correspond- 
ingly diminished.  Several  errors  were  made  in  distribution  of  pipe  lines, 
which  also  materially  diminished  the  plant  efficiency,  but  these  were  later 
partly  corrected.  Additional  boilers  were  installed,  and  the  system  was 
changed  into  a high-pressure  return  system. 

Electricity  for  lighting  the  hospital  was  furnished  by  the  Northport  Elec- 
tric. Co.,  14  miles  distant.  This  company  also  furnished  light  and  power  to 
the  entire  camp.  The  current  was  ample  and  was  at  all  tunes  eminently 
satisfactory. 

The  hospital  post  exchange  was  opened  late  in  November,  1917.  A 
stock  of  cigars,  tobacco,  cigarettes,  cakes,  candy,  etc.,  was  kept,  together  with 
a few  of  the  minor  necessities.  It  was  at  first  run  on  a more  pretentious  basis, 
but  later  was  kept  open  only  during  late  afternoon  and  early  evening  hours, 


774 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  was  run  purely  for  the  accommodation  of  the  enlisted  personnel,  Medical 
Department. 

The  work  done  by  the  Young  Men’s  Claris tian  Association  was  very  bene- 
ficial to  patients.  It  freely  furnished  books,  periodicals,  stationery,  religious 
pamphlets,  and  religious  advice  to  patients.  Religious  services  were  con- 
ducted and  entertainments  provided.  The  organization  was  also  active  in 
encouraging  and  promoting  athletic  games. 

The  American  Red  Cross  provided  a beautiful  building,  connecting  by 
covered  corridor  with  the  ward  corridors,  so  that  it  might  be  conveniently 
reached  in  all  weather.  The  building  was  used  for  the  recreation  of  con- 
valescent patients.  Moving  pictures,  vaudeville  and  musicales,  and  other 
forms  of  entertainment  were  provided.  Perhaps  the  most  important  work  of 
this  organization  was  its  civilian  relief  work;  ward  workers  were  constantly 
soliciting  and  investigating  the  status  of  dependents  of  soldiers  and  much 
suffering  and  privation  was  mitigated  or  wholly  relieved. 

A gymnasium  was  available  to  the  enlisted  personnel  for  indoor  sports. 
For  outdoor  athletics,  a baseball  field  and  tennis  courts  were  provided. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Upton,  N.  Y'.,  from  September,  1917,  to 

July  IS,  1919,  inclusive .« 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

*3 

V. 

c 

yi 

c 

1917. 

426 

1 

427 

262 

2 

3 

160 

2,075 

October 

160 

811 

971 

70S 

2 

7 

254 



. . . 



254 

706 

960 

650 

4 

1 

1 

11 

293 

9,026 

December 

293 

1,330 

2 

1 

1,626 

1,044 

4 

13 

20,849 

1918. 

565 

1,776 

8 

6 

2,355 

1,369 

12 

2 

19 

953 

25.960 

953 

1,239 

7 

2 

2,201 

l'  446 

9 

739 

24,354 

March 

739 

2,253 

2,992 

2,029 

39 

6 

918 

30. 523 

April 

918 

1,691 

2,609 

1,435 

28 

21 

13 

1,112 

37j 240 

May 

1,112 

1,570 

2, 6S2 

1,527 

16 

51 

3 

1,0,85 

36,076 

June 

1*  085 

1,425 

2, 510 

1,235 

12 

61 

1 

1,201 

39,933 

July 

1,201 

1 , 566 

2}  767 

1,287 

8 

24 

31 

1,417 

47'.  105 

l'  417 

1 ' 469 

2,  $86 

1*311 

11 

IS 

28 

1,518 

50;  473 

l'  518 

2, 676 

4, 194 

2, 121 

93 

29 

38 

1,913 

63,. 507 

October 

1,913 

1,940 

3 '8.">3 

2,105 

320 

..... 

6 

54 

1,368 

4.5,385 

1,368 

1,203 

2,571 

1 , 570 

28 

19 

169 

" 7S5 

36. 838 

December 

77S  5 

7 695 

508 

1,988 

1,291 

30 

2 

59 

606 

23.434 

1919. 

January 

606 

S23 

1,581 

315 

3,325 

1,585 

14 

31 

611 

1,084 

34.211 

February 

1,0S4 

879 

444 

2, 9S4 

1, 14S 

12 

39 

37 

1,194 

34. 167 

March... 

1 , 194 

1,093 

335 

456 

3 7 07S 

1364 

21 

59 

52 

425 

1, 157 

27. 104 

April 

l'  157 
858 

866 

155 

279 

2, 457 

1, 134 

6 

41 

104 

314 

S5S 

20, 790 

May 

1, 155 

333 

253 

2 599 

1 193 

10 

37 

331 

972 

2>.  2.58 

972 

576 

177 

294 

2*019 

932 

3 

36 

95 

230 

723 

17,456 

July 

723 

396 

S6 

35 

1,240 

493 

1 

19 

660 

67 

$.519 

® Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General  ’s  Office,  and  monthly,  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS, 


775 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Upton,  N.  Y.,  from  September,  1917, 

to  July  18,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

191 S. 

68 

22 

31 

121 

September 

10 

21 

31 

68 

25 

38 

131 

30 

30 

32 

14 

6 

52 

30 

30 

28 

28 

1918. 

January 

45 

9 

6 

60 

1919. 

87 

12 

8 

107 

82 

82 

90 

10 

6 

106 

82 

82 

115 

37 

10 

162 

March.  .1 

103 

103 

85 

12 

8 

105 

April 

103 

103 

97 

25 

10 

132 

May 

99 

99 

18 

17 

35 

99 

99 

10 

21 

31 

July 

49 

49 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

41 

1 

42 

146 

146 

66 

1 

67 

196 

196 

84 

1 

85 

214 

214 

i6 

92 

2 

94 

325 

325 

46 

1918. 

January 

90 

2 

92 

339 

339 

February 

90 

1 

91 

333 

333 

96 

March 

89 

1 

90 

436 

17 

453 

101 

113 

1 

114 

519 

17 

144 

May 

92 

1 

93 

624 

17 

641 

150 

88 

1 

89 

730 

17 

747 

128 

July 

96 

1 

1 

9S 

676 

IS 

694 

152 

August 

83 

2 

1 

86 

597 

19 

616 

140 

September 

10.5 

2 

3 

no 

S43 

19 

862 

158 

< 'ctober 

102 

3 

2 

107 

854 

IS 

872 

267 

November 

99 

2 

1 

102 

786 

IS 

SOI 

327 

December 

73 

7 

2 

82 

891 

16 

907 

225 

1919. 

January 

78 

8 

2 

ss 

587 

14 

601 

161 

February 

72 

5 

4 

SI 

589 

12 

601 

138 

March 

77 

8 

5 

90 

640 

11 

651 

132 

April 

71 

6 

6 

S3 

600 

7 

607 

137 

May 

54 

7 

7 

68 

824 

2 

826 

128 

June 

47 

5 

8 

60 

445 

1 

446 

86 

July 

36 

2 

4 

42 

214 

3 

217 

57 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  WADSWORTH,  SPARTANBURG,  S.  Cfi 

On  the  outskirts  of  Spartanburg,  and  at  a point  19  miles  due  east  of  Camp 
Sevier,  the  site  for  Camp  Wadsworth  was  chosen.  The  physical  characteris- 
tics of  the  place  were  much  the  same  as  they  were  at  Camp  Sevier,  for  a descrip- 
tion of  which  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  historical  sketch  of  the  base  hospital 
at  Camp  Sevier. 

The  portion  of  the  camp  which  was  selected  for  the  site  of  the  base  hospital 
was  at  its  southwest  corner.  This  site  was  adjacent  to  the  National  Highway 
from  Spartanburg,  but  was  farthest  removed  from  the  railroads. 


a Tlie  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wadsworth,  S.  C.,”  by  Maj. 
W.  Bamdollar,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — £ 'i. 


776 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Prior  to  the  construction  of  the  hospital,  sick  of  the  division,  mobilized  at 
Camp  Wadsworth,  were  hospitalized  in  the  field  hospitals  attached  to  the 
division,  and  the  necessary  operative  surgery  was  performed  in  the  civil  hospitals 
at  Spartanburg  by  the  personnel  which  had  been  provided  for  the  base  hospital. 

On  September  1,  1917,  the  officers’  quarters  of  the  base  hospital  were  com- 
pleted and  occupied.  On  October  8,  1917,  the  first  ward  of  the  hospital  group 
was  ready  for  occupancy.  On  this  date,  the  base  hospital  was  formally  or- 
ganized and  the  completed  ward  was  put  to  use  in  the  care  of  patients.  There- 
after, so  rapidly  as  the  wards  were  constructed  they  were  utilized,  the  last  one 
being  made  available  on  December  18,  1917. 

The  officers’  quarters  when  first  used  had  neither  water  supply  nor  toilet 
facilities,  and  were  inadequate  for  the  personnel.  Subsequent  additions  were 
made  and  the  requisite  utilities  were  supplied.  The  original  nurses’  quarters 
were,  likewise,  inadequate;  there  were  accommodations  for  but  83  nurses.  An 
additional  set  of  nurses’  quarters  was  provided  in  which  there  were  36  bed- 
rooms, each  sufficiently  large  to  accommodate  two  nurses  in  an  emergency.  The 
mess  hall  of  the  original  set  of  nurses’  quarters  was  used  as  a dormitory,  after 
the  later  set  of  quarters  in  which  there  was  a larger  mess  hall  had  been  made 
available. 

Six  barracks  were  provided  for  the  enlisted  men,  Medical  Department. 
The  normal  capacity  of  each  of  these  barracks  was  40  men.  At  one  time  in 
the  history  of  the  hospital  there  were  400  enlisted  men  of  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment, and  it  was  necessary  to  place  55  of  them  in  each  barrack  and  to  house 
the  remainder  in  the  building  which  had  been  provided  for  a laundry.  When 
the  two-story  ward-barracks  were  erected,  sufficient  space  in  them  was  taken 
to  provide  dormitories  for  the  excess  number  of  enlisted  men. 

At  the  base  hospital  six  separate  messes  were  conducted.  These  were  the 
general  mess  for  the  enlisted  patients,  a mess  for  the  isolation  wards,  an  officer 
patients’  mess,  a mess  for  the  detachment  Medical  Department,  a nurses’ 
mess,  and  a medical  officers’  mess.  The  general  mess  was  at  first  inadequate 
to  properly  feed  the  large  number  of  patients  in  hospital.  As  at  other  base 
hospitals,  both  increased  space  and  equipment  were  provided,  so  that,  with 
the  use  of  the  cafeteria  style  of  feeding,  it  was  ultimately  possible  to  prepare 
food  for  and  to  feed,  within  a reasonably  short  period  of  time,  1,500  patients. 

The  medical  supply  depot,  situated  on  the  grounds  of  the  base  hospital, 
consisted  of  four  warehouses,  155  by  25  feet,  with  two  small  rooms,  8 by  12 
feet,  in  each  building,  one  at  each  end.  Only  one  of  the  buildings  was  provided 
with  sufficient  shelving.  There  was  no  shelving  in  the  other  buildings. 

The  hospital  laundry  was  handled  at  the  supply  depot,  where  it  was 
exchanged  daily  for  soiled  linen  from  the  various  departments  of  the  hospital. 
It  was  called  for  and  delivered  to  the  agent  of  the  Asheville  Laundry  Co.,  who, 
in  turn,  delivered  it  to  the  express  company  at  Spartanburg,  for  shipment  to 
Asheville,  N.  C.,  where  it  was  laundered  and  then  returned.  This  process 
required  an  average  of  five  days,  but  it  was  not  possible  to  get  the  work  done 
at  a place  nearer  than  Asheville. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  first  used  for  religious  purposes  April  7,  191S.  It 
was  thereafter  used  regularly  each  week  for  both  the  Protestant  and  Catholic 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


777 


services.  It  was  also  used  as  a hospital  library,  and  frequently  as  a recreational 
and  amusement  hall,  and  proved  to  be  very  popular  and  helpful  to  the  men  of 
the  detachment,  and  to  the  patients  in  the  hospital. 

The  water  supply  of  the  base  hospital  was  a part  of  the  camp’s  water  supply 
which  was  obtained  from  Spartanburg.  There  were  two  sources  for  the  city’s 
supply  of  water,  namely,  Scully  Creek  and  Lamson  Falls.  From  these  moun- 
tain streams  the  water  was  piped  to  a covered  reservoir,  H miles  from  the  city, 
whence  it  was  distributed.  The  quantity  of  the  water  was  adequate,  and  its 
quality  was  so  good  as  to  require  no  methods  of  purification. 

No  sewerage  system  was  originally  provided  for  the  hospital.  In  its 
absence,  pit  latrines  were  used  for  the  disposal  of  excreta,  and  surface  drainage 
removed  water  from  the  baths.  On  February  5,  1918,  a sewerage  system  was 
opened.  Connected  with  the  sewerage  system  there  were  two  septic  tanks, 
one  for  the  main  group  of  hospital  buildings  and  the  other  for  the  isolation 
wards. 

Until  the  sewerage  system  was  installed  all  liquid  wastes  from  the  kitchens 
were  evaporated  in  Guthrie  incinerators.  Thereafter  it  was  discharged  into 
the  sewerage  system.  Solid  garbage  was  removed  by  civilian  labor. 

No  heating  facilities  were  at  first  provided  for  the  hospital.  After  the 
advent  of  freezing  weather  in  the  fall  of  1917,  small  sheet-iron,  wood-burning 
stoves  were  installed  in  the  buildings.  These  stoves  proved  very  unsatis- 
factory and  they  were  replaced  by  cast-iron  stoves,  two  for  each  ward.  These 
cast-iron  stoves  in  time  were  found  to  be  ineffective  and  were  replaced  by  an 
equal  number  of  hot-air  furnaces.  At  the  time  of  the  installation  of  the  hot- 
air furnaces  facilities  for  regulating  the  ventilation  of  the  wards — to  conserve 
the  heat — and  beaver-board  lining  for  ceilings  and  walls  were  provided.  Fol- 
lowing these  improvements  the  temperature  of  the  wards  was  more  regularly 
maintained  at  a comfortable  degree. 

The  hospital,  in  common  with  the  buildings  of  the  camp,  was  electrically 
lighted.  Current  for  the  lighting  system  was  obtained  from  a public  utility 
company  of  Spartanburg.  The  service  was  uniformly  good. 

The  exchange  of  the  hospital  was  opened  October  8,  1917.  Local  mer- 
chants readily  extended  sufficient  credit  to  permit  a small  beginning  with  such 
things  as  cigars,  cigarettes,  and  candies.  In  the  spring  of  1918  the  value  of  the 
stock  increased  to  approximately  $10,000.  A restaurant  was  opened  for  a 
period  of  about  two  months  and  though  a splendid  paying  feature,  was  closed 
for  lack  of  sufficient  space.  A seven-chair  barber  shop  was  conducted  and 
there  was  a shoe  and  a tailor  shop  connected  with  the  exchange. 

The  Red  Cross  conducted  a “hospital  service”  department  after  February 
IS,  1918.  In  May,  1918,  their  convalescent  house  was  completed  and  opened. 

Facilities  for  the  recreation  of  both  patients  and  personnel  at  the  hospital 
were  provided  by  the  Red  Cross  and  the  American  Library  Association. 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Wadsworth  was  designated  “General  Hospital 
No.  42”  on  March  IS,  1919.  On  March  24  it  was  formally  opened  as  a general 
hospital  for  the  purpose  of  treating  patients  suffering  from  tuberculosis  whose 
homes  were  in  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  United  States. 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


778 


The  authorized  bed  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  reduced  from  1,630  to 
1,000,  and  as  this  size  institution  it  continued  to  function  until  October  1, 
1919,  when  it  was  formally  closed  and  abandoned. 

Statistical  data,  United  Stales  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wadsworth,  Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  from 
October  8,  1917,  to  October  1,  1919,  inclusive & 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last  ! 

d 

d 

From  command. 

missions. 

From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1917. 

October 

338 

129 

6 

277 

838 

142 

December 

824 

903 

104 

11 

1918. 

J anuary 

792 

957 

94 

6 

February 

821 

911 

42 

11 

March 

734 

1,213 

57 

7 

April 

793 

1,629 

48 

May 

830 

1,525 

12 

11 

June 

931 

1,788 

3 

14 

July 

1 

026 

1.  153 

6 

r.oia 

2, 342 

1 

September 

i 

1 II 

1, 520 

1 

October 

i 

231 

3,153 

9 

November 

i 

459 

1, 553 

49 

11 

December 

925 

385 

39 

8 

1919. 

January 

324 

240 

145 

10 

February 

203 

147 

316 

7 

March 

421 

92 

597 

3 

April 

911 

23 

140 

5 

May 

666 

17 

4.33 

8 

June 

782 

26 

301 

12 

July 

573 

21 

129 

g 

August 

362 

26 

64 

21 

September 

210 

5 

12 

4 

October 

1 

Completed  cases. 


473;  195 
1,257  421 

1,8421,012 


1, 849  986 

1,7851,010 
2,  Oil  si,  185 
2, 47 Oil,  590 
2,378ll,  392 
2,736  1,631 
2,1851,061 
3,3612, 168 
2, 662  1,378 
4, 393  2,829 
3, 072  2, 003 
1, 357  971 


719 
673 
1,121 
1,079 
1,124 
1,121 
731 
473 
231 
1 . 


472 

210 

156 

186 

232 

370 

146 

72 

22 


Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

1 

3 

2 

18 

15 

21 

3 

25 

6 

1 

27 

10 

1 

4 

3 

2 

14 

1 

6 

4 

10 

4 

' 'i 

6 

7 

i 

79 

12 

82 

38 

21 

26 

2 

5 

14 

1 

1 

3 

5 

10 

1 

11 

9 

13 

9 

2 

18 

39 

22 

59 

8 

19 

48 

3 

13 

61 

3 

1 

13 

23 

37 

177 

62 

97 

126 

99 

129 

1 


Remaining. 


275 

824 

789 


817 
733 
793 
830 
929 
1,024 
1,00  s 
1,135 
1,231 
1,459 
925 
323 


203 

429 

911 

666 

782 

573 

360 

210 

1 


Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 


3,951 

11,922 

23,386 


23,253 
19,357 
22, 54'" 
27, 276 
25, 579 
29.  437 
26,349 
29,522 
26,672 
43,  578 
26, 165, 
16,  8711 


74 

113 


62 

60 

144 

96 

14 


1 

54 


7, 732  19 

s,36s:  9 

36, 440  

27, 078  

23, 634  

20,  062  

13, 596  j 45 

7,  44.5 

4,065!  1 

4 


CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women . 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

June 

2 

3 

5 

3 

6 

9 

July 

2 

4 

6 

3 

10 

August 

2 

4 

6 

3 

10 

September 

3 

10 

13 

3 

9 

12 

October 

3 

20 

23 

4 

12 

16 

November 

3 

20 

23 

33 

3S 

December 

3 

16 

19 

4 

14 

IS 

September 

4 

14 

IS 

1919. 

2 

2 

January 

3 

7 

10 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b From  March  24  to  end  of  period  considered,  this  hospital  was  General  Hospital  No.  42. 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


779 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital.  Camp  Wadsworth,  Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  from 
October  S,  1917,  to  October  1,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 


PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1917. 

31 

2 

2 

35 

124 

10 

134 

10 

49 

2 

1 

52 

418 

11 

429 

48 

52 

2 

1 

383 

11 

394 

66 

1918. 

53 

2 

1 

56 

387 

15 

15 

402 

66 

February 

55 

2 

1 

58 

375 

390 

79 

March 

63 

3 

1 

67 

399 

19 

418 

78 

April 

79 

3 

1 

83 

401 

19 

420 

115 

74 

3 

1 

78 

420 

19 

439 

119 

72 

2 

1 

556 

19 

105 

July 

73 

2 

6 

81 

67 

589 

19 

608 

112 

57 

3 

7 

598 

668 

18 

616 

106 

53 

4 

6 

63 

20 

688 

128 

October 

53 

5 

6 

64 

20 

607 

134 

59 

5 

C 

70 

586 

22 

608 

113 

December 

57 

6 

8 

71 

648 

27 

675 

99 

1919. 

36 

6 

8 

50 

492 

21 

513 

54 

34 

6 

6 

46 

393 

19 

4;2 

501 

38 

60 

36 

7 

3 

46 

463 

38 

39 

6 

3 

48 

467 

36 

503 

83 

May 

40 

6 

6 

52 

461 

437 

6 

79 

44 

8 

6 

58 

1 

438 

80 

July 

37 

7 

9 

53 

404 

404 

78 

29 

5 

9 

43 

277 

277 

74 

8 

5 

6 

19 

76 

76 

57 

8 

5 

6 

19 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  WHEELER,  MACON,  GA“ 

Camp  Wheeler  was  situated  in  Bibb  County,  Ga.,  approximately  5 miles 
to  the  southeast  of  Macon,  the  county  seat.  The  base  hospital  was  located 
on  the  western  side  of  the  camp  on  high  ground  that  had  excellent  natural 
drainage  in  all  sections.  Much  of  the  ground  within  the  hospital  inclosure 
had  been  fertilized,  plowed,  and  made  into  truck  gardens.  The  soil  was  cpiite 
sandy,  and  though  readily  pulverized  in  dry  weather,  giving  rise  to  easily 
carried  dust,  it  did  not  form  tenacious  mud  after  rains. 

The  climate  of  this  region  is  fairly  equable.  The  summers  are  quite  hot, 
but  the  winters  are  not  rigorous.  There  is  very  little  snow. 

The  surroundings  of  the  hospital  were  satisfactory  from  a sanitary  view- 
point. To  the  west  of  the  hospital  area  there  was  a large  swamp,  but  this  was 
drained  and  its  menace  as  a malarial  breeding  place  was  thus  removed. 

On  September  1,  1917,  the  first  National  Guard  troops  of  the  division  began 
arriving.  The  Florida  Field  Hospital,  which  was  one  of  the  units  of  the  divi- 
sion, was  utilized  to  establish  a camp  hospital.  This  organization  used  its 
own  tentage  and  supplies  and  for  additional  material  drew  on  the  supplies 
which  had  arrived  for  the  base  hospital.  At  this  time  work  on  the  buildings 
for  the  base  hospital  had  not  been  begun.  Work  on  the  base  hospital  (a  500- 
bed  unit),  was  begun  about  September  10,  and  was  rapidly  pushed.  By 
October  30  it  had  been  about  half  completed,  with  perhaps  10  buildings  that 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wheeler,  Ga.,”  by  Lieut. 
Col.  J.  II.  Stearns,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on 
filein  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General's  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


780 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


could  have  been  occupied.  The  camp  hospital  was  expanded  by  the  addition 
of  more  tentage  and  was  continued  in  use  until  October,  1917,  when  eight 
single  wards  of  the  base  hospital  were  opened  for  patients. 

The  plan  of  the  base  hospital  followed  the  standard  plans  furnished  by 
the  War  Department  for  base  hospitals  of  National  Guard  camps. 

For  the  original  number  of  officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital,  the  quarters 
constructed  for  them  were  adequate,  but  when  this  personnel  was  increased 
no  additional  quarters  were  provided  and  the  excess  number  of  officers  were 
housed  in  convalescent  ward  barracks  or  in  tents.  For  the  nurses  several  build- 
ings were  constructed  as  quarters.  There  were  two  one-story  buildings,  type  E, 
and  one  single  building.  For  the  student  nurses  a ward  barrack  was  used  for 
quarters.  For  the  enlisted  men  there  were  2 single  barracks  with  a capacity 
of  50  men  each  and  2 ward  barracks.  These  facilities  were  inadequate  for  the 
maximum  number  of  enlisted  men  on  duty  at  the  hospital  and  it  was  necessary 
to  use  60  pyramidal  tents  to  house  the  excess  number. 

All  the  duty  personnel  and  all  the  ambulatory  patients  were  fed  in  the 
general  mess.  The  cafeteria  system  was  used  for  feeding  the  ambulatory 
patients  and  enlisted  personnel,  and  the  entire  operation  of  the  mess  was  very 
satisfactory. 

Three  small  buildings  were  used  for  the  storage  of  both  the  supplies  for 
the  base  hospital  and  the  supplies  for  the  division  in  training  in  the  camp. 
This  space  was  inadequate  at  all  times. 

A laundry  building  was  constructed,  but  as  no  equipment  was  supplied 
for  it  the  laundry  work  was  done  by  a commercial  company  in  the  city  of  Macon. 

All  of  the  buildings  of  the  hospital  were  heated  by  means  of  stoves.  During 
1918,  small  water  heaters  were  installed  in  penthouses  adjacent  to  the  wards 
for  the  purpose  of  heating  hot  water  for  baths.  For  heating  the  tents  which 
were  used  to  quarter  a portion  of  the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  Sibley 
stoves  were  used. 

The  base  hospital,  in  common  with  the  camp,  was  lighted  by  electricit}-, 
which  was  obtained  from  Macon.  The  service,  because  the  current  was  subject 
to  frequent  interruptions,  was  not  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  water  supply  of  the  hospital  was  a part  of  the  camp  supply,  which  in 
turn  was  obtained  from  Macon.  The  source  of  the  supply  was  Ocmulgee 
River,  and  since  the  water  was  contaminated  it  was  treated  by  sand  filtra- 
tion and  chlorination. 

When  it  was  determined,  during  the  year  of  1917-18,  that  certain  of  the  base 
hospitals  at  National  Guard  camps  should  have  a sewerage  system,  one  was 
provided  at  the  base  hospital  at  Camp  Wheeler.  After  its  installation,  which 
was  effected  about  March  1,  191S,  it  was  connected  with  the  main  sewer  of  the 
city  of  Macon.  Prior  to  the  installation  of  the  sewerage  system,  pit  latrines 
had  to  be  used  and  they  were  very  unsatisfactory. 

Guthrie  incinerators  were  used  for  the  disposal  of  liquid  wastes  before  the 
sewerage  system  had  been  installed,  and  at  that  time  garbage  was  collected 
by  a civilian,  under  contract,  and  removed  by  him.  During  191S  the  garbage 
was  collected  and  properly  disposed  of  by  the  conservation  and  reclamation 
department  of  the  camp. 

On  September  12,  1917,  a post  exchange  was  opened,  its  stock  having  been 
obtained  on  credit.  It  was  operated  very  satisfactorily,  for  at  the  end  of  the 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


781 


year  1917,  after  paying  dividends  amounting  to  over  $3,000,  there  was  a cash 
balance  on  hand  of  about  $6,500. 

Both  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  and  the  American  National 
Red  Cross  constructed  buildings  for  the  entertainment  and  recreation  of  those 
at  the  hospital.  In  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  building,  intended 
primarily  for  the  duty  personnel  of  the  hospital,  various  entertainments  were 
given,  including  moving  pictures.  On  Sundays  religious  services  were  held. 
In  the  Red  Cross  building,  likewise,  entertainments  were  given.  In  this  building 
there  was  a limited  number  of  rooms  which  were  available  for  the  friends  and 
relatives  of  the  seriously  ill  patients  in  the  hospital.  Before  either  of  these 
annexes  to  the  hospital  had  been  provided,  one  of  the  barracks  for  the  enlisted 
men  had  been  converted  into  a recreation  room.  This  room  was  very  well 
etpiipped  with  furniture;  a library  was  provided  as  well  as  various  means  of 
indoor  entertainment.  Outdoor  games  such  as  baseball,  football,  basket 
ball,  etc.,  were  conducted  in  season,  for  both  patients  and  duty  personnel. 


Statistical  data.  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wheeler,  Macon,  Ga. , from  September,  1917, 

to  March  10,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Admissions. 


Year  and  month. 


1917. 


September 

October... 

November. 

December. 


2 

734 

944 


2 

1,302 
3,  8.55 
3,206 


1918. 

January 

February. . . 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September . 

October 

November.. 
December. . 


1, 1.57 
925 
731 
680 
736 
727 
868 
734 
890 
492 
1,096 
601 


3,  .540 
1,788 
1,242 
2,386 
1,045 
1,  104 

1,  176 
1,727 
1,300 

2,  714 
1,558 

382 


1919. 

January 

February... 
March 


437  256 

316  124 

119  5 


From  other 
sources. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

91 

2 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

2 

2 

1.304 

566 

1 

3 

734 

7,990 

4,  5S9  3,  526 

105 

14 

944 

38,  613 

4, 150  2,  668 

87 

4 

222 

12 

1, 157 

37,  438 

4,  697^3,  510 

5 

183 

29 

925 

34, 738 

2,  713  1,849 

21 

6 

90 

16 

731 

24, 089 

1,973  1,254 

15 

1 

3 

20 

680 

22'  839 

3, 066 12,  288 

28 

14 

736 

28,  412 

1,781  1,031 

12 

1 

i 

9 

727 

23,  616 

1.922  1.012 

13 

17 

12 

868 

23, 128 

2,044 

1,250 

9 

1 

5 

734 

26,913 

2,461 

l,  523 

22 

2 

1 

4 

19 

890 

21,  362 

2, 190 

l'  634 

19 

10 

27 

8 

492 

19'  823 

3',  208 

2, 002 

70 

15 

16 

9 

1, 096 

24.  824.. . 

2, 654 

1,955 

83 

6 

4 

5 

'601 

24^ 382 

9S3 

'530 

8 

3 

3 

2 

437 

14,  476 

693 

361 

2 

2 

12 

316 

12, 074 

440 

305 

1 

5 

7 

3 

119 

4,933 

124 

84 

1 

39 

'508 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1917. 

3 

3 

1918. 

20 

8 

28 

3 

3 

50 

10 

60 

46 

9 

55 

September 

4 

11 

15 

October 

41 

15 

56 

1918. 

November 

20 

15 

3 

3 

6 

December 

46 

9 

55 

February 

3 

3 

6 

March.  /. 

3 

3 

6 

1919. 

April 

3 

3 

6 

38 

19 

57 

May 

12 

8 

20 

February 

6 

13 

19 

June 

12 

8 

20 

6 

e 

15 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


782 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wheeler,  Macon,  Ga.,  from  September, 
1917 , to  March  10,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Y ear  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1917. 

22 

22 

127 

127 

40 

40 

123 

123 

10 

57 

57 

280 

280 

87 

62 

62 

2S0 

280 

77 

1918. 

January 

63 

63 

276 

13 

289 

75 

69 

69 

283 

13 

296 

80 

78 

1 

79 

277 

20 

297 

79 

April 

74 

1 

75 

284 

20 

304 

84 

May 

61 

2 

1 

64 

285 

21 

306 

104 

June 

56 

2 

1 

59 

289 

20 

309 

101 

July 

69 

2 

1 

72 

374 

21 

395 

99 

August 

65 

2 

1 

68 

357 

21 

378 

92 

September 

59 

4 

1 

64 

5S2 

20 

602 

105 

October 

57 

5 

1 

63 

502 

20 

522 

107 

November 

58 

3 

1 

62 

501 

17 

518 

116 

December 

58 

3 

1 

62 

461 

14 

475 

106 

1919. 

January 

33 

2 

1 

36 

414 

14 

428 

104 

February 

19 

2 

1 

22 

259 

10 

269 

34 

1 

1 

9 

1 

1 

Table  22. « — Consolidated  statistical  data  ( sick  and  wounded,  and  strength  of  personnel)  at  United  States  Army  camp  hospitals  A 


OTHER  BASE  HOSPITALS. 


783 


•saa 

-iiojduia  nBifTAp  jaqio 


•siaqio-ii  pus  sapiy 


•sasjn^r 


•(•0J9  ‘ H ’ft) 

snoanBXjaostjv; 


•jnani 

-jjEdaa;  iBorpajt 


•(•o?3  ‘-H  -ft) 

snoauenaosi  JA 


•SdjOQ  AjEJIIIEg 


•sdjoo  (EOipaK 


CWHMC 


■pap?a:4  s^nai^d  jo 
jaqnmu  i[mnoni  umunmpi 

»o  co  oo  ^ o Tf  c c - O'  — < ~t<  »o 

O 00  Cl  HNHf»  iO  H©Tf 

O 

ft  — ft  ft  -ft  -f  ft  ft  c 
co  -ft  -ft  ci  d -ft  o- 

i—i  co  co  r- 

Ol  P—  o ft  X h ft  N 

ot»  h o r^*  d 

•paj^ail  shaped  jo 
jaqnmn  Afq^uoui  nmnnxcj^ 

oj  Oi  oo  co  io  c P;  co  cocoocoo 

coh  ^3  oiiorto  ooico-^tG 

ft  ft  r^-  x ft  ft  05  ft  — ft  ft  d ci  ft — 

— • t—  co  x x ft  ft  co  ci  r—  x x — ci  — ft 

co  — ci  ci  co  ft  co  i'-  r^ftd  i-i  h 

i-T  d*'  o'  t-T 

a 

o 

o 

ft 

•jo  p9sodsrp  asrjueqxo 

COTt^t^di  N”t©OCOOO  c:-t<HL0NHCCC®C01'C--C'JC'l®  05  lO  — Cl  Cl  co 

•OOOrJtt^  lO  COCOLO  r O — 1 rtCCMOClOOOC’TN  -ft  ft 05  o 

T—Cl  1-t  »C  1-1  OC'  05  r-1  L.O  05  <N— 1 OftTf  1—  CCC1C1  Cl-1 

<N  H o'  o'  t-T  t-T  t-T 

•pata 

iO  Cl 

Cl  • O Cl  — X Cl  CO  © © Cl  X 

■ CIO  X COH 

ft -ft  — CO  ■ -COOO  • O COXN  • ft  1—1 

A '•  d • • 

•Ajnp  oj  paujnjsy; 

CO  00  i—1  — ' 05  05  Cl  T—  r-iftNCcONiC P00005t'-t^C005  -^ftClrfLOco 

05  CO  Tji  T+(  CO  >-0  — CO  CO  ft  ft  — Oi  — ft  — 1-0  ft  f'-  X CO  C 'O  ft  — ro  — ft  P—  ~Xj  co  r^-  CO 

-ft  00  Cl  H 1.0  — r-  O COftftft'Xi  t'ClX'S-ClCOftOCl  ft  C1XC5  COrt 

cTi-T  tjT  ho'h  n o'  co  ua'i-T  cT  co 

Admissions. 

•IB}ox 

— CO  05  it  TT  CO  CO  Ol  N ft05t^dxc0ftft05  05ft N-C1X  ft  © X O ft  N 

IONOOH  — — 1 X 05  ft  ft  i—fti-HCOCOCOCOftftCOftOOfti-HftCOft  ft  — Cl  UO  ft  CO 

0-1  CO  1—1  CNC1X  Tf  05  1— 1 to  XiOtONCO^LOCOCi-iCI  — ft  ft  -^Cl 

t-T  cTi-T  o'  ci'od'cTi-Tt^'  oT  t-To'cT  co'  o'  t-TcT  co' 

•aspsuaq^o 

O C<1 

Cl  CfliOXNCl  — X CO  r- XCIOlOXXOcOCNOH  ONftiONO 

r-  p-  -ft  ci  ci  c-  -f  Nftdid- iLCftp-  — 1 co  co  ft  ft  ft  ci  lo  ci  x ft  — 

-h  r-  ft  fti  -ft  ft  ci  d ft  ft  d --4  r — i co  ft 

t-T  o'  HH  rt"  N t-T  r-T  CO  r-T 

•puBimnoo  raoi^ 

7 

878 

88 

2-17 

20 
53 
2, 058 
65 
99 
265 

1, 174 
6, 691 
1,454 
570 
2, 977 

CO  iQ  ft  H Cl  -f  CC  d i.O  O it1  c-^coccici 
MCOCOCOONddX  X Cl  X Cl 

r-  h o d i-4  i>  x ft  ft  ci 

•'*'  ^ TlT 

Period  operated. 

To- 

November,  1917... 
December,  1919. . . 
Anril.  1917 

March,  1919 

August,  1919 

December,  1919... 

do 

November,  1918.. . 
September,  1917... 
December,  1919. . . 

do 

March,  1919 

December,  1919 

do 

do 

Sentember.  1917.. . 

Doeombcr,  1919. . . 

do 

do 

September,  1918. . . 

January,  1919 

January,  1918 

December,  1917 

Docombor,  1919. . . 
.do 

May,  1919 

December,  1918. . . 

December,  1919. . . 

do 

do 

do 

do 

March,  1919 

From — 

August,  1917 

April,  1917 

do 

August,  1918 

July,  1919 

August,  1919 

May,  1917 

April,  1918 

April,  1917 

do 

April,  1919 

June,  1917 

April,  1917 

August,  1919 

July,  1919 

Julv.1917 

April,  1917 

April,  1919 

July,  1918 

May,  1918 

April,  1917 

July,  1917 

June,  1917 

July,  1919 

do 

March,  1919 

November,  1917... 

February, 1918 

March,  1919 

July,  1919 

March,  1919 

April,  1919 

October,  1918 

Ph  r*  ■ 


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Table  22. — Consolidated  statistical  data  ( sick  and  wounded,  and  strength  of  personnel)  at  United  States  Army  camp  hospitals — Continued. 


784 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  III  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Average  monthly  number  of  personnel  on  duty. 

*S99 

-iCojdnia  ubijiato  Jaq40 

*sj83[joa5l  pue  sapiy 

- 

•sasm^ 

00  05  CO 

L~  — 

co  to 
CM 

tO 

co 

C5  CO' 

P-  CM 

o 

ft-. 

Enlisted. 

■(•oia  ‘'W  ■‘b) 

snoan^^aosij^ 

CM  — 

COHH 

O r- 

"f  L- 

*4119111 

-preda(i  i^oipaH 

CM  05 

o>  oo 

co 

05  CO  CO  to  00 
CO  -*p  — to 

OO  rH  CO  CO  CO  OO  05 
CM  — 

55 

o ® e$  S 

CO  L- 
O CM 

Officers. 

•(•018  W '0) 

sno9n^n80STK 

— CO 

CM  — 1 

CM  CM 

•sdioo  Aie}iueg 

CM  CM 

CM  •"'t*  00 

CM 

CM  • 

•sdrog  jnoipapi 

CM  CO  -H 

CM  CM  CM 

*0  CO  CO  O ^ CM  05 

C5 

NOOCM 

— X 

•pejeoji  sjuaijod  jo 
jaqmnu  Axqjnoru  umunuiH 

^rHCOlMCOCOOSCOt^COrHCOH  H CM  r,f^MC5(MN«OlO©CMlO'^f f*r^C5 

oocor^io  r^oi^HCM  cm  oo-m^  — ico  t^o 

i— I y-t  •— i Tfi  CM  i— ( ft  t—  CM 

•pei'Baii  s^napnd  jo 
jaqumu  Ajqjuom  umnrrxex'i 

— ^C'ir^CMC5oot^05'^*oo5io  co—  C500'f't*C5  — r^r^o— i ci  n ^ uc  ci  lc  o 

01000*000  — — T^OOCMcOiCO  ft  ^ NC5COO  - CON’fLOcC  - OC  — — COO 

COCOCO  CM  COOCMCM—  — CO  00  CO'  — CO^OO  — 05  — r^CMiO  OD 

r-T  — s —'cm'’  i-T 

Dispositions. 

•jo  pasodsrp  osuuaqjo 

COCMP'.OOOOOOO^OlCMCOiOCO  OC'—  CO  O CO.  00  — CO-criOOC-f^CCCMCMCOCOOt- 
— CM  — rf  — CMCOCMiOr-OOCMCO  CMCO  05COMCNNC5COC1^CC5C  -fCO 

00  — CM  — CM—  — CM  Tt<  OI  CO  Tf  to  — — O *0  — »0  c5  CM 

00s  CM*'  CO*  — ' CO* 

•paw 

COCO—  • — HLO  .co  — to  CM  • Tjt  . OcOCOC5CMt>-050tOC005  — — — O-^i  • 
CM  . • CO  — CO  — • • —COCO  T}<  — CO  — — 

•Ajnp  oj  paumjaa 

— r^io  — ocococococMC505t^  cooi  oosr^ooMt^N  — ca  — loc-'too-c: 

CMCMOOCOOO  — COT^C5tOTj*COtO  to  — — 00O5CMIOCM  — ^ 'J*  C5  O 4 — OCMCO 

000*0  05  CO-OOON  Tf  t--  t^05TjtcOtOCMftcOCMCO«OOcO  OC  CO  CM 

— — CO  CM  — — rt<—  — to  CM  CM  — — — — 

! 

< 

•m°x 

CCOO^OMONO-CMOMO  00  C?  OStOCOtOcOr^tOcOCM  — OCMCCMXNO 

co  ^ ft  o cm  to  co  oo  'O*  o cm  o 06  to  oo  *o  — CMr^cMcc^ccocr^cMcocco 

CO  CO  CM  — — CO  to  CO  C — G5  OCM05CMOCOtOCOC005C*0  0 CO  CM 

cm*'—'—'  — ' co'co’— 'r-T  r-T  co~ — ' co"  cm"  ft  cm*-  go"  co"  co"  cm"  co"  co"cm" 

•9smj9ii4o 

00  05  — 05  • O CO  — N I.C  N 05  COCO  CO  00  L O — .00  — 05  O — — X — 

t'-  CM  05  •CO-’^TfCOtOt^.CMOO  05  05  COCOCO’ti  • 05  -r  ■ t-CC  CC  P-  005 

00  • 05  — — — CM  — — CO  ft  . 05  • t'—  CO  CO  00  -O' 

• CM  • CM  • CO  — ' — ' 

•pummnoo  raoj^j 

I00t'0--CNC'C10CO-  ICO  tm^cO  — C00505CMcoc'C05COCM  — XC5~-' 

x 05  >o  — 05  — co  cm  cm  x 05  — —05  t.o  — — — oi  rj*  x cm  oi  co  05  — cm  cm 

00  CO  -t-OXOOO  tooo  to— Ct^i.C*fO[^CM  — COCC  — — CM 

r-T  cm"  cm"  — ' —T  — " -ft — ' — ' tcT  ft"  cm"  — " — " 

Period  operated. 

To- 

December,  1919. . . 
do 

do. 

May,  1917 

May,  1919 

December,  1919. . . 

January,  1918 

May,  1917 

December,  1919. . . 

do 

October,  1919 

December,  1919. . . 
April,  1918 

October,  1918 

December,  1919. . . 

do 

March,  1919 

December,  1919. . . 

do 

October,  1919 

December,  1919.  . . 

January,  1919 

May,  1919 

September,  1918 — 
December,  1917.  . . 

April,  1919 

January,  1919 

December,  1919. . . 

Juno,  1917 

December,  1919. . . 

do 

June,  1918 

From — 

December,  1918. . . 

August,  1919 

do  

April,  1917 

March,  1919 

July, 1919 

April,  1917 

do 

do 

July, 1919 

October,  1918 

September,  1918.. . 
do 

April,  1918 

December,  1917.  . . 

July,  1919 

June,  1918 

March,  1918 

April,  1917 

July,  1919 

do 

September,  1918.. 

August,  1917 

April,  1917 

June,  1917 

July, 1918 

April,  1917 

July,  1919 

April,  1917 

April,  1919 

July,  1919 

August,  1917 

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SECTION  YII. 

OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

PORT  OF  HOBOKEN,  N.  J.° 

EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  1. 

In  describing  the  general  situation  at  the  two  principal  ports,  mention 
was  made  of  the  fact  that  the  first  hospital  to  be  made  available  for  Army 
use  at  New  York  was  St.  Mary’s  Hospital,  Hoboken.  This  civil  hospital  occu- 
pied almost,  an  entire  city  block,  which  was  formed  by  the  intersection  of 
Fourth  Street,  Willow  Avenue,  Third  and  Clinton  Streets.  There  were  a 
main  building  and  two  annexes.  The  main  building  had  five  stories,  a base- 
ment, and  a roof  garden;  one  of  the  annexes,  originally  constructed  for  isolation 
purposes,  had  three  floors  and  a basement,  and  the  other  annex  had  three  floors 
and  a basement.  This  second  annex,  at  the  north  end  of  the  main  building, 
had  been  used  in  part  as  a laundry,  the  equipment  for  which  was  on  the  first 
floor.  The  bed  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  650. 

In  June,  1917,  arrangements  were  made  with  the  management  of  St. 
Mary’s  Hospital  to  admit  the  sick  of  the  Army  at  the  rate  of  $2  per  day. 
This  charge  included  all  services  except  professional.  Medical  officers  and 
enlisted  men  were  assigned  to  the  hospital  to  provide  for  the  professional  care 
of  the  patients. 

The  dual  control  of  St.  Mary’s  Hospital  continued  until  July  1,  1918, 
when  it  was  leased  by  the  Government  and  placed  entirely  under  military 
control  as  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1. 

The  organization  of  the  hospital  as  a military  institution  necessitated 
furnishing  more  officers  and  enlisted  men  and  the  replacement  of  the  civilian 
nurses  by  members  of  the  Army  Nurse  Corps. 

The  female  nurses  were  quartered  at  the  hospital.  In  the  building  assigned 
to  them  for  quarters  the  general  mess  was  operated.  From  here  to  the  variously 
located  wards  the  food  was  conveyed  by  means  of  covered  food  trucks.  The 
enhsted  men  were  quartered  principally  at  412  Washington  Street,  Hoboken. 
When  the  number  of  the  personnel  reached  its  maximum,  at  the  height  of 
activities,  there  was  an  inadequacy  of  space  at  the  building  on  Washington 
Street  and  the  excess  number  of  men  were  housed  in  the  Stevens  Home,  which 
was  at  that  time  a ward  of  the  hospital. 

During  the  summer  of  1918  several  private  houses  were  offered  for  use  in 
the  care  of  convalescing  soldiers.  The  offers  of  these  private  dwellings  were 
accepted  and  the  buildings  were  made  convalescent  wards  of  the  hospital. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,” 
by  Lieut.  Col.  T.  C.  Quick,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by 
him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital-  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

45269°— 23 50 


785 


786 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


With  the  advent  of  the  winter  of  1918-19,  however,  their  use  as  adjuvant 
portions  of  the  hospital  was  discontinued.  These  homes  were  situated  at 
Mendham,  Lewellyn  Park,  and  Berwoodsville,  N.  J. 

When  the  armistice  was  signed  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital 
was  notified  that  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1 would  be  utilized,  to  an  extent 
for  debarking  sick  and  wounded.  Shortly  thereafter  patients  from  overseas 
were  received.  Successive  groups  of  these  patients  were  admitted  to  the 
hospital  for  classification  and  evacuation  to  hospitals  in  the  interior  of  the 
United  States. 

The  welfare  activities  of  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1 were  supervised  by  a 
field  director  of  the  Red  Cross.  He,  with  a number  of  subordinates,  managed 
the  distribution  of  tobacco  and  other  articles  of  comfort  to  the  patients. 

The  chaplain  of  the  hospital  acted  in  the  additional  capacity  of  morale 
officer,  and,  due  to  his  efforts,  much  entertainment  was  afforded  the  patients. 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1 was  discontinued  in  October,  1919. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Hoboken,  N.  J.,from  July,  1918, 

to  October,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

'd 

0 

« 

3 

o 

a 

0 

M 

fa 

From  other 
sources. 

>> 

-t-s 

3 

TJ 

O 

'd 

CD 

a 

•d 

© 

A 

'd 

5 • 

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s-i 

M * 
% 

5 

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C3  o 

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0 

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PQ 

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© 

£ 

o 

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co 

c 

w 

h 

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5> 

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CO 

1918. 

July 

237 

16 

615 

9 

877 

200 

2 

2 

266 

3 

403 

i 

7,014 

31 

404 

18 

714 

2 

1. 138 

394 

4 

3 

1 

288 

1 

445 

o' 

61 

September 

447 

59 

1,236 

2 

1,744 

12 

1 

390 

784 

2 

17, 372 

30 

786 

46 

1, 137 

14 

1,983 

932 

102 

1 

3 

332 

605 

8 

16, 105 

125 

November 

613 

19 

303 

935 

10 

1 

176 

190 

3 

7.  471 

128 

December 

193 

68 

219 

7 

487 

257 

7 

1 

61 

158 

3 

4,  21S 

185 

1919. 

January 

161 

192 

294 

6 

653 

276 

27 

5 

91 

247 

7,904 

113 

February 

254 

324 

248 

6 

832 

228 

15 

12 

230 

340 

l[  308 

March..  I 

347 

514 

221 

2 

1,084 

241 

23 

8 

2 

473 

4 

325 

s 

8.  451 

159 

April 

333 

397 

148 

2 

sso 

189 

14 

320 

1 

342 

122 

May 

349 

313 

147 

2 

811 

179 

9 

7 

364 

1 

248 

3 

34 

June 

251 

421 

136 

6 

814 

204 

11 

7 

235 

353 

4 

11.300 

183 

July 

357 

602 

178 

4 

1, 141 

179 

14 

14 

1 

585 

345 

3 

10,  392 

167 

August 

348 

2 

32 

180 

3 

793 

169 

9 

384 

2 

206 

8 

7.  SOS 

27 

September 

214 

79 

128 

421 

171 

3 

21 

1 

136 

82 

7 

3,  762 

141 

October 

89 

4 

5 

2 

100 

26 

2 

1 

71 

27S 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

July 

5 

6 

11 

9 

August 

4 

5 

September 

9 

5 

14 

October 

16 

7 

23 

22 

22 

November 

11 

11 

December 

u 

it 

1919. 

January 

9 

10 

19 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

12 

27 

18 

IS 

36 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

12 

July 

11 

u 

35 

12 

47 

35 

12 

47 

IS 

6 

24 

° Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


787 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Hoboken,  N.  J from  July, 
1918,  to  October,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

18 

1 

19 

175 

19 

194 

64 

27 

1 

28 

198 

19 

217 

63 

29 

1 

30 

215 

17 

232 

72 

October 

29 

1 

30 

222 

17 

239 

80 

29 

1 

1 

31 

218 

218 

88 

28 

2 

1 

31 

233 

233 

80 

1919. 

January 

34 

1 

1 

36 

264 

19 

2S3 

80 

February 

28 

1 

0 

29 

240 

240 

79 

73 

March 

30 

1 

31 

250 

250 

April 

31 

1 

32 

275 

275 

79 

May 

30 

3 

33 

276 

276 

78 

June 

29 

34 

278 

278 

77 

34 

39 

269 

269 

78 

77 

33 

3 

1 

37 

269 

269 

22 

3 

1 

26 

233 

233 

55 

EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  2,  SECAUCUS,  N.  J.a 

In  July,  1918,  arrangements  were  effected  whereby  partial  use  could 
be  made  of  the  Hudson  County  institutions  located  on  Laurel  Hill,  overlooking 
the  Secaucus  Station  of  the  Erie  Railroad.  Secaucus  is  situated  in  the  low- 
lands to  the  west  of  Jersey  City,  about  midway  between  the  hills  bordering 
the  western  part  of  the  city  and  the  Hackensack  River,  and  is  about  4 \ miles 
from  the  docks  of  Hoboken. 

The  hospital  buildings  were  of  brick  but  were  not  fireproof.  There  was 
a fire-hose  system  on  each  floor  of  the  building  used  by  the  Army,  and  the 
fire  risk  was  not  considered  to  be  grave. 

The  roads  about  the  hospital  were  either  macadam  or  Belgian  block; 
and  the  road  to  Jersey  City  was  Belgian  block  for  a part  of  the  way,  the 
remainder  being  asphalt  and  macadam. 

This  hospital  was  used  as  a communicable-disease  hospital  and  to  it  were 
sent  all  patients  suffering  from  communicable  diseases  which  developed  on 
transports  or  in  the  other  military  hospitals  of  the  port  of  embarkation,  as 
well  as  "contacts”  requiring  hospitalization. 

The  method  of  administering  the  hospital  was  similar  to  that  which 
obtained  during  the  early  period  of  the  use  of  St.  Mary’s  Hospital.  Shelter, 
subsistence,  medical  supplies,  and  nursing  were  furnished  by  Hudson  County 
for  the  sum  of  $2  for  each  patient  per  day.  The  Medical  Department  supplied 
medical  attendance,  administrative  officers,  and  enlisted  men  who  acted  in 
the  capacity  of  orderlies.  The  food  furnished  by  the  Hudson  County  authorities 
was  purchased  from  the  Quartermaster  Corps  to  the  extent  of  the  total  com- 
muted value  of  the  rations  of  the  enlisted  men  at  the  hospital. 


i The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Secaucus,  N.  J.,” 
by  Capt  W.  J.  Monaghan,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by 
him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


788 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  January,  1919,  further  need  for  this  hospital  ceased,  and  on  February 
8,  1919,  its  military  use  was  discontinued.  The  patients  remaining  in  hospital 
on  February  8 were  transferred  to  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  and  the  per- 
sonnel were  distributed  to  the  various  hospitals  still  operating  at  the  port  of 
embarkation. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Secaucus,  N.  J.,  from  July  1, 

1918,  to  February  20,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital.  ; 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

CQ 

1918. 

July 

112 

2 

157 

271 

60 

1 

9 

200 

1 

4,  718 

6 

201 

8 

143 

352 

166 

1 

1 

6 

178 

4^  S78 

3 

178 

8 

395 

581 

309 

3 

21 

247 

1 

8,  973 

248 

13 

366 

627 

398 

23 

52 

1.54 

24 

154 

1 

208 

363 

172 

5 

186 

5,  008 

186 

6 

299 

491 

1 

235 

1919. 

235 

6 

435 

676 

168 

3 

131 

374 

9,424 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

July 

6 

18 

24 

3 

26 

29 

August 

9 

14 

23 

3 

33 

36 

September 

6 

24 

30 

3 

24 

27 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C, 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

July 

12 

12 

4S 

48 

August 

i 12 

12 

September 

11 

1 

12 

76 

October 

12 

1 

13 

73 

73 

November 

14 

1 

74 

74 

December 

16 

1 

17 

74 

74 

1919. 

January 

20 

1 

21 

S4 

84 

February 

1 

1 

0 

“ Compiledfrom  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon.  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


789 


EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  3,  HOFFMAN  ISLAND,  NEW  YORK  HARBOR.® 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3 was  located  on  Hoffman  Island,  a low-lving 
artificially  made  body  of  land,  situated  in  New  York  Harbor,  in  that  part  com- 
monly referred  to  as  the  Lower  Bay.  Accessible  only  by  boat,  this  island  made 
an  admirable  location  for  a hospital  for  the  treatment  of  venereal  diseases. 
Both  the  island  and  the  hospital  were  the  property  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and,  prior  to  their  accession  by  the  War  Department,  had  been  used  as  a place 
of  detention  by  the  quarantine  officer  of  New  York. 

The  buildings  were  old  and  the  plumbing,  heating,  and  lighting  facilities 
were  inadequate,  but  during  the  early  period  of  embarkation  the  Medical 
Department  looked  with  much  favor  upon  the  acquisition  of  these  buildings, 
since  it  meant  a relief  from  the  serious  situation  regarding  the  bed  capacity  of 
the  embarkation  hospitals. 

First  used  in  December,  1917,  it  was  known  as  the  Army  Hospital,  Hoff- 
man Island.  Under  this  name  it  continued  until  July,  191S,  when  it  became 
Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3. 

The  hospital,  throughout  its  existence,  was  operated  much  the  same  as 
other  military  hospitals,  with  the  exception  that  the  State  of  New  York  pro- 
vided the  food  and  medical  supplies,  at  the  rate  of  $2  per  diem  per  patient. 
The  Medical  Department  supplied  personnel  for  the  administration  of  the 
hospital  and  the  professional  care  of  the  patients.  The  Army  subsisted  the 
enlisted  personnel  on  duty  at  the  hospital. 

In  December,  1918,  other  and  more  satisfactory  arrangements  were  made 
by  the  Medical  Department  for  the  treatment  of  genitourinary  diseases,  and 
Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3 was  abandoned  on  January  1,  1919.  The  patients 
then  in  hospital  were  transferred  to  one  of  the  other  hospitals  at  the  port. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Hoffman  Island,  N.  Y.,  from 
July,  1918,  to  December,  1918,  inclusive J 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases . 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

In  hospital. 

In  quar- 
ters. 

1918. 

393 

10 

185 

588 

356 

8 

224 

6,911 

10 

224 

10 

325 

194 

15 

348 

2 

8,660 

8 

350 

7 

392 

749 

255 

1 

5 

12 

475 

1 

13,975 

2 

476 

17 

129 

622 

285 

5 

3 

328 

1 

12,106 

45 

329 

13 

73 

415 

217 

37 

161 

7' 706 

28 

161 

4 

14 

179 

121 

54 

4 

2, 397 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Embarkation  nospital  No.  3,  Hoffman  Island, 
N.  Y.,”by  Maj.  L.  A.  Walker,  M.C.,U.S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used 
by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

b Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Sections,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  the  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


790  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  Hoffman  Island,  N.  Y.,frorn 
July,  1918,  to  December,  1918,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

87 

87 

14 

1 

15 

80 

80 

September 

1G 

1 

17 

73 

73 

October 

16 

16 

November 

19 

19 

86 

S6 

9 

9 

35 

35 

EMBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  4,  NEW  YORK  CITY.a 

The  hospital  of  the  New  York  Polyclinic  Medical  School  and  Hospital  was 
leased  by  the  Government  on  October  20,  1918.  The  hospital  was  located 
at  345  West  Fiftieth  Street,  New  York  City,  3 miles  from  the  center  of  activities 
of  the  port  of  embarkation,  three  blocks  from  Pier  90  at  Fiftieth  Street  and 
Hudson  River,  and  one-half  block  from  the  electric  car  lines  on  Eighth  and 
Ninth  Avenues.  The  building  was  an  11-story,  fireproof  structure  of  steel 
and  concrete,  and  contained  a basement,  a cellar,  and  a subcellar.  It  had 
been  designed  for  use  as  a hospital,  and  had  been  completed  in  1912.  Its 
ground  area  was  100  feet  square  and  its  gross  floor  space  was  110,000  square 
feet.  Within  it  there  were  94  private  rooms  and  wards,  4 operating  rooms,  and 
a number  of  rooms  which  had  been  used  for  clinical  and  didactic  purposes, 
and  which  were  readily  convertible  into  wards.  These  rooms  and  wards  gave 
a bed  capacity  of  approximately  450.  The  building  contained  a kitchen  of 
sufficient  capacity  to  feed  800  persons  at  one  meal;  a bakery  adequate  to 
prepare  all  the  bread  needed  for  the  hospital;  a laundry  equipped  to  meet  all 
needs;  and  a heating  plant  that  not  only  heated  the  building  in  which  it  was 
located  but  five  dwellings  adjoining  the  hospital.  All  stairways  were  of  steel 
and  concrete  construction,  and  they  were  equipped  with  fire  doors.  There  were 
three  large  elevators  ample  in  size  to  accommodate  stretcher  cases.  The 
institution  was  lighted  by  both  gas  and  electricity;  and,  to  guard  against  a 
temporary  failure  of  the  city  water  supply,  had  reserve  tanks  for  water  on 
its  roof. 

From  October  20,  1918,  the  day  it  was  taken  over  for  Medical  Department 
use,  until  December  18,  the  building  was  cleaned,  and  preparations  were  made 
for  the  reception  of  patients.  During  much  of  this  period  of  time  the  main 
hospital  building  was  used  as  quarters  for  nurses  who  were  being  mobilized 
for  duty  overseas.  There  were  a few  patients  in  hospitals  representing  members 
of  the  command,  nurses  from  overseas,  etc.;  but  on  December  19,  1918,  the 
hospital  was  formally  opened  by  the  admission  of  176  patients  from  overseas. 


° The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  New  York  City,” 
by  Lieut.  Col.  .1.  L.  Robinson,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material 
used  by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The 
history  is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


791 


Thereafter,  the  hospital,  though  designated  an  embarkation  hospital,  functioned 
principally  as  a debarkation  hospital.  On  August  15,  1919,  the  hospital  was 
abandoned. 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  New  York  City,  N.  Y.,  from 
November  4,  1918,  to  August  15,  1919,  inclusive .« 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. i> 


last 

Admissions. 

Year  and  month. 

from 

rnth. 

'd 

d 

c3 

From  other 
sources . 

Remaining 

m< 

O 

o 

a 

o 

H 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

1918. 

November 

4 

1 

6 

199 

1919. 

196 

14 

3 

177 

34 

17 

7 

378 

134 

14 

9 

197 

48 

29 

38 

367 

May 

134 

16 

45 

311 

153 

25 

27 

246 

184 

22 

5 

293 

22 

1 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  ol 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

4 

1 

2 

1 

2 

11 

206 

8 

2 

196 

2,514! 

390 

14 

1 

341 

33 

1 

3,852 

12 

436 

21 

1 

2S0 

129 

5 

3 890 

28 

354 

31 

3 

272 

47 

1 

1 751 

21 

482 

29 

318 

1 

134 

3 029 

59 

506 

40 

1 

311 

1 

153 

2 985 

19 

451 

11 

1 

184 

1,967 

504 

63 

6 

413 

22 

7,373 

23 

23 

229 

1 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

18 

20 

38 

1919. 

March 

20 

24 

44 

20 

20 

40 

April 

20 

24 

44 

19 

28 

47 

1919. 

20 

32 

52 

18 

17 

35 

July 

28 

27 

20 

20 

40 

August 

25 

29 

54 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

19 

1 

20 

121 

121 

December 

30 

1 

31 

141 

5 

146 

1919. 

29 

1 

30 

171 

7 

178 

29 

1 

30 

161 

10 

171 

25 

4 

1 

30 

162 

9 

171 

32 

5 

1 

38 

174 

8 

182 

29 

6 

1 

36 

173 

8 

181 

June 

31 

5 

1 

37 

172 

4 

176 

28 

6 

1 

35 

174 

174 

28 

6 

1 

35 

167 

167 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office'(name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held  in 
hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  com- 
manding generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States. 
A.  G.  O.,  file  “E.  E.”  Misc.  Div.) 


792 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  1,  ELLIS  ISLAND,  N.  Y.a 

Ellis  Island  comprises  three  parts  known  as  island  No.  1,  No.  2,  and  No.  3, 
respectively.  The  group  lies  midway  between  Brooklyn  and  Jersey  City,  prac- 
tically at  the  head  of  the  New  York  Bay,  and  about  1J  miles  from  New  York 
City.  Two  of  the  islands  are  artificial,  and  the  buildings  upon  them  have  been 
erected  on  piling. 

The  buildings  on  Ellis  Island  had  been  used  by  the  Bureau  of  Immigration, 
principally,  but  partly  by  the  United  States  Public  Health  Service. 

On  February  21,  1918,  the  Secretary  of  Labor,  in  a letter  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  agreed  to  the  partial  use  of  the  buildings  by  the  Medical  Department 
of  the  Army  and  designated  portions  of  the  group  that  were  available.  At 
that  time  there  were  109  patients  on  the  island,  representing  immigrants  and 
enlisted  men  of  the  United  States  Navy.  The  hospital,  with  its  patients,  was 
turned  over  to  the  Army  on  March  8,  1918,  and  the  commanding  officer  of 


Pig.  198. — Airplane  view  of  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  New  York. 


Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1 assumed  charge,  relieving  the  Public  Health  Service 
from  all  responsibility  for  the  care  of  both  patients  and  property. 

The  following  use  was  made  of  the  portions  of  Ellis  Island  transferred  to 
Army  control:  Island  No.  1 was  used  primarily  as  quarters  for  the  enlisted  men 
on  duty  at  the  hospital,  and  for  260  patients;  island  No.  2,  used  as  the  adminis- 
trative center,  contained  wards  for  2S0  patients  of  a surgical  character;  and 
island  No.  3 was  used  for  500  patients,  in  separate  wards,  located  in  buildings 
of  one  or  two  stories  each.  The  officers  on  duty  at  the  hospital  were  quartered 
in  the  buildings  of  island  No.  3,  while  the  nurses  were  quartered  on  the  third 
floor  of  the  building  on  island  No.  2. 

The  buildings  occupied  practically  all  the  space  on  the  islets,  and  there  was 
no  possibility  for  expansion.  Connecting  the  buildings,  one  with  another,  were 
covered  ways. 


“The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y.,” 
by  Maj . C.  R.  Haig,  M.  C.,  TJ.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in 
the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


793 


On  each  island  there  was  a kitchen  which  was  used  for  the  preparation  of 
food  for  patients,  as  well  as  the  duty  personnel.  The  officers  had  a dining  room 
on  island  No.  3,  the  nurses’  mess  hall  was  on  island  No.  2,  and  the  mess  hall  of 
the  detachment,  Medical  Department,  was  on  island  No.  1.  Each  group  thus 
had  a dining  hall  in  close  proximity  to  its  respective  quarters.  The  equipment 
of  the  kitchens  was  mainly  that  transferred  by  the  Public  Health  Service. 

All  departments  of  the  hospital  were  directly  connected  with  the  public 
waterworks  of  Jersey  City.  The  water,  as  supplied,  was  found  to  be  consist- 
ently of  excellent  quality  and  of  a low  bacterial  count. 

All  the  buildings  contained  modern  plumbing.  The  sewage  emptied  imme- 
diately into  the  surrounding  body  of  water. 

For  the  disposal  of  garbage,  brick  incinerators  had  been  constructed  on 
island  No.  1.  These  incinerators  satisfactorily  disposed  of  all  solid  wastes  not 
discharged  into  the  sewerage  system. 

Each  building  was  comfortably  heated  by  steam  that  was  supplied  from 
the  heating  plant  operated  by  the  Immigration  Service. 

The  lighting  of  the  hospital  was  by  electricity,  likewise  supplied  by  the 
Immigration  Service  from  a power  plant  on  the  island.  The  form  of  current 
furnished  was  220  volt,  direct.  The  lighting  system  was  only  fairly  satisfactory. 

When  the  hospital  was  transferred  to  the  Medical  Department  there  was 
sufficient  equipment  for  500  patients.  This  equipment  was  increased  to  make 
it  adequate  for  the  care  of  1,000  patients. 

On  March  23,  1918,  a hospital  exchange  was  started  without  capital.  Sub- 
sequently, in  addition  to  its  retail  department,  it  conducted  a three-chair  barber 
shop,  a tailor  shop,  and  a laundry. 

During  the  summer  months  of  191S  the  Red  Cross  maintained  a large  tent 
on  island  No.  3.  Here  during  the  hot  days  the  patients  gathered  for  entertain- 
ment or  to  visit  with  their  friends.  At  night  there  were  performances  of  various 
sorts  for  the  benefit  of  the  patients.  In  the  fall  of  1918  the  construction  of  a 
large  fireproof  building  was  begun  on  island  No.  2.  This  building  was  com- 
pleted and  ready  for  use  on  Christmas  day  following. 

There  was  no  separate  building  provided  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association,  but  space  was  given  this  organization  in  the  building  on  island 
No.  1,  where  a well-equipped  library  and  reading  and  writing  room  were  estab- 
lished. There  were  also  musical  instruments,  pool  tables,  etc.,  for  the  use  of 
members  of  the  detachment  as  well  as  the  patients.  A moving  picture  apparatus 
supplied  ample  evening  entertainment. 

Since  the  hospital  buildings  occupied  practically  all  the  available  space  on 
the  islets,  there  was  little  possibility  for  outdoor  recreation.  During  the  sum- 
mer months  the  only  means  of  recreation  were  swimming,  boxing,  and  other 
forms  of  outdoor  contests  which  could  be  carried  on  in  the  very  limited  space. 

This  hospital  was  closed  on  June  30,  1919,  in  compliance  with  a request 
of  the  Secretary  of  Labor,  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  War  on  April  1,  1919. 


794  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y,  from  August, 

1918,  to  June  30,  1919,  inclusive  fi 

SICIC  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discha  rged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

w 

© 

3 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

1918. 

272 

37 

33 

342 

33 

3 

293 

3 

7 

3 

1 375 

39 

10 

71 

96 

177 

42 

4 

73 

2 

56 

1 088 

29 

56 

101 

116 

273 

128 

6 

1 

83 

2, 173 

42 

55 

46 

64 

1 

166 

43 

6 

5 

48 

64 

1 674 

10 

64 

52 

127 

3 

246 

40 

10 

14 

127 

53 

2 

2,684 

8 

1919. 

55 

56 

99 

6 

216 

58 

4 

1 

60 

3 

S9 

1 

2,095 

34 

90 

70 

677 

1 

838 

67 

5 

1 

278 

487 

8. 173 

14 

487 

72 

468 

1,027 

101 

9 

649 

1 

267 

12.268 

61 

267 

32 

470 

'769 

64 

6 

393 

306 

8 829 

12 

306 

25 

195 

526 

97 

16 

1 

264 

147 

1 

7, 205 

14 

148 

5 

10 

1 

164 

23 

11 

1 

10 

119 

1,501 

3 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

2 

18 

20 

January 

2 

15 

17 

2 

18 

20 

February 

2 

21 

23 

2 

19 

21 

March. 

9 

21 

23 

2 

15 

17 

April 

2 

21 

23 

2 

15 

17 

May 

2 

21 

23 

June 

2 

18 

20 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps.' 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Departs 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

August 

29 

2 

1 

32 

297 

11 

30S 

50 

September 

29 

2 

1 

32 

363 

10 

373 

64 

October 

29 

2 

1 

32 

350 

10 

360 

79 

N ovember 

34 

2 

1 

37 

360 

360 

44 

December 

37 

3 

2 

42 

378 

23 

401 

76 

1919. 

January 

34 

3 

2 

39 

392 

31 

423 

64 

February 

33 

3 

1 

37 

374 

37 

411 

63 

March 

29 

3 

1 

33 

363 

31 

394 

73 

April 

27 

3 

1 

31 

316 

22 

33S 

69 

May 

23 

3 

1 

27 

2S2 

17 

299 

62 

June 

8 

2 

1 

11 

53 

17 

70 

“ Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

h Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held  in 
hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  com- 
manding generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States. 
A.  G.  O.,  file  “E.E.”  Misc.  Div.) 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


795 


DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  2 (GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  41),  FOX  HILLS, 

STATEN  ISLAND,  N.  Y. 

Early  in  the  war  it  was  the  plan  of  the  Surgeon  General  to  begin  the  pro- 
vision of  the  debarkation  hospital  facilities  at  the  port  of  New  York  in  order 
that,  when  the  time  came,  facilities  would  be  available  at  that  port  for  the 
reception  and  temporary  treatment  of  the  returned  overseas  sick  and  wounded.1 
Several  properties  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  City  were  considered.  Two 
tracts  on  Staten  Island,  the  Mathews  site  and  the  Fox  Hills  site,  were  chosen 
as  being  more  suitable  than  any  others.  They  were  both  carefully  inspected 
and  the  latter  was  selected  for  the  site  of  the  debarkation  hospital. 

The  site  was  high  and  rolling  and  comprised  158  acres  situated  at  Rosebank, 
near  the  quarantine  dock  on  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  island  opposite 
The  Narrows.  It  was  15  minutes  by  motor  from  St.  George  Ferry  and 
approached  by  good  macadam  roads.2 

On  November  8,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  the  leasing  of 
the  various  properties  constituting  the  site.3  This  was  approved  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  on  the  10th  of  that  month,3  and  on  the  15th  the  Quartermaster 
General  was  requested  to  execute  the  leases  as  approved.4  Although  the  site 
was  hilly  and,  therefore,  rather  difficult  and  somewhat  expensive  for  temporary 
construction,  it  was  approved  by  those  concerned  and  the  leases  were  pro- 
ceeded with 

The  total  yearly  rental  to  the  various  lessors  was  $18,656.3  Four  of  the 
lessors  tendered  their  properties  at  SI  per  year;  the  remainder  were  commercial 
leases.  By  December  18,  1917,  most  of  the  leases  had  been  secured. 

Meanwhile,  further  study  was  given  to  the  planning  of  the  hospital  and  the 
general  question  of  the  handling  of  debarking  sick,  and,  as  a result,  preliminary 
plans  were  prepared  for  a hospital  larger  than  any  hitherto  constructed  for  the 
War  Department  in  the  United  States.2  Special  attention  was  given  to  the 
requirements  of  the  receiving  building.  It  was  so  planned  as  to  permit 
the  physical  examination  and  the  necessary  record  work  incident  to  the  admis- 
sion of  large  numbers;  and  a portion  of  it  was  planned  to  facilitate  the  discharge 
of  patients  en  route  to  the  general  hospitals  of  the  interior.  In  conjunction 
with  and  attached  to  it,  to  unify  operation,  the  laundry,  disinfecting,  and  dry- 
cleaning  buildings  were  arranged.  The  latter,  a new  departure  in  Army  hos- 
pital construction,  was  planned  to  afford  a much-needed  utility.  In  general, 
the  plans  of  the  hospital  were  the  same  as  for  the  base  hospitals  in  the  canton- 
ments, but  the  kitchens  and  mess  halls  were  larger,  thus  giving  the  hospital 
greater  expansion  possibilities  than  there  were  in  the  other  hospitals.6  These 
preliminary  plans  were  sent  to  the  Quartermaster  General  in  December,  1917, 
with  request  for  construction.7 

The  preliminary  construction  work  began  in  January,  1918,  when  a spur 
track  was  built  from  the  Staten  Island  Rapid  Transit  Railroad.  This  facili- 
tated the  construction  of  the  hospital  which  was  to  follow  and  which  was  carried 
on  as  rapidly  as  weather  and  other  conditions  permitted.  As  originally  planned 
and  constructed,  the  capacity  of  the  hospital  was  1,912  beds  for  sick  and  accom- 
modations for  40  commissioned  officers,  180  nurses,  and  440  enlisted  personnel. 
In  all,  there  were  approximately  70  buildings.6 


1<'ro.  190. — Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2 (General  Hospital  No.  41),  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


797 


A portion  of  the  hospital  was  completed 
for  occupancy  in  the  early  summer  of  1918, 
and  by  midsummer  the  hospital,  except  for 
certain  additions  requested,  was  entirely  com- 
plete. Six  one-story  wards  and  2 two-story 
wards  were  added  in  the  fall  of  191S;  6 wards, 
already  constructed,  were  altered  for  the  treat- 
ment of  psychiatric  cases,  and  an  automatic 
fire-alarm  system  was  installed.8  The  total 
cost  was  $2,600,000. 

This  hospital  was  one  of  four  where,  due 
to  the  scarcity  of  lumber  and  shipping  facili- 
ties, large  quantities  of  insulite,  a substitute 
for  lumber,  were  used  in  its  stead  in  the  erec- 
tion of  buildings.  Late  in  1918  over  $50,000 
was  spent  in  the  application  of  stucco  and 
paint  over  the  insulite  of  which  many  of  the 
buildings  were  constructed.8 

On  March  14,  1918,  the  hospital  was  des- 
ignated “ United  States  Army  General  Hos- 
pital No.  10/’ 9 and  on  May  10,  1918,  it  was 
designated  “Base  Hospital,  Fox  Hills,  Staten 
Island,”  and  placed  under  the  commanding 
general  of  the  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken, 
N.  J.10  It  was  opened  in  June,  1918,  and  was 
designated  “United  States  Army  Debarkation 
Hospital  No.  2,”  11  but  it  was  not  until  Octo- 
ber, 1918,  that  any  considerable  number  of 
overseas  sick  and  wounded  was  handled  there. 
Starting  with  about  50  patients  in  October, 
the  number  reached  229  before  the  end  of  the 
month.12  By  the  end  of  November  the  num- 
ber had  reached  1,500. 12  From  November, 
1918,  until  March,  1919  (at  which  time  it  was 
taken  from  the  port  and  made  General  Hos- 
pital No.  41), 13  the  number  of  sick  in  hospital 
varied  from  400  to  1,S00.13  The  number 
was  never  the  same  two  weeks  in  succes- 
sion, due  to  the  sudden  and  frequent  arriv- 
als of  large  numbers  from  France  or  to  the 
rapid  evacuation  of  large  numbers  to  the 
various  general  hospitals  throughout  the 
United  States.  Within  the  week  of  Jan- 
uary 4 to  10,  1919,  the  high  and  low  points 
varied  over  1,200.13 


Fig.  200. — Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2 


798  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. , 
from  July,  1918,  to  February,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. & 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command.  1 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted . 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

'a 

c 

Quarters. 

1918. 

10 

28 

1 

39 

23 

1 

311 

2 

16 

36 

1 

53 

36 

3 

14 

613 

2 

14 

68 

1 

83 

52 

1 

2 

28 

391 

4 

28 

140 

60 

1 

229 

184 

2 

38 

2,452 

36 

38 

32 

34 

1 

105 

38 

7 

19 

2 

39 

888 

2 

39 

70 

147 

1 

257 

39 

6 

112 

100 

3,186 

18 

1919. 

100 

99 

345 

5 

549 

84 

7 

108 

350 

4,232 

11 

350 

91 

223 

2 

666 

80 

10 

6 

414 

llj  G90 

22 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

3 

3 

1919. 

January  

13 

13 

13 

13 

February 

15 

15 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.  M.C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 
laneous 
(Q.M.  C., 
etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

July 

29 

3 

2 

34 

413 

31 

444 

54 

August 

40 

4 

2 

46 

40S 

37 

445 

55 

September 

37 

4 

0 

41 

431 

60 

491 

67 

October 

29 

3 

4 

36 

430 

63 

493 

69 

November 

44 

3 

4 

51 

482 

S4 

566 

S6 

December 

49 

6 

2 

57 

536 

187 

723 

S9 

1919. 

January 

50 

7 

2 

59 

528 

165 

693 

64 

February 

38 

6 

1 

45 

514 

3S 

552 

65 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held 
in  hospital  fora  few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to 
commanding  generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United 
States.  A.  G.  0 .,  file  “ E.E.”  Misc.  Div.) 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


799 


DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  4 (GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  39)  LONG  BEACH,  LONG 

ISLAND,  N.  Y. 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4 consisted  of  the  Nassau  Hotel  and  several 
adjoining  buildings  of  minor  consequence,  situated  at  Long  Beach,  Long 
Island,  25  miles  from  New  York  City.  The  Hotel  Nassau  was  a 7-story  fire- 
proof building  with  a 2-story  annex,  and  it  contained  400  rooms  above  the  first 
floor.  The  building  had  been  erected  directly  on  the  beach,  facing  the  ocean, 
and  was  300  feet  long  and  140  feet  wide.  In  addition  to  being  fireproof,  it 
was  well  supplied  with  fire  extinguishers  and  fire  lines  with  outlets  on  each 
floor.  If  was  reached  by  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  the  station  being  five 
blocks  from  the  hotel.14 

The  ground  floor  contained  the  mechanical  department,  including  the  heat- 
ing, lighting,  power  plant,  laundry,  paint  shop,  storerooms,  kitchen,  bakery, 
servants’  dining  rooms,  grill  room,  barber  shop,  etc.14  The  main  floor,  sur- 


Fig.  201. — Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  Dong  Beach,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 


rounded  by  a large  covered  veranda,  contained  the  main  lobby,  reception  cor- 
ridor, ballroom,  main  dining  room,  several  large  private  dining  rooms,  offices, 
etc.14  The  remaining  were  the  sleeping  floors  containing,  with  the  exception 
of  the  sixth,  50  bedrooms  each.14  On  the  sixth  floor  there  were  104  rooms, 
4 dormitories,  and  outdoor  sleeping  facilities.14  In  the  two-storv  annex  there 
were  additional  sleeping  rooms.14  This  hotel  had  been  inspected  by  an  officer 
from  the  Surgeon  General’s  Office  in  the  fall  of  1917,  with  a view  to  its  use  as  a 
general  hospital.  Negotiations  concerning  its  rental  or  purchase  consumed 
much  time  throughout  the  fall  of  1917.  The  first  offer  demanded  $150,000 
rental  per  year,  the  purchase  of  the  furniture  and  equipment  at  $210,000,  the 
necessary  renovation  and  alteration  at  $71,500,  and  an  additional  $25,000  to 
restore  the  property  after  War  Department  occupancy  had  ceased.15  It  was 
decided  not  to  lease  this  property,  but  to  look  elsewhere  for  hospital  facilities, 
as  the  above  stipulations  could  not  be  met  by  the  War  Department. 


800 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


On  December  4,  1917,  the  president  of  the  Nassau  Hotel  Co.  made  another 
offer  to  lease  the  hotel  to  the  Government  for  $150,000  and  the  purchase  of  the 
equipment  at  $100,000  to  $140,000,  or  the  sale  of  it  to  the  Government  for 
$1,150, 000. 18  Neither  of  these  propositions  was  acceptable  to  the  War  De- 
partment and  again  negotiations  failed. 

Until  the  spring  of  1918  it  had  been  the  intention  to  use  this  hotel,  should  it 
be  acquired,  for  general  hospital  purposes,  but  by  the  spring  of  1918  the  neces- 
sity for  increasing  the  number  of  beds  in  the  port  of  New  York  becoming  more 
acute,  and  with  negotiations  still  unsettled,  it  was  decided,  should  it  be  possible 
to  secure  it,  to  use  the  Nassau  Hotel  as  a debarkation  hospital  for  that  port. 
Accordingly,  on  May  22,  the  Surgeon  General,  for  the  first  time  recommended 
the  leasing  of  this  property  at  not  to  exceed  $125,000  a year.  As  a result  of 
the  surveys  made  prior  to  this  date,  it  was  reported  to  have  a capacity  of 
1,300  beds.18  It  was  not  contemplated  to  purchase  the  equipment  at  this 
time.  The  lease  was  approved  on  June  12, 18  preliminary  arrangements  were 
made  to  take  possession  after  September  5,  and  the  rental  figure  was  agreed 
upon  at  $105,000  a year.17 

Arrangements  having  been  finally  completed,  the  hotel  was  taken  over  in 
September,  1918,  and  on  the  19th  of  that  month  was  designated  ‘‘Debarkation 
Hospital  No.  4”  and  assigned  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  commanding  general  of 
the  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken.18 

On  August  14  a complete  survey  had  been  made  of  the  hotel  with  a view 
to  determining  what  alterations  would  be  required  for  its  use  as  a hospital. 
Based  upon  the  plans  prepared,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  the  expendi- 
ture of  $25, 000. 19  Renovation  and  construction  work  began  soon  after  Septem- 
ber 25,  1918,  when  those  to  be  in  charge  of  this  work  arrived.  The  work  done 
consisted  particularly  of  repairs  to  the  heating  plant,  the  installation  of  new 
radiation  on  the  seventh  floor  to  render  it  habitable  in  winter  for  the  personnel 
on  duty  at  the  hospital,  the  installation  of  a diet  kitchen  on  each  floor,  some 
plumbing  alterations  and  installations  throughout  the  building,  the  erection 
of  necessary  partitions,  some  painting,  and  the  installation  of  additional  kitchen 
equipment.20  The  work  was  practically  completed  in  December  of  1918  and 
cost  $24,889. 

The  hospital  was  not  put  to  use  during  the  period  of  renovation.  Condi- 
tions at  the  port  of  New  York  in  respect  to  bed  space  in  debarkation  hospitals, 
which  previously  appeared  to  be  inadequate,  now,  in  December,  191S,  proved 
to  be  well  taken  care  of.  Consequently,  when  it  became  available,  it  was  not 
required  for  debarking  sick.  The  Surgeon  General  then  recommended  that  it 
be  designated  as  a general  hospital  and  placed  directly  under  the  control  of  the 
War  Department,  and  on  December  9,  1918,  it  became  General  Hospital  No.  39. 21 

As  General  Hospital  No.  39  it  was  opened  in  January,  1919,  with  a capacity 
of  500  beds,  and  a small  number  of  sick  was  immediately  sent  there.22  By 
March  the  number  of  sick  constantly  in  the  hospital  had  increased  to  500. 22  In 
the  meantime,  however,  February,  1919,  the  general  bed  situation  in  general 
and  base  hospitals  in  the  United  States  was  becoming  less  acute.  The  Surgeon 
General’s  policy  for  some  time  had  been  to  use  the  base  hospitals  in  cantonments 
as  well  as  the  general  hospitals  for  the  care  of  the  overseas  sick.  While  there 
were  many  sick  yet  to  be  returned  from  France,  the  date  upon  which  the  peak 
load  would  be  reached  had  been  predicted  and  had  just  been  reached.  On 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  801 

February  19,  1919,  the  Surgeon  General,  under  the  terms  of  the  lease,  recom- 
mended cancellation  of  all  leases  and  the  abandonment  of  the  hospital,23  much 
as  it  was  desired  to  operate  it  for  the  sick  through  the  coming  summer  season. 
Patients  and  personnel  Mere  to  be  removed  by  April  1.  It  was  contemplated 
to  remove  all  property  and  to  deliver  the  buildings  to  the  lessor  on  April  30. 
This  recommendation  was  approved  and  carried  out.  The  sick,  meanwhile, 
having  been  reduced  to  a small  number  by  successive  stages,  were  transferred, 
prior  to  the  removal  of  Government  property  and  the  surrender  of  the 
buildings.24 

Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4,  Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach,  N.  I".. 
from  October,  191S,  to  March,  1919,  inclusive  .<* 


SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

191S. 

1919. 

16 

23 

January 

24 

31 

24 

6 

30 

February 

23 

10 

33 

24 

6 

30 

March 

21 

11 

32 

21 

26 

April 

20 

4 

24 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers.  | Enlisted  men. 


Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

191S. 

September 

7 

3 

1 

11 

79 

1 

SO 

11 

3 

1 

15 

79 

3 

S2 

November 

19 

3 

1 

23 

SI 

3 

S4 

December 

24 

3 

1 

37 

310 

14 

324 

46 

1919. 

January 

30 

6 

1 

37 

310 

14 

324 

46 

February 

26 

6 

4 

36 

313 

16 

329 

44 

March 

9 

4 

2 

15 

109 

13 

122 

44 

April 

4 

1 

5 



a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on  file, 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office:  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

45269° — 23 51 


802 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  5,  GRAND  CENTRAL  PALACE,  NEW  YORK  CITY.* 

On  September  16,  1918,  the  building  formerly  known  as  the  Grand  Central 
Palace  was  designated  “Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5,”  by  General  Orders,  No. 
Ill,  Headquarters,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J.  A lease  bearing  the 
date  September  1,  1918,  had  been  executed  by  the  Government  on  September  3, 
at  a time  when  the  floors  of  the  building  were  still  in  use  by  tenants.  The  build- 
ing was  of  the  loft  type  of  architecture  and  was  considered  highly  adaptable  to 
hospital  purposes.  It  was  located  in  New  York  City  and  covered  the  entire 
block  from  Forty-sixth  to  Forty-seventh  Street  on  Lexington  Avenue,  and 
extended  west  to  Depew  Place,  a private  right  of  way  of  the  New  York  Central 
Railroad.  On  the  east  and  west  the  building  was  200  feet  in  height  and  on  the 
north  and  south  sides  it  was  272  feet  high.  It  was  within  one  block  of  the 
Grand  Central  Terminal,  1 mile  distant  from  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Terminal,  and  was  within  easy  access  of  all  the  docks  of  Manhattan.  The 
structure  was  classed  as  a 12-story  fireproof  building;  its  walls  were  made  of 
steel  and  light-faced  brick,  trimmed  with  terra  cotta;  and  all  of  its  floors 
except  the  first  three  were  of  cement.  The  first,  second  and  third  floors  were 
of  fireproof  wooden  construction.  The  total  floor  area  of  the  building  was 
600,000  square  feet. 

On  September  18,  1918,  the  constructing  quartermaster  forwarded  to  the 
Construction  Division,  War  Department,  a $215,000  estimate,  covering  the 
alterations  deemed  necessary  to  convert  the  building  to  hospital  purposes 
Revised  plans  were  received  September  20,  1918,  but  it  was  not  until  October 
3 that  actual  work  on  alteration  was  begun.  The  building,  being  in  good 
general  condition  and  readily  adaptable  to  the  purpose  intended,  obviated  any 
structural  changes.  The  revised  plans,  however,  called  for  partitions,  plumb- 
ing, and  other  fixtures.  Numerous  baths  and  showers  were  installed,  the  work 
conforming  in  a large  measure,  in  finish  and  construction,  to  that  of  the  base 
hospitals  in  cantonments.  The  existing  building  was  disturbed  as  little  as 
possible. 

The  many  partitions  referred  to  were  required  to  divide  the  floors  into 
wards,  toilet  sections,  cafeterias,  a post  exchange,  gymnasium,  assembly  room, 
a theater,  closets,  kitchen,  and  storeroom  departments,  in  addition  to  the  various 
offices  and  recreation  rooms.  These  partitions  were  made  of  semifireproof 
plaster  board  and  extended  to  a height  of  about  7 feet,  being  topped  by  a 2 by  6 
inch  rider,  though  in  some  instances  they  extended  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling. 

All  the  wards  were  well  ventilated  and  heated  and  had  abundant  light  on 
two  sides.  In  each  of  the  east  wards  there  was  a floor  space  of  over  10.000 
square  feet,  while  in  each  of  the  smaller  or  west  wards  there  was  a floor  area  of 
about  8,000  square  feet.  A large  recreation  room  was  located  between  two  of 
the  main  wards  on  each  floor  and  was  so  placed  as  to  give  a view  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  city  and  the  East  River.  Each  floor  used  for  wards  had  two  quiet 
rooms,  two  toilet  and  service  sections,  as  well  as  a cafeteria  dining  room. 
Offices,  living  rooms,  and  closets  were  conveniently  and  amply  provided. 
The  toilet  sections  comprised  a ward  toilet  section  with  6 closet  bowls,  1 urinal, 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “ History,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5,  New  York  City,” 
by  Capt.  J.  D.  Caldwell,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him 
in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file 
in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  803 


DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  5 

GRAND  CENTRAL  PALACE  NEW  YORK  CITY 


Fig. 202. 


804 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


1 double  lavatory,  a shower,  and  tub  bath;  a utility  room  with  flushing  hopper; 
a nurses’  toilet  room  with  2 closet  bowls;  an  officers’  toilet  with  1 bowl.  The 
typical  ward  floor  had  370  beds,  and  the  bed  capacity  of  the  entire  hospital  was 
3,500. 

The  twelfth  floor  differed  from  the  typical  floor  plan  in  that  it  was  somewhat 
smaller.  There  was  less  light  because  of  restricted  window  space  and  because 
of  the  obstruction  caused  by  the  overhanging  roof.  The  eleventh  floor  also 
differed  from  the  typical  ward  floor  in  that  it  was  subdivided  into  smaller  wards, 
there  being  1 0 in  all,  varying  in  capacity  from  2 to  25  beds.  On  this  floor  were 
diet  kitchen,  living  rooms,  offices,  and  conveniently  located  compartments. 
In  the  center  were  located  the  dispensary  and  the  pharmacists’  room.  The 
dispensary  was  large  and  commodious,  was  well  supplied  with  the  needs  of  the 
hospital,  and  was  always  well  kept. 

The  surgical  section,  X-ray,  dental,  ear,  nose  and  tnroat,  eye,  genitouri- 
nary, dressing  departments  with  four  sterilizers,  two  separate  pairs  of  operating 
rooms  (between  each  of  which  there  was  a sterilizing  and  wash-up  room),  the 
morgue,  autopsy  rooms,  three  wards,  the  laundry,  the  Carrel-Dakin  room,  and 
the  surgeon’s  office  were  all  located  on  the  third  floor. 

The  first  or  main  floor  was  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  building. 
Here  were  located  the  receiving  and  evacuating  rooms,  the  kitchen,  and  the 
kitchen  storerooms,  the  Red  Cross  offices,  officers’  lavatory,  the  nurses’  locker 
room  and  lounge,  and  the  chaplain’s  office. 

The  basement,  on  the  east,  was  at  the  level  of  Lexington  Avenue.  Many 
offices  were  located  here,  which  included  the  quartermaster  department,  and 
in  addition  there  were  the  sterilizer,  the  ice  plant,  telephone  exchange,  carpen- 
ter’s room,  guardhouse,  and  the  street  level  for  the  elevators. 

The  Lafayette  House,  at  112  East  Fifty-Ninth  Street  , formerly  the  German 
Club,  was  operated  as  an  auxiliary  to  this  hospital  and  was  used  as  an  officers’ 
ward.  This  building  was  equipped  by  the  American  Red  Cross  and  was  operated 
by  them,  except  that  the  control  and  treatment  of  the  patients  was  maintained 
by  the  hospital.  The  building  was  adequate  for  the  care  of  convalescent 
officers  but  had  no  equipment  for  the  care  of  the  seriously  sick  or  injured. 

In  December,  1918,  the  Bible  Teachers’  Training  School,  a block  away 
from  the  hospital,  was  leased  for  nurses’  quarters. 

The  principal  difference  between  this  hospital  and  Debarkation  Hospital  No. 
3 was  that  in  the  Grand  Central  Palace  building  it  was  necessary  to  establish  a 
floor  unit  arrangement.  The  Greenhut  building  had  but  6 stories,  all  of  which 
intercommunicated  by  means  of  12  elevators  and  6 stairways,  thus  permitting 
ambulant  sick  and  personnel  to  come  to  meals  at  the  central  mess  hall  without 
overtaxing  the  elevators  or  producing  a great  amount  of  noise  on  the  stairways. 
The  Grand  Central  Palace  had  12  stories  and  but  9 elevators  and  4 stairways. 
Since  it  was  essential  that  noise  be  kept  at  a minimum  the  constant  use  of  the 
stairways  by  large  numbers  was  precluded.  If  the  mess  hall  had  been  estab- 
lished on  the  lirst  floor  the  second  floor  only  could  be  excluded  from  the  numbers 
that  would  have  had  to  use  the  elevators,  since  it  could  be  expected  that  only 
those  on  the  floor  above  the  mess  hall  would  utilize  the  stairway  when  coming 
to  meals.  To  have  reduced  the  number  using  the  elevators,  by  establishing 
the  mess  hall  on  the  sixth  floor,  so  as  to  require  those  from  the  fifth  and  seventh 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


805 


floors  to  use  the  stairways,  would  have  necessitated  establishing  the  cooking 
facilities  on  the  same  floor,  to  which  there  were  too  many  practical  obstacles. 

The  kitchen  was  installed  on  the  first  floor.  It  extended  from  the  service 
storage  end  of  the  building  to  the  service  elevators  which  connected  with  the 
floors  above.  Service  and  mess  rooms  were  then  provided  each  floor,  adjoining 
the  service  elevators.  Each  serving  room  was  equipped  to  receive  food  from 
the  main  kitchen,  to  serve  it  from  steam  tables  to  the  patients’  mess  or  the  cafe- 


KITCHEN  EQUIPMENT- 

9 Sauce  pan  rack. 

to  Gas  ranges 

io  Fish  boxes 

ti  Salamanders 

ii  Work  sink 

Stock  kellies 

iz.  Vegetable  tables 

ts  Vegetable  boilers 

13  Work  table 

ia  Vegetable  steamers 

14  Cooks  table 

tb  Coffee  urns 

is  Cooks  table  sink 

is.  Dish  washing  machine 

i6  botchers  bench 

t7  Vegetable  peeler 

17  butchers  block 

ts  Hood 

IS  Meat  chopper 

t9  Pot  sink 

J9  Mixer 

-MESS-EQUIPMENT- 

50  Cafeteria  counter 

S6  Refrigerator 

3i  Tray  slide 

37  Glass  washing  sink 

32.  Steam  table 

3B  Dish  washing  machine 

35  Tablethanging  shelf  over>39  Tray  table 

34  Counter  6 shelves 

40  Tables  benches 

55  Refrigerator 

4.  Coffee  urn 

Q ip.  2C 

30  40. 

J CA 

LE.. 

• General  ■ kitchen  • 


-Typical- patients- ME55- 


- Debarkation  - hotpitial-n0- 5 

Grand  central  palace,  /wYorkaty. 


Fig.  203. 


teria  counter,  to  mane  up  the  trays  for  the  bed  patients,  and  to  wash  and  store 
necessary  dishes  and  utensils. 

The  initial  installation  of  the  floor  unit  was  more  expensive;  it  cost  more 
to  operate  it;  and  it  occupied  more  space  than  the  centralization  of  these  activi- 
ties necessitated,  such  as  was  the  case  at  the  Greenliut  Building.  It  operated 
with  entire  satisfaction. 


806 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN’  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  American  National  Red  Cross  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  general 
information  bureau  which  concerned  patients  as  well  as  visitors.  The  location 
of  the  hospital  in  the  heart  of  New  York,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  the  building 
had  a reputation  of  being  a former  show  place,  attracted  many  visitors.  The 
Red  Cross  completely  equipped  many  recreation  rooms  in  the  hospital  and  pro- 
vided personnel  for  them.  To  carry  on  its  work  the  Red  Cross  was  organized 
into  the  following  departments:  A home  service,  a department  for  entertain- 
ment and  outside  recreation,  an  educational  department,  a social  service  depart- 
ment, the  information  bureau  for  questions  of  compensation  and  war-risk 
insurance,  and  an  information  bureau  concerning  recreation  work  and  voca- 
tional education. 

The  American  Library  Association  operated  in  conjunction  with  the  Red 
Cross  and  supplied  an  immense  number  of  daily  newspapers,  books,  and  much 
reading  matter  for  the  patients. 

On  June  2,  1919,  the  last  patient  was  received,  and  on  June  16  the  last 
patient  was  evacuated.  The  work  of  removing  medical  supplies  had  already 
started  and  the  property  was  rapidly  being  removed  when,  on  June  30,  1919, 
the  hospital  was  officially  closed  and  the  work  of  dismantling  and  restoring  the 
building  to  its  original  status  was  begun. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5,  Grand  Central  Palace,  New  York 
City,  from  December,  1918,  to  June  30,  1919,  inclusive.  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. i> 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1919. 

January 

8 

8 

1919. 

April 

53 

February 

33 

33 

53 

53 

85 

March.  /. 

IS 

39 

10 

45 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General's  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  the  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held  in 
hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  com- 
manding generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medicalrecords  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States. 
A.  G.  O.,  file  “E.  E.”  Mise.  Div.) 


OTHER  EMBARKATION”  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  807 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  .5,  Grand  Central  Palace,  New  York 
City,  from  December , 1918,  to  June  30,  1919,  inclusive — -Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

December 

59 

7 

2 

68 

478 

478 

1919. 

January 

69 

s 

2 

79 

602 

8 

610 

122 

February 

69 

8 

2 

79 

640 

41 

681 

176 

March 

74 

10 

2 

86 

749 

40 

789 

187 

April 

78 

10 

2 

90 

740 

32 

772 

185 

May 

58 

10 

2 

70 

684 

32 

716 

1S6 

June 

7 

6 

1 

14 

144 

23 

167 

81 

BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  MERRITT,  N.  J.<z 

Situated  almost  midway  between  the  small  towns  of  Cresskill  and  Dumont, 
three-fourths  of  a mile  due  west,  the  base  hospital  at  Camp  Merritt  was  pleas- 
antly located  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Bergen  County,  N.  J.  Englewood 
was  the  nearest  large  town,  about  5 miles  distant,  and  Hoboken,  the  port  of 
embarkation,  lay  14  miles  to  the  south.  Both  Cresskill  and  Dumont  contained 
railroad  stations.  A spur  of  the  Erie  Railroad  passed  through  Cresskill,  and 
Dumont  was  pierced  by  the  main  line  of  the  West  Shore  Railroad,  running 
from  Weehawken,  through  Dumont,  west. 

The  ridge  on  which  Camp  Merritt  and  the  base  hospital  were  situated 
runs  north  and  south,  with  a general  declivity  to  the  south.  The  terrain  dips 
moderately  toward  the  west  and  sharply  to  the  east.  To  the  east,  west,  and 
south  of  the  hospital  the  country  was  wooded,  with  alternating  stretches  of  open 
ground.  There  was  excellent  natural  drainage,  and  there  was  no  marsh  country 
within  10  miles  of  the  hospital. 

The  soil  of  the  region  is  a light  sandy  loam  with  a slight  mixture  of  some 
gravel.  It  is  neither  so  friable  as  to  cause  high-flying  dust  in  dry  seasons 
nor  so  compact  as  to  create  a tenacious  mud  after  rains. 

The  climate  is  typically  that  of  the  New  England  States;  that  is  to  say, 
it  is  hot  in  summer,  cold  in  winter,  mild  during  the  intervening  months,  but 
invigorating  throughout.  This  is  not  a region  of  high  winds.  The  usual  thing 
is  for  a light  breeze  to  blow  either  from  the  west  or  north. 

The  roads  about  the  base  hospital  were  in  the  usual  condition  of  dirt 
roads  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  hospital.  They  were  good  in 
good  weather  and  very  bad  after  rains.  During  the  summer  of  1918  concrete 
roads  were  laid  to  the  extent  of  1,117  yards;  macadam  roads,  1,350  yards; 
cinder  roads,  660  yards;  and  2,450  yards  of  road  were  improved.  The  interior 
roads  of  the  hospital  were  constructed  of  crushed  stone,  tarvia  covered. 

In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1917,  some  of  the  barracks  of  the  camp  had 
been  roofed.  In  these  accommodations  were  obtained  for  members  of  the 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Merritt,  N.  J.,”  by  Maj. 
J.  I.  Sloat,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by  him  in  the 
compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in 
the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 


808 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Medical  Department  assigned  to  the  base  hospital.  From  Madison  Barracks 
came  3;  from  Fort  Hancock,  12  men,  with  2 noncommissioned  officers.  This 
handful  constituted  the  enlisted  personnel  until  October  6,  1917,  when  30  men 
arrived  from  Fort  Ethan  Allen,  Vt.  During  the  month  of  September  the  few 
men  on  duty  at  the  hospital  were  messed  by  the  Red  Cross  Society  at  Engle- 
wood, N.  J.,  their  food  being  brought  by  motor  car.  They  slept  in  the  half- 
completed  barracks. 

While  the  hospital  was  in  the  course  of  construction  throughout  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1917  the  12-bed  hospital  and  dispensary  fitted  up  by  the 
contractors,  at  then  own  expense  for  the  use  of  then  own  men,  was  made  use 
of  to  care  for  medical  cases,  accidents,  etc.,  occurring  among  civilian  help. 
Accidents  were  not  uncommon  at  that  time,  and  members  of  the  medical 
detachment  were  assigned  to  duty  in  turn  to  work  in  this  dispensary  and 
hospital  for  the  sake  of  the  training  afforded  in  emergency  work.  The  Red 
Cross  Society  at  Cresskill,  1 mile  east  of  the  hospital,  offered  the  use  of  its 
building  in  October,  1917,  as  a temporary  hospital,  and  some  patients  were 
transported  thither  by  ambulance.  During  November,  troop  movements 
through  Camp  Merritt,  which  was  then  beginning  to  take  its  place  among 
the  embarkation  camps,  became  a matter  of  importance  to  the  camp  hospital 
because  of  the  number  of  sick  attached  to  these  moving  organizations  that 
were  dropped  for  immediate  medical  attention.  In  the  absence  of  adequate 
local  hospital  quarters  the  serious  cases  were  sent  to  St.  Mary’s  Hospital, 
Hoboken,  N.  J.,  a distance  of  about  14  miles,  by  combined  ambulance  and 
train  service.  This  necessitated  too  much  handling  of  patients  and  too  long 
a trip  for  the  very  sick,  and  on  December  19,  1917,  through  verbal  instructions 
from  the  surgeon,  port  of  embarkation,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital 
took  over  two  wards  in  the  civil  hospital  at  Englewood,  N.  J.,  for  the  use  of 
sick  soldiers,  the  Medical  Department  furnishing  the  supplies  for  them.  This 
meant  a journey  of  5 miles  only,  entirely  by  ambulance,  the  fatigue  of  which 
could  be  well  borne.  This  arrangement  with  the  Englewood  Hospital  con- 
tinued to  operate  until  the  opening  of  the  base  hospital  on  January  9,  191S. 

No  definite  date  can  be  easily  fixed  upon  as  the  date  of  organization  of 
the  base  hospital.  On  October  29,  1917,  a commanding  officer  of  the  base 
hospital  was  designated.  This  was,  perhaps,  the  date  of  organization  of  the 
hospital,  for  an  officer  was  assigned  charge  of  the  medical  service,  another  was 
made  acting  chief  of  the  surgical  service,  and  a third  combined  the  duties  of 
commanding  officer  of  the  Medical  Department  detachment  and  the  adjutant. 
It  was  well  on  toward  the  month  of  December,  1917,  however,  before  the  staff 
of  the  base  hospital  had  been  augmented  sufficiently  to  care  for  the  needs  of  the 
hospital  service.  On  January  9,  1918,  the  base  hospital  was  formally  opened 
with  a personnel  of  20  commissioned  officers,  11  nurses,  97  enlisted  men,  and  a 
bed  capacity  of  416. 

The  standard  type  was  adopted  for  the  buildings  of  the  hospital.  The 
wards  were  166  by  25  feet,  with  screened-in  porches  on  two  sides.  The  first 
building  of  wards,  which  was  the  first  stage  of  construction  for  the  hospital, 
was  in  the  form  of  a 4-sided  figure,  the  16  wards  forming  in  their  2 batteries  of 
8 wards  on  a side,  the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  figure;  the  administration 
building,  officers’  quarters,  and  receiving  ward  the  north  side  of  the  line:  while 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS, 


809 


the  mess  hall,  kitchen,  post  exchange,  and  medical  supply  warehouse  No.  1 
roughly  constituted  the  south  line.  These  buildings  with  the  auxiliary  struc- 
tures for  quarters,  chapel,  morgue,  laundry,  garage,  power  house,  etc.,  con- 
stituted the  first  stage  in  the  construction  of  the  base  hospital,  answering  to 
the  need  of  a 500-bed  institution. 

Without  pause  the  second  stage  of  construction  was  entered  upon  in  the 
spring  of  1918.  The  additional  buildings  erected  then  comprised  16  wards, 
extending  the  original  side  of  the  quadrangle  farther  to  the  south,  one  exten- 
sive officers’  ward  with  kitchen  and  mess  room  attached;  an  elbow  to  one  of 
the  wards;  warehouse  No.  2;  a wing  on  the  northeast  and  a wing  on  the 
northwest  comer  of  the  mess  hall,  doubling  the  seating  capacity  thereof;  addi- 
tions to  the  receiving  ward  to  afford  additional  space  for  men’s  belongings; 
three  additional  barracks  and  a bathhouse  for  the  quarters  for  the  personnel. 

Although  the  construction  itself  can  be  strictly  divided  into  its  four  proper 
stages,  it  is  by  no  means  easy  to  affix  to  each  stage  a definite  date  of  commence- 
ment, for  the  reason  that  every  stage  was  overlapped  by  the  stage  that 
preceded  or  followed.  Thus  the  third  stage,  wherein  the  effort  was  almost 
localized  to  the  southern  portion  of  the  hospital,  was  begun  before  the 
second  stage  was  half  completed  in  the  early  summer  of  1918.  At  this 
time  the  convalescent  wards  or  ward  barracks,  with  a large  kitchen  and  mess 
hall,  were  constructed.  The  new  wards  were  in  part  shaded  by  the  trees  of 
the  original  woods,  which  were  cut  and  trimmed  with  that  end  in  view.  A new 
set  of  officers’  quarters  was  also  added  at  this  time  at  the  northwest  portion  of 
the  hospital  area.  It  was  fitted  with  two  bathhouses,  a library,  sleeping  room, 
and  a large  reception  room.  An  extensive  addition  was  made  to  the  nurses’ 
quarters  and  connected  with  the  hospital  proper  by  covered  corridor. 

The  sweeping  epidemic  of  influenza  which  so  taxed  the  utmost  resources 
of  the  Camp  Merritt  base  hospital  during  the  months  of  September  and  Octo- 
ber, 1918,  when  3,800  beds  and  cots  were  occupied  by  sufferers  from  influenza 
and  its  sequelae,  found  the  fourth  stage  of  construction  so  well  advanced  that 
nine  new  wards  were  completed  and  equipped  to  receive  this  influenza  rush. 
Fortunately  the  property  officer,  with  sufficient  foresight,  had  acquired  supplies 
of  mattresses,  bedding,  etc.,  well  in  advance  of  the  need  of  the  moment,  antici- 
pating some  such  strain.  Everything  except  sufficient  iron  beds  was  on  hand. 
Cots  were  lent  by  the  Quartermaster  Department,  and  by  utilizing  the  verandas 
and  all  idle  space  in  the  wards  the  hospital  was  able  to  take  care  of  3,800  patients 
on  a normal  bed  capacity  of  2,500.  The  fourth  stage  of  construction  included 
also  a new  isolation  ward  on  the  northeast  comer  of  the  group  of  four;  a new 
warehouse  to  the  rear  of  warehouse  No.  1;  a new  diet  kitchen;  enlargement  of 
the  general  mess  by  means  of  a double  extension  on  each  end,  doubling  the 
already  increased  seating  capacity;  and  a new  wing  on  the  east  end  of  the 
receiving  ward,  making  it  adequate  for  the  storage  of  2,565  separate  packages 
of  soldiers’  effects.  The  administration  building  also  was  enlarged  by  a new 
wing,  which  made  a single  well-lighted  room  with  daylight  on  both  sides  of  its 
length,  for  use  of  the  service-record  department  and  the  siek-and-wounded 
department. 

A standard  mess  hall,  general  kitchen,  diet  kitchen,  barber  shop,  and  store- 
room, planned  for  the  requirements  of  a 500-bed  hospital,  were  installed  at 


810 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Camp  Merritt  and  necessarily  underwent  several  phases  of  enlargement  and 
reconstruction  on  the  many  calls  for  more  room  and  more  efficient  service. 
When  the  hospital  was  opened  on  January  9,  1918,  the  food  for  the  personnel 
and  for  all  patients  except  those  requiring  special  diets  was  prepared  in  the 
mess  kitchen.  Meals  were  then  served  in  an  established  order,  namely,  to  the 
patients  in  the  ward  first,  then  to  the  ambulant  patients  able  to  walk  to  the 
mess  hall,  and  then  to  the  duty  personnel.  The  food  for  those  patients  who 
required  special  diets  was  prepared  in  the  diet  kitchen.  The  nurses  ate  in  a 
mess  hall  of  their  own,  which  was  located  in  the  building  assigned  to  them 
for  use. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1918,  the  period  corresponding  to  the  second  stage 
of  reconstruction,  the  general  mess  hall  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  two 
end  wings  which  converted  the  original  T-shaped  room  into  an  E-shaped  one, 
and  provided  a seating  capacity  of  750.  Shortly  after,  it  became  apparent 
that  the  new  wards  in  process  of  construction  in  the  wooded  area  at  the  south 
of  the  hospital  group  would  require  a separate  mess  hall,  a general  kitchen,  and 
a diet  kitchen.  A request  for  the  construction  of  these  additional  messing 
facilities  was  accordingly  made  and  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  1918,  this  build- 
ing was  completed  and  placed  in  operation.  In  the  early  autumn  of  1918  the 
final  enlargement  of  the  general  mess  hall  and  kitchen  was  effected  by  convert- 
ing the  E-shaped  mess  hall  into  a rectangular  figure,  providing  a seating  capacity 
of  1,150,  and  by  adding  to  the  main  kitchen  the  space  previously  occupied  by 
the  adjacent  diet  kitchen,  through  the  elimination  of  the  partition  that  had 
separated  the  two,  and  the  installation  there  of  steam  cooking  apparatus  for 
use  in  the  general  mess.  Meanwhile  a new  diet  kitchen  was  under  construc- 
tion. This  new  diet  kitchen,  which  was  opened  in  September,  1918,  in  good 
time  for  the  influenza  epidemic  which  followed  in  the  succeeding  month,  had 
received  very  close  attention  on  the  part  of  the  personnel  of  the  hospital,  and 
the  care  bestowed  on  this  adjunct  was  well  repaid  by  the  excellent  service 
later  rendered.  At  the  time  of  its  opening  about  300  light  diets,  80  liquid 
diets,  10  soft  diets,  and  3 special  diets  were  served  therefrom  daily.  During 
the  epidemic  of  influenza  anti  pneumonia  that  followed,  the  maximum  daily 
service  from  this  single  kitchen  was  1,700  light  diets,  400  liquid  diets,  50  soft 
diets,  and  13  special  diets.  The  location  of  the  new  diet  kitchen  was  selected 
from  the  special  viewpoint  of  the  necessities  of  the  special-diet  service:  that 
is  to  say,  it  had  adequate  outside  light,  it  was  surrounded  by  porches,  there 
were  corridor  connections  for  the  use  of  orderlies  carrying  meals  to  patients, 
and  there  was  proper  equipment  for  the  storage  of  food  and  its  preparation 
for  special  diets. 

With  the  exception  of  the  head  nurse,  practically  the  entire  nursing  per- 
sonnel at  the  base  hospital  was  composed  of  nurse  units  arriving  at  this  hospital 
for  training  in  Army  work  prior  to  their  departure  for  duties  overseas.  The 
chief  nurse  arrived  for  duty  at  the  hospital  on  January  6,  191S,  a day  before 
the  nurses’  quarters  at  the  hospital  were  ready  for  occupancy.  She  and  several 
assistants  slept  this  first  night  in  one  of  the  office  buildings  and  moved  to  the 
nurses’  quarters  the  day  following.  Accommodations  in  the  nurses’  quarters 
were  at  first  of  the  crudest.  For  five  days,  while  the  dining  room  was  being 
prepared,  the  nurses’  meals  were  supplied  from  the  enlisted  men's  mess.  After 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


811 


that  the  nurses  had  their  own  mess  in  their  quarters  and  ate  food  prepared  in 
their  own  kitchen.  Before  the  end  of  January,  48  nurses  were  domiciled  at 
the  nurses’  quarters.  On  February  10,  1918,  the  additional  nurses  and  night 
nurses  made  it  imperative  that  the  building  subsequently  used  as  the  post 
exchange  be  turned  over  to  the  nursing  staff  and  fitted  up  for  their  use.  Within 
a few  weeks  these  quarters  were  outgrown,  and  on  March  31  the  nursing  staff, 
then  numbering  77,  was  given  an  additional  set  of  quarters  at  the  southern 
portion  of  the  hospital.  To  this  additional  set  of  quarters  the  construction  of 
an  enlargement  was  completed  by  May  3,  1918,  adding  to  the  existent  accom- 
modations 87  rooms  for  nurses  and  9 rooms  for  servants. 

In  August  the  Red  Cross  presented  to  the  base  hospital  a fine  nurses’ 
recreation  house,  built  and  equipped  at  a cost  approximating  $10,000.  The 
recreation  house  contained  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  refinements  of 
home  life  and  included  a library,  reception  room,  suitable  for  dances,  and  a 
kitchen  with  modern  conveniences.  The  recreation  house  was  utilized  to 
great  advantage  during  the  epidemic  of  influenza  in  September  and  October, 
1918.  On  September  22,  the  day  when  the  epidemic  really  got  started  at  the 
hospital,  an  immediate  call  was  made  for  additional  nurses.  Immediately 
these  nurses  began  to  arrive  from  the  different  replacement  units  then  mobiliz- 
ing in  New  York  City.  In  order  to  accommodate  the  extra  number,  34  cots 
were  placed  in  the  nurses’  Red  Cross  Recreation  House,  in  addition  to  100 
which  were  placed  in  the  Red  Cross  Convalescent  House.  On  November  1, 
1918,  a large  and  handsome  private  residence  in  the  vicinity  of  the  base  hospital 
was  requisitioned  as  an  additional  nurses’  quarters.  This  dwelling  accommo- 
dated 38  nurses  quite  satisfactorily  and  served  to  relieve  the  congestion  in 
the  dining  room  of  the  main  nurses’  house. 

A laundry  building  25  by  125  feet  was  erected  coincidently  with  the  original 
buildings  of  the  hospital  group,  and  prior  to  the  date  of  the  opening  of  the 
hospital  it  had  been  provided  with  laundry  machinery.  Unfortunately,  the 
machinery  was  of  a type  adequate  for  a 100-bed  hospital  only.  Consequently, 
the  building  could  be  used  only  as  a place  for  the  exchange  of  clean  for  soiled 
linen.  By  authority  of  the  Surgeon  General  dated  January  12,  1918,  the 
laundry  work  of  the  hospital  was  done  by  a commercial  laundry  at  Hackensack, 
N.  J.  The  arrangement  was  entirely  satisfactory,  but  by  the  end  of  February, 
1918,  the  Government  had  taken  over  for  its  own  use  a large  laundry  at  Hobo- 
ken, and  on  March  1,  1918,  the  base  hospital  laundry  work  was  transferred  to 
Hoboken  daily  by  means  of  a motor-truck  service.  This  service,  thoroughly 
satisfactory  in  its  practical  results,  continued  throughout  the  existence  of 
the  hospital.  It  is  of  interest  to  know  that  the  bill  for  laundry  work  done  for 
the  hospital  for  the  month  of  October,  1918,  was  $11,000. 

The  hospital  chapel  was  also  among  the  first  buildings  to  be  erected.  It 
was  used  daily  for  funeral  services  for  patients  dying  at  the  hospital,  but  at 
different  times  it  was  put  to  other  uses.  During  the  influenza  epidemic  in 
October,  1918,  the  dead  which  exceeded  the  capacity  of  the  adjoining  mortuary 
were  placed  in  the  chapel  while  awaiting  disposition. 

For  the  storage  of  the  medical  supplies  required  by  the  base  hospital  there 
were  provided  three  warehouses  located  south  of  the  main  portion  of  the  hos- 


812 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN'  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


pital.  Each  building  was  25  by  125  feet.  To  one  of  them  was  added  an  annex 
of  equal  dimensions  for  the  use  of  issues  and  current  stock  only. 

An  efficient  sterilizing  plant  consisting  of  one  permanently  installed 
sterilizer  and  one  portable  sterilizer  was  installed  in  the  south  end  of  the 
laundry  building.  The  portable  sterilizer  was  never  used  as  a portable  appa- 
ratus, but  was  converted  into  a stationary  machine  by  affixing  it  to  the  exterior 
of  the  building  and  connecting  it  with  the  steam  pipe  from  the  central  heating 
plant.  The  sterilizing  for  the  whole  camp  was  accomplished  at  the  base 
hospital.  Four  men  on  duty  constituted  the  personnel  assigned  for  this  work. 

It  was  early  recognized  that  a post  exchange  would  materially  add  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  enlisted  personnel  and  to  the  comfort  of  the  convalescent 
patients,  and  a beginning  was  made  in  February,  1918,  in  a small  room  intended 
as  a storeroom  of  the  general  mess  hall.  The  mess  officer  started  the  post 
exchange  with  $50  of  his  own  funds.  The  business  of  the  exchange  rapidly 
outgrew  its  confined  quarters  and  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1918,  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  a building  facing  the  general  mess  hall  on  the  north.  A general  stock 
of  goods  of  all  kinds  was  carried.  The  value  of  the  business  done  averaged  in 
gross  sales  $500  daily.  At  one  end  of  the  post  exchange  building  there  was 
a hospital  barber  shop,  equipped  with  seven  modern  chairs,  hot  and  cold 
water  service,  electric  attachments,  sanitary  white  enamel  fixtures,  and  nickeled 
plumbing.  The  sterilizing  of  brushes  and  instruments  was  carefully  performed 
and  a condition  of  spotless  cleanliness  prevailed  throughout. 

On  March  26,  1918,  a site  was  allotted  by  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
hospital  upon  which  to  erect  the  Red  Cross  house  for  convalescent  patients. 
This  house  was  completed  and  furnished  by  June  27,  1918,  at  a cost  of  $24,000 
and  was  turned  over  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  on  that  day, 
to  lie  used  for  the  benefit  of  patients.  The  building  was  designed  in  the  form 
of  a cross,  the  large  central  space  forming  the  assembly  room.  It  was  ecpiipped 
with  comfortable  chairs,  rugs,  tables,  reading  matter,  writing  materials,  a 
piano,  etc.,  and  was  later  provided  an  excellent  library  donated  by  the  Ameri- 
can Library  Association.  One  arm  of  the  building  connected  directly  with 
the  corridors  along  which  the  patients,  under  cover  in  wet  weather,  walked  to 
the  Red  Cross  house  through  the  convalescent  wards  adjoining.  One  arm 
was  filled  by  a stage  for  entertainments  of  various  sorts,  at  either  side  of  which 
there  was  a dressing  room  for  the  convenience  of  performers.  A small  canteen 
where  candy  and  tobacco  were  purchasable  was  situated  just  off  the  central 
space  on  the  ground  floor.  The  offices  of  the  house  director  and  of  the  social 
service  worker  occupied  the  two  remaining  arms  of  the  building.  The  upper 
story  was  divided  into  12  bedrooms,  some  of  which  were  used  for  the  Red 
Cross  staff  and  some  were  held  unoccupied  as  emergency  bedrooms  for  relatives 
of  soldiers  sick  in  hospital. 

The  water  supply  of  the  base  hospital  and  Camp  Merritt  was  the  Hacken- 
sack River.  The  water  was  furnished  by  the  Hackensack  Water  Co.  from  its 
watershed  3 miles  north  of  Camp  Merritt.  A pumping  station  near  the  town  of 
New  Milford,  controlled  and  policed  by  the  military  authorities,  drew  the 
water  from  the  Hackensack  River  into  a sediment  reservoir,  from  which  it 
flowed  through  modern  filters  to  storage  tanks,  where  it  was  treated  by  chlori- 
nation. After  this  process  it  was  pumped  into  the  large  mains  that  dis- 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


813 


tributed  it  to  the  camp,  to  the  hospital,  and  to  the  surrounding  towns  that  lav 
within  a radius  of  16  miles.  Frequent  analyses  showed  the  water  to  be  of  the 
highest  quality. 

The  sewerage  system  of  the  hospital  was  identical  with  that  of  the  camp. 
The  trunk  line  of  the  sewerage  system  discharged  into  a disposal  plant  situated 
between  the  towns  of  New  Milford  and  Dumont,  about  2 miles  west  of  the 
hospital.  This  disposal  plant  consisted  of  three  double-chambered,  covered, 
settling  tanks  and  three  double  evaporating  and  settling  beds. 

The  method  of  handling  the  hospital  garbage  was  simple  and  highly 
effective.  In  the  mess  kitchens,  whence  came  the  bulk  of  all  garbage,  the  waste 
material  was  carefully  separated  into  three  classes:  tin  cans,  broken  glass,  and 
china;  combustible  material  such  as  paper,  wood  shavings,  etc.;  food  refuse 
such  as  coffee  grounds,  egg  shells,  peelings,  etc. 

The  standard  metal  garbage  cans  with  well-fitted  covers  were  marked 
to  indicate  the  class  of  garbage  for  which  it  was  used.  As  the  cans  became 
filled  they  were  placed  outdoors  on  raised  platforms  at  the  right  side.  Daily 
these  filled  cans  were  removed  from  all  garbage  stands  and  at  the  same  time 
were  replaced  by  a supply  of  clean,  disinfected,  empty  cans. 

The  problem  of  heating  the  institution  of  the  size  and  character  of  the 
base  hospital,  Camp  Merritt,  was  a difficult  one  because  the  plan  of  construc- 
tion had  of  necessity  to  be  an  elastic  plan  to  provide  for  frequent  additions  to 
the  details  of  the  heating  plant.  This  difficulty  was  not  made  lighter  by  reason 
of  the  fact  that  the  distribution  pipes  of  the  heating  system  had  to  be  sus- 
pended above  ground  and  could  not,  on  account  of  the  time  factor  in  the  case, 
feed  an  underground  return  system.  The  main  heating  plant  was  equipped  with 
five  return  tubular  boilers  of  150  horsepower  each,  giving  a total  potential  of 
1,200  horsepower  for  winter  use,  300  horsepower  being  sufficient  for  the  summer 
months.  The  final  insulation  of  the  overhead  pipes  threading  the  corridors  of 
the  hospital  to  deliver  steam  to  the  16  wards  completed  in  the  first  stage  of 
hospital  construction  was  not  accomplished  until  the  middle  of  April,  1918,  by 
which  time  it  was  apparent  that  the  power  house  would  be  adequate  only  for 
the  needs  of  a 500-bed  hospital ; therefore,  a second  power  house  was  located 
at  the  extreme  southern  boundary  of  the  ultimate  hospital  group.  This 
second  power  house  was  equipped  with  two  tube  boilers  of  500  horsepower 
each  and  two  water  pumps  capable  of  handling  15,600,000  pounds  of  water 
per  month. 

The  source  of  artificial  light  and  power  for  the  camp  was  selected  as  the 
logically  right  source  for  the  hospital,  and  the  Public  Service  Electric  Co.  of 
New  Jersey,  deriving  power  from  its  main  generating  plant  5 miles  out  of 
Jersey  City,  put  in  a transformer  and  substation  to  supply  the  hospital  with  light 
and  power.  The  current  was  developed  throughout  the  hospital  by  19  sub- 
transformers operated  by  snap  switches.  The  lighting  problem  of  the  hospital 
was  quite  adequately  met  by  the  methods  employed,  the  service  being  in 
every  respect  satisfactory. 


814 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Merritt,  N.  J.,  from  December,  1918,  to 

December  15,  1919,  inclusive 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 6 


Year  and  month . 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability 

Deserted. 

I Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

j Otherwise.; 

*o5 

57 

0 

yj 

t-4 

~U. 

3 

Hospital. 

1918. 

1,155 

2, 306 

20 

3, 558 

428 

17 

134 

23 

2, 155 

12 

41,637 

1919. 

789 

160 

1,500 

2, 503 

7011 

19 

4 

44 

580 

24 

1,123 

24,248 

1,123 

142 

1 , 456 

42 

2, 763 

783 

23 

2 

29 

707 

31 

l'  188 

21,995 

1, 188 

141 

2,030 

62 

3,421 

933 

9 

36 

1,498 

19 

'926 

3l'  271 

926 

125 

2,  002 

33 

3.086 

1 , 355 

111 

338 

42 

1 . 341 

26'.  477 

1 , 341 

90 

4,614 

31 

6,  076  2,  207 

1 

39 

2, 17S 

19 

1,627 

38, 361 

1 , 627 

68 

48 

7, 101  2, 270 

1 

39 

3,0,83 

34 

1,667 

July 

1,667 

60 

3,  653 

39 

5.  419  1.  688 

24 

2,623 

11 

1,068 

44,  095 

1,068 

2, 040 

29 

3,  193 

778 

5 

21 

1,-533 

16 

'840 

29,  541 

' 840 

29 

1,266 

15 

2,  150 

563 

1 

1,021 

37 

528 

23'  535 

528 

333 

3;  488 

24 

4,  373 

539 

5 

6 

2, 323 

103 

1, 397 

22, 627 

1 , 397 

212 

683 

6 

2,  298 

316 

1,837 

39 

' 101 

13,  S42 

101 

16 

117 

24 

1 

92 

800 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

21 

21 

21 

21 

July 

21 

21 

1919. 

21 

21 

1 

25 

26 

36 

36 

23 

23 

20 

20 

20 

20 

November 

20 

20 

21 

i 

22 

20 

20 

May 

IS 

IS 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

December 

86 

5 

2 

93 

739 

48 

7S7 

203 

1919. 

January 

96 

6 

2 

104 

S20 

53 

873 

196 

February 

71 

6 

2 

79 

789 

68 

S57 

183 

March 

68 

6 

2 

76 

7S1 

67 

848 

179 

April 

66 

5 

2 

73 

762 

67 

S29 

172 

May 

61 

5 

2 

6S 

763 

66 

829 

165 

June 

58 

6 

2 

66 

S90 

37 

927 

165 

July 

77 

5 

2 

$4 

S92 

1 

893 

160 

67 

4 

71 

530 

530 

140 

5S 

4 

62 

543 

543 

107 

October 

53 

1 

692 

692 

119 

N ov  ember 

41 

1 

42 

276 

276 

97 

December 



47 

47 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  G eneral,  on  file. 
Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held 
in  hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to 
commanding  generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United 
States.  A.  G.  O.,  file“E.  E.”  Misc.  Div.) 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


815 


BASE  HOSPITAL,  CAMP  MILLS,  LONG  ISLAND,  N.  Y.® 

The  base  hospital  at  Camp  Mills  was  situated  in  Nassau  County,  Long 
Island,  N.  Y.,  about  10  miles  from  the  eastern  boundary  of  Greater  New  York, 
and  1 mile,  to  the  east,  from  Mineola. 

The  terrain  is  practically  flat.  The  soil  is  a sandy  loam  in  which  there  is  a 
small  amount  of  gravel.  It  readily  pulverizes  in  dry  weather,  forming  easily 
carried  dust,  and  becomes  a tenacious  mud  after  rains. 

The  climate  is  moderate  during  the  greater  portion  of  the  year.  In  the 
winter  there  is  an  occasional  severely  cold  spell;  the  spring  and  fall  are  delight- 
ful; and  during  the  summer  about  two  or  three  weeks  only  might  be  considered 
uncomfortably  warm. 

Camp  Mills  was  selected  as  a mobilization  camp  for  the  Rainbow  Division 
(42nd),  so  called,  because  the  sources  of  its  component  elements  were  geo- 
graphically diversified.  The  division  assembled  in  the  early  part  of  Sep- 
tember, 1917 ; and,  after  a training  period  of  one  and  one-half  months,  embarked 
for  France.  Because  it  was  known  that  this  division  would  remain  but  a 
short  time  in  the  United  States,  and  that  the  subsecpient  mobilization  of 
divisions  was  an  uncertainty,  no  cantonment  type  of  base  hospital  was  con- 
structed at  Camp  Mills  at  this  time.  A camp  hospital,  composed  of  a few 
existing  buildings  and  of  tentage  mostly,  was  organized  for  the  care  of  the  sick 
of  the  42nd  Division. 

The  organized  camp  hospital  remained  at  Camp  Mills,  upon  the  departure 
of  the  42nd  Division,  to  care  for  the  sick  of  that  command  whom  it  was 
necessary  to  leave  in  the  United  States.  It  was  fortunate  that  the  hospital 
was  in  existence,  for  on  October  26,  1917,  the  41st  Division  was  ordered  from 
Camp  Greene,  N.  C.,  to  Camp  Mills,  with  the  view  to  its  embarkation  for 
France  within  a short  period. 

In  the  general  description  of  the  conditions  of  the  various  embarkation 
and  debarkation  hospitals  at  the  port  of  Hoboken,  it  was  related  how,  because 
of  the  total  inadequacy  of  the  cluster  of  hospital  tents  for  the  care  of  the  sick 
of  the  41st  Division  at  Camp  Mills,  supervisory  control  of  the  hospital  at 
that  camp  was  given  to  the  port  surgeon,  Hoboken,  and  how  relief  from  the 
situation  was  had  by  transferring  selected  patients  to  civil  hospitals  in  New 
York  City  and  on  Long  Island. 

It  was  not  until  April  6,  1918,  that  a base  hospital  was  organized.  At  this 
tune  Evacuation  Hospital  No.  4 was  sent  to  Camp  Mills  from  Camp  Crane, 
Allentown,  Pa.,  and  it  was  utilized  in  the  establishment  of  a base  hospital. 

The  fair  grounds  at  Mineola  contained  6 cattle  sheds,  1 poultry  house,  1 
grand  stand,  5 exhibition  buildings,  2 small  houses  for  the  storage  of  paint, 
and  the  stables.  These  buildings  were  occupied  by  Evacuation  Hospital  No. 
4 on  April  9,  1918. 

The  stables  were  utilized  for  quarters  for  officers.  The  nurses  were  domi- 
ciled in  houses  in  Mineola,  rented  by  the  Quartermaster  Corps.  The  enlisted 
men  were  quartered  partly  in  the  stables  and  partly  in  tents. 

a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,”  by 
Li  ;ut.  Col.  A.  W.  Cutler,  M.  C.,  TJ.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The  material  used  by 
him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital.  The  history 
is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C .—Ed, 


816 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Tlie  hospital  mess  was  at  first  located  in  the  poultry  house.  Tins  arrange- 
ment was  found  to  be  very  unsatisfactory,  and  the  lower  portion  of  the  grand 
stand  was  converted  into  a kitchen  and  mess  hall,  where  the  enlisted  men  and 
ambulatory  patients  ate.  The  officers  of  the  organization  maintained  their 
own  mess  in  the  stables,  using  the  broad  isle  between  the  stalls — the  sleeping 
compartments — for  a dining  hall. 

There  were  no  storehouses,  so  tents  and  sheds  were  used  in  which  to  store 
the  supplies. 

The  water  supply  was  derived  from  Mineola.  Its  source  was  artesian 
wells,  and  the  quality  of  the  water  was  so  excellent  as  to  require  no  purification 
treatment. 

A sewerage  system  was  constructed  so  as  to  connect  the  various  buildings  of 
the  fairgrounds  with  a main  sewer,  the  outlet  of  which  was  a small  sewage-dis- 
posal plant  on  the  grounds.  Each  cow  shed  contained  two  todet  bowls,  and 
each  exhibition  building  had  five. 

The  garbage  from  the  hospital  was  disposed  of  to  local  farmers,  who  made 
collections  twice  daily. 

On  May  6,  1918,  the  construction  of  a surgical  pavilion  was  begun.  This 
building  comprised  seven  rooms  and  some  linen  closets,  and  was  planned  to  house 
not  only  the  surgical  activities,  but  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat,  X-ray.  dental, 
and  genitourinary  departments.  It  was  ready  for  occupancy  June  15,  1918, 
but  could  not  be  utilized  for  surgical  operations  until  later,  because  of  the  lack 
of  equipment. 

On  September  16,  1918,  the  constructing  quartermaster  received  authority 
to  construct  a semipermanent  2,000-bed  base  hospital.  A site  was  selected 
northwest  of  Camp  Mills  and  just  to  the  east  of  the  fairgrounds.  Work  on  the 
construction  of  the  hospital  was  rapidly  pushed,  and  the  first  600  beds  were 
ready  for  occupancy  on  October  26,  1918.  The  entire  group  of  buildings  was 
completed  by  February  1,  1919. 

The  arrangement  of  the  buildings  conformed  to  the  ultimate  block  plan 
designed  in  the  office  of  the  Surgeon  General — block  plan  E,  Figure  13.  Each 
building  was  two-storied,  and,  because  of  the  close  proximity  to  one  another, 
were  made  of  fire-resisting  material — metal  lath  with  stucco  covering. 

On  September  18,  1919,  there  being  no  further  use  for  it,  the  base  hospital 
was  abandoned. 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


817 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Mills,  Mineola,  Long  Island,  N.  I", 
from  April  6,  1918,  to  September  18,  1919,  inclusive 
SICK  AND  WOUNDED. b 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command.  1 

From  other 
Sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital 

1 Quarters. 

1 

1918. 

26 

707 

46 

779 

227 

5 

9 

1 

537 

6, 002 

37 

931 

1,505 

839 

8 

142 

1 

515 

14, 306 

16 

1,408 

1,939 

945 

3 

213 

1 

777 

20, 048 

777 

34 

1,974 

1 

2,786 

1,189 

2 

1 

3 

409 

1 

1,181 

32,  524 

1, 181 

31 

1,  606 

2, 818 

1^498 

150 

1, 170 

35,  730 

170 

79 

2,  034 

1 

3,  284 

4200 

7 

6 

102 

4 969 

4L  281 

1 , 969 

179 

3 140 

10 

5, 298 

2,  870 

340 

13 

75 

1 

1,999 

77, 085 

l’  999 

84 

7 997 

5 

3' 085 

L 746 

2 

561 

1 

* 740 

35'  216 

740 

113 

729 

20 

1,602 

933 

27 

12 

7 

231 

11 

381 

1,944 

1919. 

381 

100 

711 

6 

1, 198 

663 

9 

29 

2 

28 

9 

458 

12, 647 

458 

678 

4 

1,217 

713 

52 

14 

1 

430  

13, 625 

430 

91 

871 

8 

1^  400 

743 

8 

51 

40 ' 

551 

16'  597 

551 

72 

844 

16 

l\  483 

689 

11 

61 

8 

61 

9 

644 

16^  273 

644 

64 

516 

9 

1 233 

684 

8 

77 

4 

77 

9 

374 

15, 093 

374 

36 

382 

4 

796 

424 

3 

13 

1 

97 

5 

253 

8, 801 

253 

13 

340 

12 

618 

365 

3 

9 

39 

9 

200 

6,066 

200 

6 

95 

8 

309 

178 

3 

1 

52 

6 

69 

2, 332 

69 

? 

84 

1 

156 

2 

95 

4 

7 940 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and  month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

23 

1 

1 

25 

100 

15 

115 

May 

30 

1 

1 

32 

315 

20 

335 

37 

Time 

36 

1 

1 

38 

3S9 

20 

409 

36 

July 

40 

1 

1 

42 

447 

20 

467 

56 

August 

45 

2 

1 

48 

443 

18 

461 

55 

September 

42 

1 

1 

44 

439 

16 

455 

79 

October 

60 

2 

1 

63 

426 

17 

443 

105 

November 

64 

2 

1 

67 

474 

17 

491 

102 

December 

58 

2 

1 

61 

463 

17 

480 

183 

1919. 

January 

51 

3 

2 

56 

388 

17 

405 

177 

February 

51 

4 

2 

57 

469 

35 

504 

175 

March 

56 

4 

2 

62 

496 

35 

531 

160 

April 

58 

5 

2 

65 

538 

34 

572 

152 

May 

48 

6 

2 

56 

512 

34 

546 

149 

June 

41 

5 

2 

48 

405 

19 

424 

137 

July 

28 

5 

2 

35 

271 

3 

274 

94 

17 

2 

1 

20 

134 

134 

41 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office,  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adju- 
tant General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held  in 
hospital  fora  few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  com- 
manding generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States. 
A.  G.  O.,  file  “ E.  E.”  Misc.  Div.) 

UNITED  STATES  ARMY  AUXILIARY  HOSPITAL  NO.  1,  NEW  YORK  CITY,  N.  Y.« 

At  the  Rockefeller  Institute,  New  York  City,  a war  demonstration  hos- 
pital had  been  founded,  the  purpose  of  which  was  to  demonstrate  an  exact 
method  of  treating  infected  wounds,  following  the  Carrel-Dakin  technique,  and 


a The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History  United  States  Army  Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1, 
New  York  City,”  by  Maj.  George  A.  Stewart,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital. 
The  material  used  by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the 
hospital.  The  history  is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed- 
45269°— 23 52 


818 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


to  demonstrate  the  feasibility  of  a unit  system  of  base-hospital  construction. 
In  order  that  the  War  Demonstration  Hospital  might  obtain  wounded  soldiers 
from  the  Western  Front,  it  was  essential  that  it  have  an  Army  status.  Con- 
sequently, on  August  24,  1918,  in  order  to  bring  this  about,  the  hospitals  in 
connection  with  the  United  States  Army  Auxiliary  Laboratory  No.  1 at  the 
Rockefeller  Institute  for  Medical  Research  were  organized  as  United  States 
Army  Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1 and  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  com- 
manding general,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J.  Before  the  hospital 
was  so  organized,  dependence  was  placed  upon  civil  cases  for  clinical  purposes 
and  special  methods  of  treatment;  but,  subsequent  to  August  24,  1918,  the 
work  was  practically  restricted  to  the  treatment  of  wounded  soldiers.  All 
cases  treated  in  the  hospital  were  infected  cases,  both  acute  and  chronic. 
All  cases  were  treated  under  an  exact  method,  following  the  basic  principles 
of  mechanical  cleansing,  chemical  sterilization,  control,  and  closure. 

Instructions  were  given  to  medical  officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  to 
enlisted  men  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  to  civil  surgeons,  and  to  female  nurses 
of  the  Army  and  of  civil  hospitals.  Instruction  was  given  for  the  most  part 
to  men  in  classes  in  the  laboratories,  on  the  wards  and  in  the  operating  room, 
and  by  lectures  with  lantern  slides  and  moving  pictures.  The  total  number 
receiving  instruction  was  998.  During  the  life  of  the  hospital  237  patients 
received  treatment  in  it. 

Besides  the  work  of  clinical  instruction,  investigations  were  made  of 
various  substances  and  apparatus,  reports  of  which  were  made  to  the  Surgeon 
General.  With  the  assistance  of  commercial  firms,  it  was  possible  to  develop 
several  articles  of  use  to  the  Army. 

The  need  for  the  hospital  ceased  to  exist  during  the  earl}'  part  of  1919, 
and  on  April  5,  1919,  the  institution  reverted  to  its  former  status. 


Statistical  data , United  States  Army  Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1,  Rockefeller  Institute,  New  York  City, 
from  August  24,  1918,  to  April  15,  1919,  inclusive ,a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Aggregate 
j number  of 
Remaining. 1 days  lost 
from 

] sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

. ! 

Ilf 

||| 

1918. 

August 

2 

16 

18 

IS 

137 

September 

18 

27 

4 

49 

44 

October 

44 

2 

13 

59 

17 

3 

2 

37 

1 1.346  3 

November 

37 

26 

63 

9 

49 

1 1.214 

December 

49 

12 

3 

64 

8 

1 

1 

49 

1 1,492  .. 

1919. 

January 

49 

9 

1 

59 

3 

17 

39 

1, 451  . . 

February 

39 

8 

2 

49 

4 

10 

964  .. 

March 

35 

3 

38 

2 

13 

1 

22 

April 

22 

22 

22 

114  .. 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file.  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  tie  Office  of  The 
Adjutant  General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General's  Office  (name  of  hospital). 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS.  819 

REFERENCES. 

(1)  Letter  from  the  Division  of  Special  Hospitals  and  Physical  Reconstruction,  S.  G.  O.,  to 

Surgeon  General,  September  18,  1917.  Subject:  Classification  and  distribution  of  in- 
valided officers  and  men.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  701-1  (General). 

(2)  Letter  from  the  officer  in  charge  cantonment  construction  to  the  Surgeon  General,  Novem- 

ber 20,  1917.  Subject:  Report  on  Fox  Hills  Hospital  site.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  601  (Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(3)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  November  8,  1917.  Subject: 

Clearing  hospital,  port  of  New  York.  Approval  of  Assistant  Secretary  of  War,  dated 
November  10,  1917,  indorsed  thereon.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601  (Fox  Hills, 
Staten  Island,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(4)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  November  15,  1917.  Sub- 

ject: Lease  of  site  for  clearing  hospital,  port  of  New  York.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
632  (Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.)  F. 

(5)  Seventh  indorsement  from  the  representative,  real  estate  service,  Eastern  Department,  to 

the  Director  of  Real  Estate  Service,  May  7,  1920.  Subject:  Leases  on  premises  occu- 
pied by  General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  680.4 
(Gen.  Hosp.  No.  41)  K. 

(6)  Shown  on  plans  of  hospital,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Hospital  Division,  S.  G.  O. 

(7)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Quartermaster  General,  December  26,  1917.  Sub- 

ject: Clearing  hospital,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  632  (Deb. 
Hosp.  No.  2)  I. 

(8)  Report  from  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.,  to  the  Surgeon 

General,  June  30,  1920.  Subject:  Report  of  activities.  On  file,  Historical  Division, 
S.  G.  O.  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  41). 

(9)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  14,  1918.  Subject: 

General  hospitals,  designation  of.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (General  Hos- 
pitals) K. 

(10)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  10,  1918.  Subject:  Desig- 

nation of  hospital  at  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
322.3  (Deb.  Hosp.  No.  2)  I. 

(11)  Second  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  July  23,  1918. 

Subject:  Change  in  designation  of  hospitals.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (Port 
of  Emb.,  Hoboken,  N.  J.)  N. 

(12)  Shown  on  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(13)  First  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  March  8,  1919. 

Subject:  Change  of  designation  of  hospital,  Fox  Hills,  N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room, 
S.  G.  0.,  680.1  (Deb.  Hosp.  No.  2)  I. 

(14)  Report  on  Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  July  25,  1918.  On  file,  Record 

Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(15)  Letter  from  John  Seager,  president  Nassau  Hotel  Co.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December 

4,  1917.  Subject:  Nassau  Hotel.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Nassau  Hotel, 
Long  Beach,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(16)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Chief  of  Staff,  May  22,  1918.  Subject:  Lease  of 

Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.  And  indorsements  thereto.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Long  Beach,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(17)  Memorandum  from  the  Director  of  Purchase  and  Supplies  to  the  Director  of  Operations, 

General  Staff,  July  12,  1918.  Subject:  Lease  of  Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach,  N.  Y.  On 
file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  601  (Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach,  N.  Y.)  S. 

(18)  Second  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  September  19, 

1918.  Subject:  Designation  of  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  (De- 
barkation Hospital  No.  4)  I. 

(19)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Construction  Division,  War  Department,  August 

14,  1918.  Subject:  Repairs  and  alterations,  Hotel  Nassau,  Long  Beach,  N.  Y.  On  file 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Long  Beach,  L.  I.,  N.  Y.)  F, 


820 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


(20)  Letter  from  the  constructing  quartermaster,  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  to  the  Chief  of  the  Construc- 

tion Division,  March  8,  1919.  Subject:  Alterations  made  at  Nassau  Hotel,  Long  Beach, 
N.  Y.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  481  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  39)  K. 

(21)  First  indorsement  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  the  Surgeon  General,  December  9,  1918. 

Subject:  Designation  of  general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  322.3  ( General 
Hospital  No.  39)  K. 

(22)  Shown  on  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(23)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Director  of  Operations,  office  of  the  Chief  of  Staff, 

February  19,  1919.  Subject:  Cancellation  of  leases.  On  file,  Record  Room.  S.  G.  0., 
481  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  39)  K. 

(24)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer,  General  Hospital  No.  39,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May 

19,  1919.  Subject:  Report  of  abandonment  of  this  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room. 
S.  G.  0.,  602  (Gen.  Hosp.  No.  39)  K. 


CHAPTER  XXXIY. 


NEWPORT  NEWS,  VA. 

DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  51  (GENERAL  HOSPITAL  NO.  43),  HAMPTON,  VA. 

On  July  13,  1917,  the  Surgeon  General  recommended  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  that  steps  be  taken  to  secure  the  Southern  Branch  of  the  Soldiers’  Home 
at  Hampton,  Va.,  for  use  as  a general  hospital.1  This  place  was  delightfully 
situated,  fronting  on  Hampton  Roads,  and  comprised  a group  of  permanent 
buildings,  most  of  them  brick,  scattered  over  an  area  of  85  acres.  The  grounds 
were  very  attractive  and  the  buildings,  in  the  main,  quite  suitable  for  hospital 
purposes.  There  were  barracks  for  approximately  2,500  persons,  11  of  brick 
and  5 of  frame.  There  were  heating,  lighting,  and  refrigerating  plants, 
and  a laundry  and  bakery.  The  home  hospital  had  250  beds,  and  there  was 
available  space  for  100  attendants.  The  grounds  afforded  ample  space  for 
potential  expansion.  In  addition  to  all  these  desirable  qualities  its  most  valu- 
able asset  lay  in  its  close  proximity  to  the  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News.2 

A bill  to  transfer  the  home  to  the  War  Department  for  the  period  of  the 
war  was  introduced  in  Congress  August  10,  1917. 3 This  was  followed  by  a 
protest  by  the  then  governor  of  the  home,  which  was  filed  against  the  enact- 
ment of  the  necessary  legislation  by  the  Congressman  who  had  introduced  the 
bill.  When  the  Surgeon  General  learned  of  this  he  asked  that  the  hill  be 
withdrawn,  and  the  whole  matter  dropped.3  The  old  soldiers,  however,  at  a 
mass  meeting  called  for  another  purpose,  overwhelmingly  voted  for  the  transfer.3 

Tune  went  on  and  the  surgeon  of  the  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News, 
was  relying  mainly  for  his  debarkation  hospital  facilities  upon  the  embarkation 
hospital  at  Camp  Stewart.  This  hospital,  therefore,  in  the  summer  of  1918 
was  serving  not  only  as  the  hospital  for  the  large  number  of  sick  from  this 
embarkation  camp,  but  was  receiving  the  overseas  sick  returning  to  Newport 
News. 

The  bill  transferring  the  Soldiers’  Home  to  the  jurisdiction  and  control  of 
the  War  Department  for  the  period  of  the  war  passed  the  Senate  on  October 
24,  1918, 4 and  at  once  occupation  of  the  empty  buildings  began  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  port  surgeon.  The  bill  was  not  approved  until  November  7,  1918, 
but  in  the  meantime  all  arrangements  had  been  made.5  Due  to  the  prompt 
action  on  the  part  of  the  port  authorities,  the  earnest  cooperation  of  the  Soldiers’ 
Home  officials,  and  the  willingness  of  the  old  soldiers  themselves,  this  institu- 
tion had  been  completely  turned  over  by  November  8,  1918, 6 and  on  the  23d 
of  that  month  it  was  designated  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  51  and  placed  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  commanding  general,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport 
News.7 

In  order  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  institution,  to  enlarge  its  capacity, 
and  to  provide  facilities  for  the  handling  of  large  numbers  of  sick  being  trans- 

821 


822 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IK  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Fiq.  201. 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


823 


ferred  from  the  port  to  various  general  hospitals  in  the  United  States,  it  was 
necessary  to  do  considerable  alteration  and  construction  work.  The  largest 
and  most  important  items  were  construction  of  a spur  track  and  unloading 
and  loading  shed,  the  installation  of  fire  equipment,  considerable  alteration  to 
fit  the  institution  to  give  modern  treatment  to  the  insane,  the  equipment  of  a 
laboratory,  and  considerable  work  on  the  heating  system  of  old  buildings.8  The 
total  cost  of  this  work  was  approximately  $250,000. 

On  April  22,  1919,  the  hospital  being  no  longer  required  by  the  port  of 
embarkation,  recommendation  was  made  that  it  be  designated  a general  hos- 
pital on  May  1 and  put  under  the  direct  control  of  the  War  Department.9  At 
this  time  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  concentrate  facilities  for  the  treatment  of 
various  classes  of  the  insane,  and  it  was  believed  that  this  institution  was  more 
suitable  for  that  work.  The  recommendation  was  approved  on  May  l.10  The 
hospital  then  began  to  operate  for  the  first  time  as  a general  hospital — General 
Hospital  No.  43 — with  a capacity  of  2,000  beds  and  700  sick  under  treatment.11 
The  capacity  was  promptly  cut  to  1,000  beds.11  In  two  weeks  the  number  of 
sick  had  been  reduced  to  250, 11  due  to  the  elimination  of  sick  recently  returned 
from  France  and  destined  for  the  general  hospitals  of  the  interior.  With  the 
beginning  of  the  treatment  of  the  insane  the  number  of  sick  rose,  and  by  the 
close  of  May,  1 ,150  were  constantly  under  treatment.11  By  July,  1 ,350  (the  maxi- 
mum) were  being  cared  for.11  A decline  now  began  and  continued.  By  Janu- 
ary, 1920,  the  number  had  fallen  to  360, 11  and  on  the  8th  of  that  month  the 
Surgeon  General  recommended  the  abandonment  of  the  general  hospital  and 
its  return  to  the  board  of  governors,  to  be  effective  on  February  15.12  This 
recommendation  was  not  approved  until  February  20, 13  but  pending  its  approval 
all  arrangements  were  made,  and  when  the  approval  was  received  the  work  of 
discharging  and  transferring  actually  began.  Most  of  the  275  insane  remaining 
on  February  1 were  discharged  to  the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  Insurance  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  various  State  institutions  designated  by  that  bureau  for  their  recep- 
tion. The  remaining  cases,  relatively  few  in  number,  not  eligible  to  discharge 
to  the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  Insurance  were  sent  to  General  Hospitals  Nos.  6, 
and  28,  the  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  and  the  Letterman  General  Hos- 
pital. On  March  31  all  buildings  had  been  evacuated  and  the  property  entirely 
returned  to  the  board  of  governors  of  the  Soldiers’  Home.14 


824  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  51,  Hampton,  Va.,from  November, 

1918,  to  December,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUND  ED  A 


Year  and  month. 

Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

j Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 

sane  asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

OT 

1918. 

54 

8 

48 

110 

10 

1 

19 

31 

49 

1,002 

49 

111 

50 

1 

211 

80 

8 

33 

27 

8 

1 

l'  821 

78 

1919. 

55 

94 

16 

2 

167 

50 

32 

6 

71 

3 

1 , 886 

26 

74 

118 

1 

193 

86 

1 

14 

1 

77 

9 

S69 

126 

86 

127 

17 

230 

117 

8 

4 

15 

76 

5 

1,189 

187 

81 

132 

8 

221 

117 

7 

1 

88 

8 

l',  105 

223 

99 

662 

10 

771 

74 

5 

2 

12 

11 

659 

8 

ll' 485 

114 

667 

90 

1,114 

39 

1,910 

85 

2 

17 

578 

50 

1,163 

23, 384 

111 

1 , 178 

66 

'306 

53 

1,603 

155 

3 

43 

2 

20 

67 

1,313 

28'  100 

1,313 

69 

164 

47 

1,593 

87 

7 

109 

150 

40 

1 ' 197 

3 

l\  166 

47 

1 ' 200 

83 

34 

1,376 

51 

270 

35 

1,012 

3 

6'  052 

108 

l'  015 

62 

33 

1,160 

307 

12 

24 

762 

8' 437 

'762 

46 

59 

19 

886 

53 

1 

2,83 

23 

519 

18' 517 

December 

519 

43 

11 

13 

586 

58 

4 

128 

5 

6 

23 

362 

1,227 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

11 

10 

21 

May 

10 

IS 

11 

39 

11 

10 

21 

June 

10 

18 

11 

39 

July 

10 

IS 

i0 

3S 

1919. 

August 

8 

14 

i 

29 

11 

10 

21 

8 

14 

29 

11 

10 

2 

23 

October 

8 

14 

29 

March.  .1 

11 

10 

2 

23 

N ovember 

9 

16 

10 

April 

11 

10 

2 

23 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Year  and 
month. 

Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Nurses. 

Aides 

and 

workers. 

Other 

civilian 

em- 

ployees. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps." 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscella- 

neous. 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

1918. 

November 

59 

59 

238 

238 

December 

63 

63 

S20 

820 

1919. 

January 

74 

74 

749 

749 

February 

72 

4 

15 

91 

429 

1,224 

140 

12 

March . ." 

66 

4 

15 

85 

754 

431 

1,185 

135 

15 

April 

68 

5 

20 

93 

762 

441 

1,203 

135 

25 

May 

34 

6 

18 

58 

671 

352 

l'023 

87 

39 

June 

42 

7 

IS 

67 

5S5 

292 

877 

91 

29 

16 

July 

50 

5 

20 

543 

147 

690 

98 

August 

46 

8 

19 

73 

50 

604 

September 

34 

7 

21 

62 

569 

49 

618 

October 

29 

5 

12 

46 

524 

4S 

November 

28 

10 

43 

471 

47 

51S 

December 

22 

10 

37 

277 

48 

325 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
file,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held 
in  hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  to  other  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to 
commanding  generals,  ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United 
States.  A.  G O , “E.  E.”  Mise.  Div.) 


OTHER  EMBARKATION-  AND  DEBARKATION"  HOSPITALS. 


825 


DEBARKATION  HOSPITAL  NO.  52,  RICHMOND  COLLEGE,  YA.  (GENERAL  HOSPITAL 

NO.  22).a  6 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52  was  located  in  the  buildings  of  Richmond 
College,  on  the  James  River,  9 miles  west  of  the  city  of  Richmond. 

The  college  reservation  consisted  of  a 291-acre  tract  in  the  center  of  which 
was  a lake  of  about  10  acres  in  extent.  Only  one-half  of  the  land  was  cleared. 

The  buildings  which  were  acquired  and  used  comprised  those  of  the 
Westhampton  College  (for  girls)  and  the  Richmond  College  (for  boys).  The 
Westhampton  College  was  a large  fireproof  building  of  brick  construction, 
situated  on  the  west  of  the  lake.  It  was  a combination  dormitory  and  school 
building  and  contained  a kitchen  and  dining  hall.  Its  hospital  bed  capacity 
was  350.  The  remaining  buildings  were  scattered.  The  college  administra- 
tion building,  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  was  about  1,800  feet  from  West- 
hampton College.  Its  bed  capacity  was  200.  Across  a ravine  from  the 
administration  building,  and  about  900  feet  distant,  there  were  scattered 
groups  of  three  buildings,  two  of  which  had  been  used  as  dormitories  and  one 
as  a kitchen  and  dining  room.  One  of  the  dormitories  had  a bed  capacity  of 
100,  and  the  other,  200.  All  buildings  mentioned  were  of  fireproof  construc- 
tion. About  200  feet  west  of' the  administration  building,  and  on  the  edge  of 
the  lake,  there  was  a frame  building  which  had  been  used  as  a dance  hall. 
South  of  the  lake  there  was  a two-story,  frame  building  sufficiently  large  to 
accommodate  200  enlisted  men  and  a kitchen  and  mess  hall  for  them. 

The  terrain  is  rolling  and  affords  good  natural  drainage.  The  soil  is  a 
mixture  of  clay  and  sand,  the  clay  predominating,  readily  pulverizing  in  dry 
weather,  producing  an  easily  carried  dust,  and  becoming  a sticky  mud  after 
rains.  At  the  time  when  the  place  was  taken  over  for  use  as  a hospital  the 
surface  was  very  little  denuded,  and  so  there  was  subsequently  not  much 
discomfort  caused  by  either  dust  or  mud. 

On  June  10,  1918,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  hospital  was  assigned, 
and  on  June  22,  1918,  the  personnel  of  General  Hospital  No.  13,  with  equip- 
ment for  a 500-bed  hospital,  arrived  from  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  which,  it  will  be 
recalled,  was  abandoned  at  that  time. 

The  buildings  of  the  college  were  used  in  the  following  manner:  The  West- 
hampton College  was  fitted  up  to  accommodate  350  patients  and  to  permit 
the  operation  of  the  operating  room,  the  X-ray,  eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat 
departments,  the  laboratory  and  the  pharmacy.  The  college  admmisration 
building  was  converted  into  a ward  building  for  200  patients.  One  of  the 
dormitories  across  the  ravine  from  the  administration  building  was  made  into 
a nurses’  quarters  for  100  nurses;  and  the  other  was  made  a combination 
ward  and  barracks  for  75  patients  and  130  enlisted  men.  The  third  building 
was  used  as  a kitchen  and  mess  hall  for  nurses  and  patients  in  this  group.  The 
dance  hall  was  converted  into  a two-story  ward  with  a bed  capacity  of  100.  The 
building  south  of  the  lake  was  made  into  a barracks  for  the  enlisted  force. 

The  officers  were  quartered  in  two  buildings  which  had  formerly  been 
occupied  by  some  of  the  teaching  staff  of  the  college. 

“ The  statements  of  fact  appearing  herein  are  based  on  the  “History,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  Richmond  Col- 
lege, Va., ” by  Maj.  Arthur  B.  Crosbie,  M.  C.,  U.  S.  A.,  while  on  duty  as  a member  of  the  staff  of  that  hospital.  The 
material  used  by  him  in  the  compilation  of  the  history  comprised  official  reports  from  the  various  divisions  of  the  hospital. 
The  history  is  on  file  in  the  Historical  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office,  Washington,  D.  C. — Ed. 

b After  General  Hospital  No.  22  (Richmond  College)  was  converted  into  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  the  former 
number  was  used  for  the  general  hospital  at  Philadelphia  (see  p.  557). 


826 


MILITARY  HOSPITALS  I1ST  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Four  messes  were  operated.  One  was  in  Westhampton,  which  provided 
for  all  the  patients  and  the  enlisted  personnel  assigned  to  Westhampton;  a 
second  was  at  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  which  was  for  nurses  and  patients 
located  there;  the  third  mess  was  in  the  enlisted  men’s  barracks;  and  the 
fourth  was  conducted  by  the  officers  in  one  of  their  sets  of  quarters. 

The  basement  of  the  Westhampton  College  was  used  as  a storage  place 
for  Quartermaster  supplies,  and  the  basement  of  the  administration  building 
was  utilized  for  the  storage  of  Medical  Department  supplies.  In  addition  to 
these  places  a large  one-story  building,  located  near  the  heating  plant,  was 
used  as  a storage  place  for  both  Quartermaster  and  Medical  Department  sup- 
plies. This  was  a ramshackle  structure,  however,  the  floor  of  which  was 
subjected  to  flooding  in  the  springtime,  and  could  not  be  depended  upon. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  the  fact  that,  when  General  Hospital  No.  13 
was  moved  from  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  to  Richmond  College,  equipment  for  500 
beds  was  transferred  with  the  personnel.  This  equipment  was  later  augmented 
so  as  to  be  adequate  for  1,000  beds. 

The  water  of  the  hospital  was  that  of  the  city  of  Richmond.  Its  source 
was  the  James  River,  and  to  make  it  potable  it  was  coagulated  and  sedimented, 
then  filtered  through  sand  beds.  Examination  made  of  it  at  the  hospital  showed 
it  to  be  consistently  of  excellent  quality. 

The  group  of  buildings  was  connected  with  a sewerage  system  which  had 
been  installed  by  the  college  authorities.  There  was  a sewage  disposal  plant, 
the  effluent  of  which  was  chlorinated. 

For  heating  the  buildings  there  were  three  boilers.  The  system  was  hot 
water,  and  the  pipes  to  the  buildings  were  laid  beneath  the  surface.  It  operated 
satisfactorily. 

The  lighting  of  the  hospital  was  accomplished  by  the  use  of  electricity, 
which  was  supplied  by  a power  and  lighting  company  of  Richmond. 

The  American  Red  Cross  provided  two  buildings  at  the  hospital,  namely, 
a convalescent  house  for  the  patients,  and  a recreation  house  for  the  nurses. 
These  two  buildings  provided  a center  for  all  the  social  activities  at  the  hospital. 

The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  though  hampered  by  the  lack  of 
a building,  did  much  to  promote  and  develop  the  social  and  moral  tone.  Fre- 
quent entertainments  were  provided,  athletic  equipment  was  furnished  the 
patients,  and  a real  spirit  of  service  was  shown  by  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  secretary  in  charge. 

When  the  hospital  was  organized  on  June  22,  191S,  it  was  known  as  Gen- 
eral Hospital  No.  22,  and  as  such  functioned  directly  under  the  War  Depart- 
ment. 

On  December  8,  1918,  it  having  become  apparent  that  this  hospital  could 
be  operated  to  better  advantage  as  a debarkation  hospital  than  as  a general 
hospital,  its  designation  was  changed  to  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  and 
thereafter  it  functioned  under  the  control  of  the  commanding  general,  Port  of 
Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va. 

The  buildings  in  general  were  much  better  fitted  for  school  purposes  than 
for  use  as  a hospital;  much  space  was  wasted  in  the  dormitories  which  had  to 
be  used  for  wards;  the  sanitary  arrangements  were  wholly  inadequate,  neces- 
sitating the  installation  of  many  additional  lavatories  and  baths;  no  suitable 


OTHER  EMBARKATION  AND  DEBARKATION  HOSPITALS. 


827 


building  was  provided  for  surgery,  and  the  mess  halls  and  kitchens  were  at 
too  great  a distance  from  the  wards.  In  fact,  the  widely  scattered  distribu- 
tion of  the  buildings  presented  many  almost  insurmountable  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  administrative  control  of  the  hospital.  Of  course,  all  these  difficulties 
could  have  been  overcome  by  the  provision  of  new  construction,  as  there  was 
ample  space  on  the  hospital  grounds  for  any  requisite  number  of  buildings. 
With  the  acquisition  of  the  Soldiers’  Home  at  Hampton,  the  need  of  beds  at 
the  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  for  the  debarking  sick  was  not  so 
pressing;  consequently,  no  new  buildings  were  provided  at  Debarkation  Hos- 
pital No.  52. 

The  character  of  its  buildings,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  there  could  not  be 
maintained  there  a pool  of  Medical  Department  personnel  to  send  on  trains 
distributing  seriously  sick  and  wounded  to  interior  hospitals,  limited  the  use 
of  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52  to  ambulant  patients. 

On  May  31,  1919,  the  buildings  were  formally  evacuated  and  returned  to 
the  custody  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Richmond  College. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  Richmond  College,  Virginia, 
from  July,  1918,  to  April,  1919,  inclusive  a 

SICK  AND  WOUNDED. b 


Year  and  month. 


1918. 

July 

August 

September . 

October 

N ovember . . 
December. . 


1919. 

January 

February. . 
March. .. . . . 

April 


Remaining  from  last 
month. 

Admissions. 

Total  to  be  accounted  for. 

Completed  cases. 

Remaining. 

Aggregate 
number  of 
days  lost 
from 
sickness. 

From  command. 

From  other 
sources. 

Returned  to  duty. 

Died. 

Discharged  for  dis- 
ability. 

Deserted. 

Discharged,  expi- 
ration of  term. 

Transferred  to  in- 
sane asylums. 

Transferred  to 

other  hospitals. 

Otherwise  dis- 

posed of. 

By  trans- 
fer. 

Otherwise. 

j Hospital. 

Quarters. 

Hospital. 

Quarters. 

6 

1 

7 

3 

4 

33 

4 

30 

12 

46 

30 

16 

429 

16 

47 

78 

1 

142 

22 

1 

13 

1 

105 

1,407 

105 

191 

327 

27 

650 

315 

1 

2 

4 

328 

0, 564 

328 

33 

85 

13 

459 

232 

2 

8 

6 

9 

202 

8,385 

202 

30 

61 

7 

300 

105 

35 

123 

1 

30 

3,000 

36 

53 

27 

3 

119 

67 

1 

1 

2 

48 

1,404 

48 

14 

15 

122 

62 

1 

12 

2 

45 

1,296 

45 

23 

1 

1 

70 

46 

2 

1 

14 

1 

6 

571 

6 

2 

8 

8 

66 

CIVILIAN  POPULATION  WITH  THE  COMMAND. 


Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

Year  and  month. 

Men. 

Women. 

Chil- 

dren. 

Total. 

1918. 

1919. 

July 

3 

31 

34 

67 

67 

August 

1 

31 

32 

66 

September 

26 

26 

40 

40 

October 

6 

46 

52 

November 

60 

60 

December 

69 

69 

a Compiled  from  monthly  returns  and  sick  and  wounded  reports  (Form  52)  to  the  Office  of  the  Surgeon  General,  on 
fde,  Medical  Records  Section,  Adjutant  General’s  Office;  and  monthly  statistical  returns  made  to  the  Office  of  The  Adjutant 
General,  on  file,  Statistical  Division,  Adjutant  General’s  Office  (name  of  hospital). 

b Sick  and  wounded  figures  above  do  not  include  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States  from  Europe  and  held  in 
hospital  for  a few  days  only  while  awaiting  transfer  toother  hospitals.  (Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  to  com- 
manding generals, ports  of  embarkation,  on  disposition  of  medical  records  for  patients  invalided  to  the  United  States. 
A.  G.  0.,  “ E.  E.”  Misc.  Div.). 


828  MILITARY  HOSPITALS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Statistical  data,  United  States  Army  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  Richmond  College,  Virginia, 
from  July,  1918,  to  April,  1919,  inclusive — Continued. 

PERSONNEL  ON  DUTY. 


Officers. 

Enlisted  men. 

Year  and  month. 

Medical 

Corps. 

Sanitary 

Corps. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Medical 

Depart- 

ment. 

Miscel- 

laneous 

(Q.M.C., 

etc.). 

Total. 

Nurses. 

1918. 

36 

6 

1 

43 

296 

90 

386 

62 

1919. 

38 

7 

2 

47 

no 

60 

February. 

26 

6 

2 

34 

312 

113 

425 

9 

5 

2 

16 

138 

107 

245 

1 

9 

5 

2 

16 

8 

83 

91 

2 

i 

1 

4 

6 

45 

51 

REFERENCES. 


(1)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  July  13,  1917.  Subject:  L'se  of 

National  Branch,  National  Soldiers’  Home,  Virginia,  for  military  hospital.  On  file,  Record 
Room,  S.  G.  0.,  190487  A (Old  Files). 

(2)  Letter  from  Maj.  W.  L.  Little,  M.  C.,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  July  9,  1917.  Subject:  Hos- 

pital site,  Hampton,  Va.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  190487  (Old  Files). 

(3)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  May  28,  1918.  Subject:  Transfer 

of  Southern  Branch  of  National  Home  for  Disabled  Soldiers  to  the  Medical  Department. 
On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  .002  (Hampton,  Va.,  Southern  Branch)  (F). 

(4)  Telegram  from  the  Acting  Surgeon  General  to  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport 

News,  Va.,  October  26,  1918.  Subject:  Bill  passed  Senate  October  24,  1918.  On  file, 
Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  .002  (Hampton,  Va.)  F. 

(5)  Act  of  Congress  approved  November  7,  1918,  Public  Act  No.  239,  Sixty-fifth  Congress  (H.  R. 

13,036),  approved  November  7,  1918. 

(6)  Letter  from  the  surgeon,  Port  of  Embarkation,  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  9,  1918. 

Subject:  Transfer  of  Soldiers’  Home,  Hampton,  Va.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  601 
(Soldiers’  Home,  Hampton,  Va.)  S. 

(7)  Second  indorsement,  War  Department,  A.  G.  O.  to  the  Surgeon  General,  November  23,  1918. 

Subject:  Authorizing  designation  of  debarkation  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O., 
322.3  (Debark.  Hosp.  No.  51)  I. 

(8)  Letter  from  commanding  general,  Port  of  Embarkation,  Newport  News,  Va.,  to  Chief  of  Con- 

struction Division,  December  8,  1918.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (Debarkation 
Hosp.  No.  51)  I.  Also:  Annual  Report  of  the  Surgeon  General  of  the  LTnited  States  Army, 
1919.  Vol.  II,  1150. 

(9)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  April  22,  1919.  Subject:  Re- 

quest designation  of  general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  680.1  (Deb.  Hosp. 
No.  51)  I. 

(10)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army  to  the  Surgeon  General,  May  1,  1919.  Sub- 

ject: Designation  general  hospital.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  O.,  680.1  (Deb.  Hosp. 
No.  51)  I. 

(11)  Shown  on  weeldy  bed  reports.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  632  (U). 

(12)  Letter  from  the  Surgeon  General  to  The  Adjutant  General,  January  8,  1920.  Subject: 

Discontinuance  of  General  Hospital  No.  43.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3 
(G.  H.  No.  43)  K. 

(13)  Letter  from  The  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army  to  the  Surgeon  General,  February  20,  1920. 

Subject:  Discontinuance  of  General  Hospital  No.  43.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0., 
323.72-3  (G.  H.  No.  43)  K. 

(14)  Letter  from  the  commanding  officer  to  the  Surgeon  General,  April  1,  1920.  Subject:  Dis- 

continuance of  General  Hospital  No.  43.  On  file,  Record  Room,  S.  G.  0.,  323.72-3  (G.  H. 
No.  43)  K. 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Aberdeen  Proving  Ground,  Aberdeen,  Md.,  emergency  hospital 112 

Academy  of  Sciences,  French,  true  principle  of  hospital  construction  first  discussed  by 14 

Activities,  correlated 164^170 

Additions  and  improvements,  hospitals  at  National  Army  cantonments 103 

Adjutant,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 461 

Administration : 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 460 

general— 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 212 

Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 331 

Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 370 

of  hospitals,  coordination  of  measures  for  improvement  of 157-163 

organization,  and  control 117-191 

Administration  building,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 196 

Administration  buildings,  temporary  hospitals 64 

Administration  division  of  large  war  hospital,  tabular  statement  of 125 

Administrative  expansion,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 285 

Admission,  process  of,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 445 

Admissions  of  sick  to  hospitals,  dates  of  first,  and  strengths  of  troops  at  National  Army  camps.  103 

Agencies,  religious  and  fraternal 165 

Airplane  ambulance 41 6-425 

Air  space  per  bed  in  wards  of  temporary  hospitals.  ( See  also , Ventilation) 71 

Alexandria,  La.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Beauregard 619 

Alteration,  procurement  and,  of  buildings,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 436 

Ambulance,  airplane 416-425 

-Ambulance  service,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 478 

Ambulances 188 

Ambulatory  patients: 

cafeteria  service  for,  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

set-up  service  for,  in  temporary  hospitals 83, 86 

Ambulatory  sick,  influence  of  percentage  of,  on  hospital  plans 35 

American  Library  Association 168 

American  military  hospitals: 

early 15 

in  interim  between  Civil  War  and  World  War 24 

American  Red  Cross.  (See  also,  Red  Cross): 

activities  of,  at  different  hospitals.  ( See  name  of  hospital. ) 

and  housing  of  recreational  facilities  for  nurses  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

Amputation  section,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 306 

Amputations,  hospitals  for 173, 176, 177 

Amusements  and  recreations  (See  also  name  of  hospital) 166 

Anesthesia,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 382 

Animal  houses  of  temporary  hospitals 76 

Annexes: 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 449 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 479 

Anniston,  Ala.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  McClellan 723 

Apothecary’s  shop  of  stationary  military  hospital  of  ancient  period 14 

Appropriations  for  hospital  construction 27,  29, 54 

Armistice  day,  hospital  beds  available  on : 112 

Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark 25, 483 

function 483 

statistical  data 485, 486 

Army  Nurse  Corps,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 209 

Army  School  of  Nursing 123 

students  of 124 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 302 

Arthritis,  chronic  (nontraumatic),  hospitals  for 173 

Artificial  limb  sendee,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 381 

Athletics,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 315 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Gordon 668 


829 


830 


INDEX. 


Page. 


Augusta,  Ga.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Hancock 675 

Autopsies,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 386 

Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1,  New  York  City 110,  817 

function 817 

statistical  data 818 

Auxiliary  rooms  in  temporary  hospitals 73 

Auxiliary  supplies  for  hospitals 148 

Aviation  hospitals 398-415 

consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  strength  of  personnel,  Table 

No.  21 412,413,414,415 

convalescent 404 

enlisted  men’s  barracks 402 

equipment 405 

medical  research  laboratories 403 

mortuaries 403 

nurses’  quarters 401 

style  of  construction 404 

types  of 398 

Ayer,  Mass.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Devens 642 

Baltimore,  Mel.,  General  Hospital  No.  7 511 

Band,  hospital,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 264 

Barrack  buildings  of  temporary  hospitals,  wards  of 107 

Barracks: 

for  enlisted  men — 

at  aviation  hospitals 402 

at  temporary  hospitals 92 

ward,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 199 

Base  hospital: 

and  camp,  dividing  line  between 119 

Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys,  Va 682 

statistical  data 686,  687 

Camp  Beauregard,  Alexandria,  La 619 

statistical  data 621 

Camp  Bowie,  Fort  Worth,  Tex 626 

statistical  data 630,631 

Camp  Cody,  Deming,  N.  Mex 631 

statistical  data 637 

Camp  Custer,  Mich 638 

statistical  data 641,  642 

Camp  Devens,  Ayer,  Mass 642 

statistical  data 645, 646 

Camp  Dix,  Wrightstown,  N.  J 646 

statistical  data 650, 651 

Camp  Dodge,  Iowa 651 

statistical  data 655,656 

Camp  Doniphan,  Fort  Sill,  Okla 657 

statistical  data 662 


Camp  Eustis,  Lee  Hall,  Va 

statistical  data 

Camp  Fremont,  Calif 

statistical  data 

Camp  Gordon,  Atlanta,  Ga 

statistical  data 

Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111 

administration  building 

Army  Nurse  Corps 

band 

bed  report 

chapel 

chief  nurse,  office  of 

climate 

colored  nurses’  quarters. 

colored  patients 

commanding  officer  of  detachment  of  patients,  office  of. 

construction  features 

correlation  of  offices  and  records 

corridors 

death  and  seriously  ill  card  index 

death  records 

death  records,  forms  used  in  keeping 

dental  department 

departments 


663 

664 
664 

667 

668 
672 
193 
196 
209 
264 
238 
203 
237 
193 
200 

234 
237 
195 

235 
203 
221 
23  S 
232 
259 
241 


INDEX. 


831 


Base  hospital — Continued. 

Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111. — Continued.  Page. 

detachment  commander,  office  of 237 

detachment  mess 201 

detachment  quarters 201 

disinfecting  plant 216 

disposal  of  waste 216 

double  wards 199 

drugs  used  during  influenza  epidemic 249 

duties  of  officers  of  the  day  and  assistants 239 

field  report  of  patients 238 

fire-alarm  systems 204 

fire  prevention  and  fire  drill 240 

folders  for  clinical  records 221 

forms,  blank 223 

forms,  demobilization 229 

forms  used  for  ward  reports 225 

garage 202 

gauze  reclamation 217 

general  administration 212 

genitourinary  department 256 

geographic  location 193 

grounds  and  gardens 216 

guardhouse 198 

head  house 197 

influenza  and  pneumonia  statistics 249 

information  bureau 236 

isolation  wards 199 

laboratoy 197 

laboratory  service 254 

laundry 202,  217 

lighting  and  ventilation 204 

medical  service 241 

mess  and  kitchen 198 

mess  officer,  office  of 237 

military  section 218 

mortuary 203 

neuropsychiatric  section 259 

newspaper 267 

nurses’  quarters 200 

officer  of  the  day ’s  report 238 

officers’  quarters 200 

officers’ ward 196 

ophthalmology,  department  of 257 

organization 193 

orthopedic  surgery,  section  of 252 

otolaryngological  section 258 

patients 211 

personal  reference  card 231 

personnel 204 

personnel,  commissioned 204 

personnel,  enlisted 206 

personnel  officer,  office  of 237 

physical  characteristics 193 

physical  reconstruction 260 

post  exchange 197 

power  house - 203 

property - 212 

property,  securing  and  issuing 213 

psychopathic  ward 199 

quartermaster  department 213 

receiving  building 196 

receiving  office 235 

receiving  officer,  office  of - 237 

recreation 263 

Red  Cross  Convalescent  House 203 

registrar 236 

registrar,  office  of 237 

report,  surgeon’s  morning 238 

roads 193 

sanitary  status 193 

sergeant  major,  office  of 237 


832 


INDEX. 


Base  hospital — Continued. 

Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  111. — Continued.  Page. 

single  wards 198 

soii 193 

stage  of  development 193 

statistical  data 271 

student  nurses 210 

supply  warehouse 203 

surgeon ’s  morning  report 238 

surgical  pavilion 197 

surgical  service 251 

terrain 193 

The  Silver  Chev’ 268 

transportation 215 

utilities 217 

utility  shop 202 

ward 236 

ward  barracks 199 

ward  management 220 

wards  of  200  beds 200 

welfare  organizations 265 

X-ray  department 254 

X-ray  laboratory 197 

Camp  Greene,  Charlotte,  N.  C 672 

statistical  data 674 

Camp  Hancock,  Augusta,  Ga 675 

statistical  data 681,  682 

Camp  Jackson,  Columbia,  S.  C 687 

statistical  data 691,  692 

Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Jacksonville,  Fla 692 

statistical  data 696 

Camp  Kearny,  San  Diego,  Calif 697 

statistical,  data 702 

Camp  Lee,  Petersburg,  Va 703 

statistical  data 707,  708 

Camp  Lewis,  Tacoma,  Wash 709 

statistical  data 713 

Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Tex 714 

statistical  data 717 

Camp  MacArthur,  Waco,  Tex 718 

statistical  data 722, 723 

Camp  McClellan,  Anniston,  Ala 723 

statistical  data 727,  728 

Camp  Meade,  Md 728 

statistical  data 731,  732 

Camp  Merritt,  N.  J 110,  807 

statistical  data 814 

Camp  Mills,  Garden  City,  Long  Island,  N.  Y 110.  S15 

statistical  data 817 

Camp  Pike,  Little  Rock,  Ark 732 

statistical  data 735, 736 

Camp  Sevier,  Greenville,  S.  C 745 

statistical  data 748,  749 

Camp  Shelby,  Hattiesbmg,  Miss 749 

statistical  data 752,  753 

Camp  Sheridan,  Ala 753 

statistical  data 757,  758 

Camp  Sherman,  Chillieothe,  Ohio 758 

statistical  data 764 

Camp  Travis,  San  Antonio,  Tex 768 

statistical  data 770 

Camp  Upton,  N.  Y 771 

statistical  data 774,  775 

Camp  Wadsworth,  Spartanburg,  S.  C 775 

statistical  data 77S,  779 

Camp  Wheeler,  Macon,  Ga 779 

statistical  data 781,  782 

Camp  Zachary  Taylor,  Louisville,  Ky 765 

statistical  data 767,768 

First  peace-time  designation  of,  to  Post  Hospital,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex 11S 

Fort  Bliss,  Tex 622 

statistical  data 625,  626 


INDEX. 


833 


Base  hospital — Continaed.  Page. 

Fort  Riley,  Kans _ Ill,  736 

statistical  data 740,  741 

Fort  Sam  Houston,  San  Antonio,  Tex Ill,  741 

statistical  data 743,744 

Modified  application  of  designation,  during  the  war 119 

Base  hospital  group,  National  Army,  number  of  buildings  in 104 

Base  hospitals: 

at  cantonments  and  camps 193-270 

at  National  Army  camps 103 

differentiation  of  general  and  camp  hospitals  and 117-120 

erected  at  National  Army  camps,  schedule  of,  Table  II 42,  43 

erected  at  National  Guard  camps,  schedule  of,  Table  III 44, 45 

functions  of 118 

other 619-784 

outline  of  instuctions  for  temporary  officers  at 127 

Baths  and  lavatories: 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J .' 379 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 455 

Bed: 

Air  space  per,  in  wards  of  temporary  hospitals 71 

cubic  space  per 70 

floor  area  per 71 

Bed  capacity: 

available 52 

of  different  types  of  wards,  tabulation  of 65 

Bed  report,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant.  Ill 238 

Beds: 

arrangement  of,  in  wards  of  temporary  hospitals 71 

available  on  armistice  day 112, 113, 114 

number  of,  in  wards  of  new  construction 71 

per  ward,  maximum  number  of 70 

Biltmore,  N.  C.,  General  Hospital  No.  12 528 

Blank  forms.  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 223 

Blind,  hospitals  for  training  and  education  of 142 

Blindness  (partial  or  total),  hospitals  for 173 

Block  plans 64 

for  temporary  hospitals 57 

key  to 57,  58 

Boards 160 

Boston,  Mass.,  General  Hospital  No.  10 522 

Brain  surgery,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  .1 384 

Brigade  hospitals  in  Civil  War 18 

Brigham,  Robert  Brent,  Hospital.  (See,  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston,  Mass.) 

Buildings : 

administration 64 

curative  workshop,  of  temporary  hospitals 80 

Embarkation  Hospital.  Newport  News,  Va 451 

existing,  procurement  of,  for  hospital  purposes 30,  31 

for  food  at  temporary  hospitals - 81 

for  housing  at  temporary  hospitals - 81 

for  housing  duty  personnel  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

for  kitchen  and  mess,  types  of 83 

for  supplies  at  temporary  hospitals - 81 

for  utilities  and  physical  operation,  at  temporary  hospitals 98 

general  administrative  and  operative,  of  temporary  hospitals 60 

general  care  and  treatment,  of  temporary  hospitals 64 

head  surgery,  of  temporary  hospitals - - - 76 

hospital,  erected  at  National  Army  camps  (base  hospitals),  temporary  construction. 

Table  II : 42,43 

erected  at  National  Guard  camps  (base  hospitals),  temporary  construction,  Table 

III 44,45 

individual,  classes  of,  for  temporary  hospitals - 59 

leased,  cafeteria  equipment  in - - 91 

for  temporary  hospitals,  length  of 71 

new,  for  physical  reconstruction,  temporary  hospitals 81 

number  of,  in  National  Army  base  hospital  group 104 

occupation  of — ■ 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City - 441 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va - 454 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 378 

45269°— 23 53 


834 


INDEX. 


Buildings — Continued.  Page. 

physical  reconstruction,  of  temporary  hospitals 80 

physiotherapy,  of  temporary  hospitals 80,81 

procurement  "and  alteration  of,  Debarkation  Hospital,  New  York  City 436 

receiving,  of  temporary  hospitals 60 

school,  of  temporary  hospitals 80 

special  care  and  treatment,  of  temporary  hospitals 76 

supply,  at  temporary  hospitals 98 

surgical,  of  temporary  hospitals 78 

Burlington,  Vt.,  general  hospital  at,  during  War  of  1812 16 

Bush  Terminal,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  infirmary 112 

Cafeteria: 

equipment  in  leased  buildings 91 

for  ambulatory  patients  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

mess  hall,  temporary  hospitals,  factors  considered  in  planning 90 

service,  temporary  hospitals 86 

serving 92 

Camp : 

A.  A.  Humphreys,  Va.,  Base  Hospital 682 

Alexander,  Newport  News,  Va.,  infirmary 112 

and  base  hospital,  dividing  line  between 119 

base  and  general  hospitals,  differentiation  of 117-120 

Beauregard,  Alexandria,  La.,  Base  Hospital 619 

Benning,  Columbus,  Ga.,  infirmary Ill 

Bowie,  Tex.,  Base  Hospital 626 

Cody,  Deming,  N.  Mex.,  Base  Hospital 631 

Colt,  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  infirmary 112 

Crane,  Allentown,  Pa.,  small  hospital Ill 

Custer,  Mich.,  Base  Hospital 638 

Devens,  Mass.,  Base  Hospital 642 

Dix,  N.  J.,  Base  Hospital 646 

Dodge,  Iowa,  Base  Hospital 651 

Doniphan,  Fort  Sill,  Okla.,  Base  Hospital 657 

Eustis,  Va.,  Base  Hospital 663 

Forest,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.,  infirmary Ill 

Fremont,  Calif.,  Base  Hospital 664 

Glenburne,  Glenburne,  Md.,  infirmary Ill 

Gordon,  Ga.,  Base  Hospital 668 

Grant,  111.,  Base  Hospital 193 

Green,  N.  C.,  Base  Hospital 672 

Greenleaf,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.,  infirmary Ill 

Hancock,  Ga. , Base  Hospital 675 

Holabird,  Baltimore,  Md.,  small  hospital Ill 

Jackson,  S.  C.,  Base  Hospital 687 

Jessup,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga.,  infirmary Ill 

Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Fla.,  Base  Hospital 692 

Kearny,  Calif.,  Base  Hospital 697 

Lee,  Va.,  Base  Hospital 703 

Lewis,  Wash.,  Base  Hospital 709 

Logan,  Houston,  Tex.,  Base  Hospital 714 

MacArthur,  Waco,  Tex.,  Base  Hospital 718 

McClellan,  Ala.,  Base  Hospital 723 

Meade,  Md.,  Base  Hospital 728 

Meigs,  Washington,  D.  C.,  infirmary 112 

Merritt,  N.  J.,  Base  Hospital S07 

Mills,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  Base  Hospital 815 

Normoyle,  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  infirmary Ill 

Perry,  Port  Clinton,  Ohio,  small  hospital Ill 

Pike,  Ark.,  Base  Hospital 732 

Sevier,  Greenville,  S.  C.,  Base  Hospital 745 

Shelby,  Hattiesburg,  Miss.,  Base  Hospital 749 

Sheridan,  Ala.,  Base  Hospital 753 

Sherman,  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  Base  Hospital 758 

Syracuse,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  infirmary 112 

Travis.  Tex.,  Base  Hospital 76S 

Upton,  N.  Y.,  Base  Hospital 771 

Wadsworth,  Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  Base  Hospital 775 

Wheeler,  Macon,  Ga.,  Base  Hospital 779 

Willoughby,  Ohio,  infirmary 112 

Zachary  Taylor,  Ky.,  Base  Hospital 765 


INDEX. 


835 


Camp  hospital : Page. 

Camp  Abram  Eustis,  Lee  Hall.  Ya Ill 

Camp  Bragg,  Fayetteville,  N.  C Ill 

Camp  Humphreys,  Va Ill 

Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  Jacksonville,  Fla Ill 

Camp  Knox,  West  Point,  Kv Ill 

Edgewood  Arsenal,  Edgewood,  Md Ill 

Camp  hospitals 117 

consolidated  statist!  cal  data 783,784 

Camps  (See  also,  Cantonments): 
and  cantonments — 

base  hospitals  at 193-270 

hospital  procurement  at 33 

existing  training,  hospital  provision  at 33 

National  Army,  strengths  of  troops,  with  dates  of  first  admissions  of  sick  to  hospitals — 103 

National  Guard — 

hospitals  at 108 

hospitals  not  included  in  preliminary  plans  of 108 

Cantonments  (See  also,  Camps): 
and  camps — 

base  hospitals  at 193-270 

hospital  procurement  at 33 

National  Army — 

delayed  construction  of  hospitals  at 102 

hospitals  at 102 

hospitals  at,  additions  and  improvements 103 

Cape  May,  N.  J.,  General  Hospital  No.  11 525 

Card  index,  death  and  seriously  ill,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 221 

Carlisle,  Pa.,  General  Hospital  No.  31 588 

Chapel : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 380 

Chicago,  111.,  General  Hospital  No.  32 591 

Chief  nurse,  office  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

Chillicothe,  Ohio,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sherman,  Ohio 758 

Chronological  sequence  of  events,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md. . 328 

Circular  letters  and  literature 161 

Civil  War: 

general  hospitals  in 18 

brigade  hospitals  in 18 

division  hospitals  in 18 

hospitals 18 

regimental  hospitals  in 18 

Civilian  employees  provided  for  hospitals 124 

Classification: 

and  transfer  of  patients  from  overseas,  Table  10 176, 177 

of  construction  projects - 56 

of  hospitals  constructed 39-56 

Climate: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 - 193 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 451 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 363 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 280 

Clinical  records,  folders  for,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 221- 

Clothing  and  equipage 14 1 

Colonia,  N.  J.,  General  Hospital  No.  3 375 

Colored  nurses’  quarters,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 200 

Colored  patients,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 234 

Columbia,  S.  C.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Jackson 687 

Commanding  officer  of  detachment  of  patients,  office  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111... . 237 

Commission,  Sanitary.  (See,  Sanitary  Commission.) 

Commissioned  personnel,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 204 

Communicable  and  neuropsychiatric  diseases,  hospital  provisions  for - 37 

Consolidated  statistical  data,  camp  hospitals 783,  784 

Construction: 

and  improv  ement 57-116 

character  of,  at  time  of  our  entrance  into  World  War 25 

congressional  appropriations  for  hospital 29 

delayed,  of  hospitals  at  National  Army  cantonments 102 

detached  plan  of  hospital 16 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 375 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 365 


836 


INDEX. 


Construction — Continued.  Page. 


new  (temporary) — 

at  post  hospitals,  Table  1 40, 41 

tuberculosis  hospitals,  Table  5 50,51 

of  hospitals,  funds  for . 27,  29,  54 

of  temporary  type,  at  points  other  than  National  Army  and  National  Guard  Camps, 

Table  4 46,47,48,49 

style  of,  aviation  hospitals 404 

temporary,  at  National  Army  camps  (base  hospitals),  Table  2 42,43 

temporary  (base  hospitals),  at  National  Guard  camps,  Table  3 44, 45 

Construction,  tile 64 

Construction  Division,  War  Department 29,  30,  31 

Construction  features,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 195 

Construction  plans: 

for  hospitals 30 

for  temporary  hospitals - 57-101 

Construction  projects,  classilication  of 56 

Construction  section,  Hospital  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office 29 

Contagious-disease  patients,  wards  for 64 

Control,  organization,  administration  and 117-191 

Convalescent  camp,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 358 

Convalescent  hospitals,  aviation 404 

Convalescent  house,  Red  Cross,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

Convalescent  patients  from  overseas 37 

Cooking  and  messing  facilities  at  temporary  hospitals 81 

Coordination  of  measures  for  improvement  of  administration  of  hospitals 157-163 

Corpus  Christi,  Tex.,  General  Hospital  No.  15 537 

Correlated  activities 164-170 

Correspondence  and  records,  department  of,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 289 

Corridor  space 104 

Corridors 57, 71,  90, 103 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

Council  of  National  Defense,  classification  of  hospitals  of  United  States  by 28 

Course  of  surgery  for  medical  officers,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 303 

Crimean  War,  influence  of,  on  hospitals 16 

Cubic  space  per  bed 70 

Cubicles 71 

Curative  workshop  buildings  of  temporary  hospitals 80 

Dansville,  N.  Y.,  General  Nospital  No.  13 531 

Day  rooms  in  temporary  hospitals 73 

Deafness  and  speech  defects,  hospitals  for  soldiers  with 142 

Death  and  seriously  ill  card  index,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 221 

Death  records,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

Debarkation  and  embarkation: 
port  of — 

Hoboken,  N.  J 110 

Newport  News,  Va 110 

Debarkation  and  embarkation  hospitals 110,426-435 

other 785-828 

Debarkation  Hospital: 

No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y 792 

statistical  data 794 

No.  2 (General  Hospital  No.  41),  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y 110,795 

statistical  data 798 

No.  3,  New  York  City 110,436-450 

dental  department 443 

evacuation  department 446 

eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department 443 

general  equipment 441 

hospital  annexes 449 

hospital  departments 442 

medical  service 444 

mess  department 447 

occupation  of  buildings 441 

organization 441 

patients’  property 449 

personnel 442 

process  of  admission 445 

procurement  and  alteration  of  buildings 436 

sick  and  wounded  department 444 

statistical  data 450 


INDEX. 


837 


Debarkation  Hospital — Continued. 

No.  3,  New  York  City — Continued.  Page. 

surgical  service 442 

X-ray  department 443 

No.  4 (General  Hospital  No.  39),  Long  Beach,  Long  Island,  N.  Y 110,  799 

statistical  data 801 

No.  5,  Grand  Central  Palace,  New  York  City 110,  802 

statistical  data 806,  807 

No.  51  (General  Hospital  No.  43),  Hampton,  Va 110,  821 

statistical  data 824 

No.  52,  Richmond  College,  Va.  (General  Hospital  No.  22).  ( See  also,  General  Hospital 

No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa.) 110,825 

statistical  data 827,  828 

Debarkation  hospitals,  provision  of 34 

Delayed  construction  of  hospitals  at  National  Army  cantonments 102 

Deming,  N.  Mex.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Cody 631 

Demobilization 189-191 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 320 

Demobilization  forms,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 229 

Dental  department: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 259 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 443 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 474 

Dental  infirmaries 107, 110 

Dental  lavatories 74 

Dental  section,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 307 

Dental  service: 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 339 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 384 

Denver,  Colo.,  General  Hospital  No.  21 363 

Department  Base  Hospital  No.  1,  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex 118 

Department  base  hospitals,  functions  of 118 

Departments: 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 442 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 334 

Dermatological  department,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 473 

Detachment: 

of  patients,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 332 

administration,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 291 

commander,  office  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

mess,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 201 

quarters,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 201 

Detroit,  Mich.,  General  Hospital  No.  36 601 

Development,  stage  of,  of  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

Dietitian  service 124 

Differences  between  port  and  other  military  hospitals 433 

Differentiation  of  general,  base,  and  camp  hospitals 117-120 

Dimensions  of  wards 70,  71 

Disinfecting  plant,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 216 

Dispensary : 

location  of,  of  hospitals  at  National  Army  cantonments 104 

of  temporary  hospitals 80 

Disciplinary  Barracks,  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kans.,  small  permanent  hospital 112 

Distribution  of  overseas  patients 171-179 

Dividing  line  between  base  hospital  and  camp 119 

Division  hospitals  in  Civil  War 18 

Dormitory  for  nurses  of  temporary  hospitals 92 

Dry  cleaning,  buildings  for,  at  temporary  hospitals 98 

East  Norfolk,  Mass.,  General  Hospital  No.  34 596 

Eastview,  N.  Y.,  General  Hospital  No.  38 606 

Education  and  reconstruction: 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 346 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 303,311 

Education  department,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 332 

Educational  service,  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 372 

Eighteenth-century  hospitals 14 

Ellis  Island,  N.  Y.,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  1 792 

Embarkation  and  debarkation: 
nort  of — 

Hoboken,  N.  .1 110 

Newport  News,  Va 110 

Embarkation  and  debarkation  hospitals 110,  426-435 

other 785-828 


838 


INDEX. 


Embarkation  hospital:  Page. 

Camp  Stewart,  Newport  News,  Ya 110 

Newport  News,  Va 451-481 

adjutant 461 

administration 460 

ambulance  service 478 

baths  and  lavatories 455 

buildings 451 

climate 451 

dental  department 474 

dermatological  department 473 

distribution  of  labor 461 

evacuation  of  patients 463 

executive  officer 461 

eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department 472 

fire  protection 458 

function  of 460 

garbage  disposal 455 

heating 455 

hospital  annexes 479 

information  office 462 

kitchen  and  mess 455 

laboratory 476 

laundry 457 

lavatories  and  baths 455 

lighting 455 

location 451 

maintenance  of  grounds  and  buildings 478 

medical  service 465 

mess  and  ldtchen 455 

neuropsychiatric  service 470 

nonmilitary  activities 461 

nursing  service 477 

occupation  of  buildings 454 

organization 460 

personnel  office 463 

professional  departments 465 

property  administration 465 

quarters 457 

registrar ’s  office 463 

roads 451 

sewage 455 

statistical  data 480, 481 

sterilization  and  disinfection 476 

storehouses 458 

surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability 465 

surgical  sendee 471 

terrain 451 

venereal  service 471 

water  supply 454 

X-ray  department 474 

No.  1,  Hoboken,  N.  .1 , 110, 7S5 

statistical  data 786,  787 

No.  2,  Secaucus,  N.  .1 110,787 

statistical  data 788 

No.  3,  Hoffman  Island,  N.  Y 110,789 

statistical  data 789,  790 

No.  4,  New  York  City 110,  790 

statistical  data 791 

Empyema  section,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 307 

Enlisted  men: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 206 

housing  of  recreational  facilities  for,  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

Enlisted  men’s  barracks: 

aviation  hospitals 402 

temporary  hospitals 92 

Enlisted  personnel : 

assigned  to  hospitals 123 

instruction  of 139 

Environments: 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 375 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 2S1 


INDEX. 


839 


Page. 

Epileptics  and  mental  defectives,  hospitals  for 173,  587 

Equipage  and  clothing 147 

Equipment: 

aviation  hospitals 405 

general,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 441 

Evacuation  of  patients,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 463 

Evacuation  department,  Debarkation  Hospital,  New  York  City 446 

Evolution  of  the  military  hospital. ' 13-26 

Executive  officer,  Embarkation  Hospital.  Newport  News,  Ya 461 

Expansion,  administrative,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 285 

Expansion,  war-time  physical,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 281 

Eye  department,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 335 

Eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat  department: 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 443 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 472 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 307 

Eye,  ear,  nose,  and  throat,  wounds,  injuries,  and  diseases  of,  hospitals  for 173 

Field  report  of  patients,  Base  Hospital.  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

Fifty-Fifty  League,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 359 

Fire  and  police  protection,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 292 

Fire  house,  temporary  hospitals 98 

Fire  prevention  and  fire  drill  orders,  Base  Hospital.  Camp  Grant.  Ill 238 

Fire  protection 152 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 458 

Fire-alarm  system,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant.  Ill 204 

Floor  area  per  bed  in  wards  of  new  construction 71 

Floor  space. 101 

Folders  for  clinical  records,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant.  Ill 221 

Food,  buildings  for.  temporary  hospitals  (See  also.  Mess  and  Kitchens) 81 

Form  for  report  of  sanitary  inspection  of  hospitals 157, 158, 159 

Forms : 

blank.  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 223 

demobilization.  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 229 

used  for  ward  reports.  Base  Hospital.  Camp  Grant,  111 225 

used  in  keeping  death  records,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 232 

Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind.,  General  Hospital  No.  25 565 

Fort  Bliss,  Tex.,  Base  Hospital 622 

Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  General  Hospital  No.  26 569 

Fort  Douglas,  Utah,  General  Hospital  No.  27 573 

Fort  Logan  H.  Roots.  Ark.,  General  Hospital  No.  33 594 

Fort  McDowell,  Angel  Island,  Calif..  Post  Hospital 388 

Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md.,  General  Hospital  No.  2 323 

Fort  McPherson,  Ga.,  General  Hospital  No.  6 505 

Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga.,  General  Hospital  No.  14 534 

Fort  Ontario.  N.  Y.,  General  Hospital  No.  5 501 

Fort  Porter,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  General  Hospital  No.  4 498 

Fort  Riley,  Ark.,  Base  Hospital,  Kans 736 

Fort  Sam  Houston.  Tex.: 

Base  Hospital 741 

Department  Base  Hospital 118 

first  peace-time  base  hospital - 118 

Fort  Sheridan,  111.,  General  Hospital  No.  28 575 

Fort  Snelling.  Minn.,  General  Hospital  No.  29 578 

Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Bowie 626 

Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2 (General  Hospital  No.  41) 795 

Fractures,  hospitals  for 174 

Fraternal  and  religious  agencies - 165 

Fresh-air  ward  of  temporary  hospital 76 

Functions: 

Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark 483 

Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1,  New  York  City 817 

base  hospitals 118 

department  base  hospitals 118 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 160 

general  hospitals 35, 117 

Funds  appropriated  for  hospital  construction 27,  29,  54 

Garage : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 202 

buildings  for 64 

temporary  hospitals 98 


840 


INDEX. 


Garbage  disposal 152 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 455 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 281 

Garden  City,  Long  Island,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Mills . _ 110 

Gauze  reclamation,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 217 

General,  base,  and  camp  hospitals,  differentiation  of 117-120 

General  Hospital : 

converted 323-362 

Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex 483,  486 

statistical  data 489,  490 

new 375-387 

No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  N.  Y 110,  494 

Bloomingdale  Hospital 496 

Camp  estate 496 

Main  hospital 495 

Messiah  Home - 496 

Montifiore  private  pavilion 496 

Riverdale-on-the-Hudson 496 

statistical  data 497, 498 

No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Md 323-362 

administration 331 

chronological  sequence  of  events 32S 

convalescent  camp 358 

dental  service 339 

departments 334 

eye  department 335 

detachment  of  patients 332 

education  and  reconstruction  work 346 

evacuation  department 332 

Fifty-Fifty  League 359 

laboratory  service 343 

library  service 357 

maxillofacial  service 335 

measurement  of  voluntary  movements  and  strength  in  stiff  joints,  department  for. . 346 

medical  service 340 

mess 3oz 

neuropsychiatric  service 342 

neurosurgical  service 336 

nursing  service 333 

orthopedic  department 337 

otolaryngological  department 335 

personnel  adjutant’s  office 331 

physiotherapy 345 

post  exchange.  - 353 

procurement  of  structures 323 

quartermaster  department 353 

receiving  ward 332 

reconstruction  and  education  work 346 

registrar ’s  office 331 

repositorium 355 

roentgenology  department. 338 

sanitation 333 

school  of  photography 356 

statistical  data.". 361,  362 

surgical  service 334 

Trouble  Buster 32S 

urological  department 338 

utilities 354 

No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  .1 375-3S7 

anesthesia 3S2 

artificial  limb  service 381 

autopsies 386 

baths  and  lavatories 379 

brain  surgery 384 

chapel 380 

climate 375 

construction 375 

dental  service 384 

disposal  of  wastes 378 

environment 375 

genitourinary  service 3S4 

kitchen  and  mess 379 


INDEX. 


841 


General  Hospital — Continued. 

No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J. — Continued.  Page. 

laboratory 385 

laundry 379 

lavatories  and  baths 379 

lighting 379 

neurosurgical  service 383 

occupation  of  hospital  buildings 378 

organization 378 

orthopedic  workshop 382 

physical  characteristics 375 

professional  services 380 

quarters 379 

recreation 386 

sewerage 378 

statistical  data 387 

storehouse 380 

surgery  of  the  head 383 

surgical  service 380 

terrain 375 

water  supply 378 

X-ray  department 384 

No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  Buffalo,  N.  Y 498 

statistical  data 500,  501 

No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y 501 

statistical  data 504,  505 

No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga 505 

statistical  data 510,  511 

No.  7,  Baltimore,  Md 511 

statistical  data 513,  514 

No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y 514 

statistical  data 516,  517 

No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J 520 

statistical  data 521,  522 

No.  10,  Boston,  Mass 522 

statistical  data 524,  525 

No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J 525 

statistical  data 527,  528 

No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C '. 528 

statistical  data 531 

No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y 531 

statistical  data 533 

No.  14,  Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga 534 

statistical  data 536 

No.  15,  Corpus  Christi,  Tex 537 

statistical  data 538 

No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn 539 

statistical  data 540,  541 

No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa 541 

statistical  data 543,  544 

No.  18,  Waynesville,  N.  C 544 

statistical  data 544 

No.  19,  Oteen,  (Azalea),  N.  C 552 

statistical  data 554 

No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz 555 

statistical  data 556,  557 

No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 363-374 

administration 370 

climate 363 

construction 365 

educational  service 372 

geographic  location 363 

heating  system 370 

hospital  services 371 

laboratory  service 371 

lighting  system 369 

messing 372 

personnel 373 

physical  characteristics 363 

plumbing  system 369 

roads 370 

sanitary  status  of  surroundings 365 

scarlet  fever  at 365 


842  INDEX. 

General  Hospital — Continued. 

No.  21,  Denver,  Colo. — Continued.  Page. 

sewerage  system 369 

smallpox  at 365 

soil 363 

statistical  data 374 

surgical  service 371 

terrain 363 

typhoid  fever  at 365 

walks 370 

water  supply 368 

No.  22,  Philadelphia  Pa.  (See  also,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52,  Kichmond  College, 

Va.) 557 

statistical  data 559 

No.  23,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C 560 

statistical  data 562 

No.  24,  Parkview  Station,  Pittsburgh,  Pa 562 

statistical  data 564,  565 

No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind 565 

statistical  data 568,569 

No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa 569 

statistical  data 572 

No.  27,  Fort  Douglas,  Utah 573 

statistical  data 574 

No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111 575 

statistical  data 577,  578 

No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn 578 

statistical  data 580,  5S1 

No.  30,  Plattsburgh  Barracks,  N.  Y 586 

statistical  data 587,  588 

No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa 588 

statistical  data 590, 591 

No.  32,  Chicago,  111 591 

statistical  data 593,  594 

No.  33,  Fort  Logan  II.  Roots,  Little  Rock,  Ark 594 

statistical  data 595,  596 

No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass 596 

statistical  data 597,  598 

No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind 598 

statistical  data 600,  601 

No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich 601 

statistical  data 603 

No.  37,  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y 604 

statistical  data 605 

No.  38,  Eastview,  N.  Y 606 

statistical  data 609 

No.  39,  Long  Beach,  N.  Y.  (See  also,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4) 110 

No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo 609 

statistical  data 613 

No.  41,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.  (See  also,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  2) 110 

No.  43,  Hampton,  Ya.  (See  also,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  51) 110 

permanent 272-322 

tuberculosis 363-374 

Walter  Reed,  Washington,  D.  C.  (See  also,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital) 272-322 

General  hospitals 110, 117 

at  time  of  our  entrance  into  World  War 25 

Civil  War 18 

control  of 11S 

designated  to  function  in  physical  reconstruction,  list  of 141, 142 

during  Spanish- American  War 24 

functions  of 35,117 

in  interim  between  Civil  War  and  World  War 24 

other , 483-617 

provision  of 35 

semipermanent,  in  interim  between  Civil  War  and  World  War 24 

standard  size  of 11S 

General  patients,  wards  for 64 

General  surgical  buildings 64 

General  ward  units 70 

Genitourinary  department: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 256 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 3S4 


INDEX. 


843 


Geographic  location:  Page. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 363 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 280 

Grand  Central  Palace  (Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5),  New  York  City 110,  802 

Greenhut  Building  (Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3)  New  York  City 110,  436 

Greenville,  S.  C.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Sevier 745 

Grounds : 

and  buildings,  maintenance  of,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 478 

and  gardens,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 216 

hospital 154 

Guardhouse,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 198 

Hampton,  Va.,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  51  (General  Hospital  No.  43) 821 

Hattiesburg,  Miss.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Shelby 749 

Head  house,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 197 

Head  surgery,  buildings  for 64,  76 

Heating : 

and  hot  water  systems 149 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya.  455 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  .1 379 

Heating  plant  of  stationary  military  hospital  of  ancient  period 14 

Heating  system,  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 370 

Herbert  Hospital,  Woolwich,  England 16 

Hoboken,  N.  J. : 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1 785 

port  of  embarkation  and  debarkation,  hospitals  at 110 

Hoffman  Island,  New  York' Harbor,  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  3 789 

Hospital : 

evolution  of  the  military 13-26 

American,  in  interim  between  Civil  War  and  World  War 24 

ancient  period 13 

Civil  War  hospitals 18 

early  American  hospitals 15 

eighteenth  century 14 

influence  of  Crimean  War  on 16 

medieval  period 14 

general,  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  during  War  of  1812 16 

pavilion,  first  at  Stonehouse,  England 14 

personnel  of 121 

temporary,  types  of  mess  hall  and  kitchen  at 81,  83 

Tilton’s  log  hut 15 

Hospital  buildings: 

erected  at  National  Army  camps  (base  hospitals),  temporary  construction,  Table  II. . . 42,  43 
erected  at  National  Guard  camps  (base  hospitals),  temporary  construction,  Table  III. . 44,  45 

semipermanent,  schedule  of,  Table  VI 52 

Hospital  care: 

of  ancient  warriors 13 

of  warriors,  revival  of,  credited  to  Isabella,  Queen  of  Spain 14 

Hospital  construction: 

funds  appropriated  for 27,  29,  54 

new — 

of  temporary  type,  at  points  other  than  National  Army  and  National  Guard  camps, 

Table  IV,.  .‘ 46,47,48,49 

(temporary),  tuberculosis  hospitals,  Table  V 50,  51 

true  principle  of,  first  discussed  by  French  Academy  of  Sciences  in  1788 14 

Hospital  departments:  ( See  also,  Hospital  services.) 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 371 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 288 

Hospital  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office 28 

planning  subsection  of 30 

procurement  section  of 30 

Hospital  exchange,  buildings  for 64 

Hospital  facilities,  list  of HI,  H2 

Hospital  grounds - 1^4 

Hospital  newspapers  and  magazines,  list  of 168, 169 

Hospital  plans,  influence  of  percentage  of  ambulant  sick  on 35 

Hospital  procurement  at  cantonments  and  camps 33 

Hospital  provision: 

at  existing  Army  posts  and  training  camps 33 

for  neuropsychiatric  and  communicable  diseases 37 

for  various  kinds  of  cases 173, 174, 175, 176, 177 

percentage  basis  of 28 


844 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Hospital  section,  Construction  Division,  War  Department 30 

Hospital  services  ( See  also,  Hospital  departments) 124 

tabulation  of  administration  personnel  required  for 125, 126, 127 

Hospital  ships 187 

Hospital  situation : 

at  Port  of  Newport  News,  Ya 429 

at  Port  of  New  York 427 

at  time  of  our  entrance  into  World  War 25 

Hospital  trains 180 

Hospitalization  scheme,  general  factors  underlying  the 33-38 

Hospitals: 

at  National  Guard  camps 108 

at  National  Army  cantonments 102, 103 

at  port  of  embarkation  and  debarkation,  Hoboken,  N.  J 110 

at  port  of  embarkation  and  debarkation,  Newport  News,  Ya 110 

auxiliary  supplies  for 148 

base  ( See  also,  Base  Hospital) - 117 

at  National  Army  camps 103 

brigade,  in  Civil  War 18 

camp 117 

Civil  War 18 

constructed,  classification  of 39-56 

coordination  of  measures  for  improvement  of  administration  of 157-163 

dates  of  first  admissions  of  sick  to,  and  strengths  of  troops  at  National  Army  camps 103 

debarkation,  provision  of 34 

demobilized,  locations  and  dates 189, 190 

designated  for  reception  and  care  of  overseas  patients  according  to  disease  or  iniurv 173, 

174, 175, 176, 177 

division,  in  Civil  War 18 

embarkation  and  debarkation 110 

funds  for  construction  of 27,  29,  54 

general  ( See  also,  General  hospital) 117 

at  time  of  our  entrance  into  World  War 25 

base,  and  camp,  differentiation  of 117-120 

designated  function  in  physical  reconstruction,  list  of 141, 142 

during  Spanish- American  War 24 

in  Civil  War 18 

in  interim  between  Civil  War  and  World  War 24 

provision  of 35 

medical  supplies  for 147 

military — • 

at  siege  of  Metz,  influence  of  Isabella,  Queen  of  Spain,  on 14 

influence  of  work  of  Florence  Nightingale  on 16 

stationary,  of  ancient  period , 13, 14 

miscellaneous Ill 

of  United  States,  classification  of,  by  Council  of  National  Defense 28 

port  and  other  military,  differences  between 433 

post — 

in  Civil  War IS,  24 

new  construction  (temporary)  at,  Table  I 40, 41 

priority  schedule  for  abandoning 190 

provided 102-116 

provision  of,  at  ports  of  embarkation 33 

quartermaster  supplies  for 145, 147 

regimental  in  Civil  War 18 

semipermanent  general — 

in  interim  between  Civil  War  and  World  War 24 

in  1916 25 

supplies  for 145 

temporary — 

auxiliary  rooms  in 73 

block  plans  for 57 

buildings  for  food SI 

buildings  for  housing SI 

buildings  for  supplies  at 81 

buildings  for  utilities  and  physical  operation  at 9S 

cafeteria  service  in 74,  S6 

class  of  individual  buildings  for 59 

construction  plans  for 57-101 

cooking  and  messing  facilities  at SI 

enlisted  men’s  barracks  at 92 


INDEX. 


845 


Hospitals — Continued. 

temporary — Continued.  Page. 

housing  of  recreational  facilities  for  emisted  men  at 92 

housing  of  recreational  facilities  for  nurses  at 92 

nurses’ quarters  at 92 

officers’ quarters  at 92 

“set-up  service”  for  ambulant  patients  in 83,  86 

supply  buildings  at . 98 

training  departments  in 140 

types  of 193-481 

Hot  Springs,  N.  C.,  General  Hospital  Ho.  23 560 

Hot  water  and  heating  systems ... 149 

Hotel  Dieu,  Paris 14 

Housing: 

buddings  for — 

at  temporary  hospitals 81 

duty  personnel  at  temporary  hospitals . ... . 92 

of  recreational  facilities — 

for  enlisted  men  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

for  nurses  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

Houston,  Tex.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Logan 714 

Information  bureau: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 236 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 462 

Improvement,  construction  and 57-116 

Improvements  and  additions 103 

Infirmaries: 

dental 110 

regimental 107, 110 

Insane  ( See  also,  Mental  diseases  and  neuropsychiatric  diseases,  or  patients),  hospital  provi- 
sions for 37, 173,  823 

Inspecting  nurses 160 

Inspection,  sanitary,  of  hospitals,  form  for  report  of 157, 158, 159 

Inspection  division,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 291 

Inspectors: 

medical 159 

sanitary 157 

Instruction: 

of  enlisted  personnel 139 

of  hospital  personnel 127 

of  nurses 139 

of  officers 127 

of  substandard  officers 138 

Instructions,  outline  of,  for  temporary  officers  at  base  hospitals 127 

Isabella,  Queen  of  Spain: 

influence  of,  on  military  hospitals  at  siege  of  Metz 14 

revival  of  hospital  care  of  warriors  credited  to 14 

Isolation  wards 64,  70 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 199 

Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Joseph  E.  Johnston 692 

Jewish  Welfare  Board 92,166 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 318 

Judiciary  Square  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. - 20 

Kitchen: 

and  mess 64,  81,  83,  92 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 455 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  .1 379 

of  stationary  military  hospital  of  ancient  period 14 

serving,  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

Knights  of  Columbus 92,166 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 317 

Knox  type  of  ward 67 

Labor,  distribution  of,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 461 

Laboratory: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 197 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 476 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 385 

Laboratory  buildings 64 

Laboratory  service: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 254 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 343 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 371 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 301,  309 


846 


INDEX. 


Laboratories:  _ Vage. 

medical  research,  aviation  hospitals 403 

of  special  care  and  treatment  buildings  of  temporary  hospitals 76 

ward,  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

Lakehurst  Proving  Ground,  Lakehurst,  N.  J.,  infirmary 112 

Lakewood,  N.  J.,  General  Hospital,  No.  9 520 

Lariboisiere  Hospital,  Paris 16,  25 

Laundry 153 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 202,  217 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 457 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 379 

temporary  hospitals 98 

Lavatories: 

and  baths — ■ 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 455 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  .T 379 

dental 74 

in  temporary  hospitals 73 

Lee  Hall,  Va.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Eustis 663 

Length  of  buildings 71 

Letterman  General  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  Calif 25,  57, 102, 490 

statistical  data 492,  493 

Letters,  circulars,  and  literature 161 

Library  Association,  American 168 

Library  service: 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 357 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 319 

Lighting 149 

and  ventilation,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 204 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 455 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 379 

Lighting  system,  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 369 

Literature  and  circular  letters 161 

Little  Rock,  Ark.: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Pike 732 

General  Hospital  No.  33,  Fort  Logan  II.  Roots 594 

Location,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 451 

Location,  geographic.  (See,  Geographic  location.) 

Long  Beach,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4 (General  Hospital  No.  39) 799 

Louisville,  Ky.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Taylor 765 

Macon,  Ga.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wheeler 779 

Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  General  Hospital  No.  37 604 

Magazines  and  newspapers,  hospital,  list  of 168, 169 

Manhattan  Island,  first  American  military  hospital  established  on 15 

Markleton,  Pa.,  General  Hospital  No.  17 J. 541 

Maxillofacial  injuries,  hospitals  for 173 

Maxillofacial  service : 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 335 

Walter  Reed  General  Ilospital 307 

Measurement  of  voluntary  movements  and  strength  in  stiff  joints,  department  for,  General 

Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 346 

Medical  cases,  hospitals  for 173 

Medical  inspectors 159 

Medical  research  laboratories,  aviation  hospitals 403 

Medical  reserve  officers  assigned  to  hospitals 121 

Medical  service : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 23S 

Debarkation  Ilospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 444 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 465 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 340 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 300,  309 

Medical  supplies  for  hospitals 147 

Mental  cases,  hospitals  for.  (See  also,  Insane  and  Neuropsychiatric,  Psychiatric  cases, 

diseases  or  patients) 173, 174,  499,  5S7,  S23 

Mental  defectives,  epileptics  and 173 

Mental-disease  patients,  wards  for 64 

Mental  diseases,  hospital  provisions  for 37 

Mess: 

and  Kitchen 92 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 19S 

buildings  for 64,  S3 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 455 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 379 


INDEX. 


847 


Mess — Continued.  Page- 

detachment,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 201 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 352 

Mess  department,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 447 

Mess  hall : 

and  Kitchen,  types  of,  at  temporary  hospitals 81,  83 

cafeteria,  temporary  hospitals,  factors  considered  in  planning 90 

Mess  officer,  office  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

Messing: 

and  cooking  facilities  at  temporary  hospitals 81 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 372 

Metz,  siege  of,  military  hospitals  at 14 

Military  hospital.  (See,  Hospitals,  military.) 

Military  section,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 218 

Miscellaneous  hospitals Ill 

Mortuaries — 

of  aviation  hospitals 403 

of  temporary  hospitals 76 

Mortuary,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

Mount  Pleasant  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C 20 

Nassau  Hotel  (Debarkation  Hospital  No.  4),  Long  Beach,  N.  Y 110 

National  Army: 

base  hospital  group,  number  of  buildings  in 104 

camps — 

hospital  buildings  erected  at  (base  hospitals),  temporary  construction,  Table  II.  . . 42,  43 


cantonments — 

delayed  construction  of  hospitals  at 102 

hospitals  at 102, 103 

National  Guard  camps: 

hospital  buildings  erected  at  (base  hospitals),  temporary  construction,  Table  III 44,  45 

hospitals  at 108 

Nervous  system,  diseases  and  injuries  of,  hospitals  for  (See also,  Neuroses,  Neuropsychiatric, 

Psychiatric,  Mental  cases,  diseases,  or  patients) 174,  587 

Neuropsychiatric  and  communicable  diseases,  hospital  provisions  for 37 

Neuropsychiatric  service: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 259 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 470 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 342 

Neuroses  (functional),  hospitals  for 174 

Neurosurgical  service: 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 336 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 383 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 308 

New  Haven,  Conn.,  General  Hospital  No.  16 539 

Newport  News,  Va 821-828 

Embarkation  Hospital 451-481 

Port  of  Embarkation  and  Debarkation,  hospitals  at 110 

Port  of,  hospital  situation  at 429 

New  York  City: 

Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1 817 

New  York,  Port  of,  hospital  situation  at 427 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3 436-450 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  5,  Grand  Central  Palace 802 

Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4 790 

New  York  Polyclinic  Medical  School  and  Hospital  (Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4) 790 

Newspaper,  hospital: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 267 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 318 

Newspapers  and  magazines,  hospital,  list  of 168, 169 

Nightingale,  Florence,  influence  of  work  of,  on  military  hospitals 16 

Nonmilitary  activities,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 461 

Norfolk  Terminal,  Norfolk,  Va.,  150-bed  hospital Ill 

Nurse,  chief,  office  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

Nurses: 

housing  of  recreational  facilities  for,  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

inspecting 160 

instruction  of 139 

ratio  of,  to  beds,  assigned  to  hospitals 122 

Nurses’: 

office  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

quarters 64 

aviation  hospitals 401 


848 


INDEX. 


Nurses’ — Continued. 

quarters — Continued.  Page. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 200 

colored,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 200 

temporary  hospitals 92 

wards - - 64 

Nursing  department,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 301 

Nursing  service: 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 477 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 333 

Occupation  of  buildings: 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 441 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 378 

Newport  News,  Va 454 

Officer  of  the  day: 

and  assistants,  duties  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

report  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

Officers: 

instruction  of. 127 

medical  reserve,  assigned  to  hospitals 121 

substandard,  instruction  for 138 

temporary,  at  base  hospitals,  outline  of  instructions  for 127 

Officers’  quarters 64 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 200 

temporary  hospitals 92 

Officers’  ward  units 70 

Officers’  wards 64 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 196 

Ophthalmology,  department  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 257 

Ordnance  Depot: 

Middletown,  Pa.,  infirmary 112 

New  Cumberland,  Pa.,  infirmary 112 

Pedricktown,  N.  J.,  infirmary 112 

Organization: 

administration  and  control 117-191 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 460 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 378 

Orthopedic  cases,  hospitals  for. 174 

Orthopedic  department: 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 337 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 308 

Orthopedic  surgery,  section  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 252 

Orthopedic  workshop,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J • 382 

Oteen,  N.  C.,  General  Hospital,  No.  19 552 

Other  embarkation  and  debarkation  hospitals 785-828 

Otisville,  N.  Y.,  General  Hospital  No.  8 514 

Otolaryngological  department: 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 335 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 .'. . . 258 

Overseas  patients: 

character  of  disease  or  injury  and  hospitals  designated  for  reception  and  care  of 173, 

174, 175, 176, 177 

distribution  of 171-179 

Patients: 

ambulatory,  in  temporary  hospitals — 

cafeteria  service  for 74 

“set  up  service ” for S3, 86 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 211 

colored,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 234 

detachment  of — - 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 332 

office  of  commanding  officer  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

evacuation  of,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 463 

field  report  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

overseas — ■ 

character  of  disease  or  injury  and  hospitals  designated  for  reception  and  care  of . . . 173. 

174, 175, 176, 177 

distribution  of 171-179 

provided  for  in  ward  designing,  temporary  hospitals 64 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 303 

Patients’  property,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 449 

Patterson  Park  Hospital,  Baltimore,  Md 19 

Pavilion  hospital,  first  at  Stonehouse,  England 14 


INDEX. 


849 


Page. 

Pavilion  hospitals  of  Civil  War IS,  19,  20,  22 

Pavilion  type  of  wards 66 

Percentage  basis  of  hospital  provision 2S 

Peripheral  nerve  injuries  and  paralyses,  hospitals  for 174 

Personnel 121—144 

administrative,  required  for  hospital  services,  tabulation  of . 125, 126 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 . 204 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 442 

duty,  buildings  for  housing,  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

enlisted,  instruction  of - 139 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo . 373 

hospital — . 

tables  of  organization 121 

instruction  of 127 

professional,  required  for  hospital  services,  tabulation  of 127 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 302 

Personnel  adjutant's  office,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 331 

Personnel  office,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 463 

Personnel  officer,  office  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

Petersburg,  Va.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lee 703 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  General  Hospital  No.  22 557 

Photography,  school  of,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 356 

Physical  characteristics: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 375 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 363 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 280 

Physical  operation  and  utilities,  buildings  for,  at  temporary  hospitals 98 

Physical  reconstruction 141 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 260 

buildings  of  temporary  hospitals 80 

new  buildings  for,  temporary  hospitals,  early  plan  for 81 

Physiotherapy  buildings  of  temporary  hospitals SO,  81 

Physiotherapy  department: 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 345 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 301 

Picric  Acid  Plant,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  infirmary 112 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  Parkview  Station,  G-eneral  Hospital  No.  24 562 

Planning  subsection,  Hospital  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office 30 

Plans : 

block,  for  temporary  hospitals 57 

construction,  for  temporary  hospitals 57-101 

for  hospital  construction 2S,  29, 30 

hospital,  influence  of  percentage  of  ambulatory  sick  on 35 

preliminary,  of  hospitals  at  National  Guard  Camps,  hospitals  not  included  in 10S 

Plattsburgh  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  General  Hospital  No.  30 586 

Plumbing  system,  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 369 

Plymouth  Naval  Hospital 16 

P olice  and  fire  protection,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 292 

Polyclinic  Medical  School  and  Hospital,  New  York  (Embarkation  Hospital  No.  4) 110,  790 

Porches  added  to  wards  of  temporary  hospitals 73 

Port: 

and  other  military  hospitals,  differences  between 433 

of  Hoboken,  N.  J 7S5-S20 

of  Newport  News,  Va.,  hospital  situation  at 429 

of  New  York,  hospital  situation  at 427 

Port  hospitals 110 

Port  Newark  Terminal,  Newark,  N.  J.,  infirmary 112 

Ports  of  embarkation,  provision  of  hospitals  at 33 

Post  exchange: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 197 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 353 

Post  exchanges 164 

Post  Hospital,  Fort  McDowell,  Angel  Island,  Calif 388-393 

statistical  data 392,  393 

Post  hospitals 3SS-397 

consolidated  numerical  reports  of  sick  and  wounded,  and  strength  of  personnel.  Table 

No.  20 394,395.396,397 

in  Civil  War 18,  24 

new  construction  (temporary)  at,  Table  I 40, 41 

Posts,  existing  Army,  hospital  provision  at 33 

45269°— 23 54 


850 


INDEX. 


Power  house : Page. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

temporary  hospitals 98 

Presidio  of  San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Letterman  General  Hospital 490 

Priority  schedule  for  abandoning  hospitals 190 

Prison  ward  units 70 

Procurement 27-56 

and  alteration  of  buildings,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 436 

at  cantonments  and  camps 33 

of  existing  buildings  for  hospital  purposes 30 

of  structures,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 323 

pre-war 27 

wartime  organization  for 28 

Procurement  methods,  hospital: 

evolution  of 27-32 

pre-war  procurement 27 

war-time  organization  for  hospital  procurement 28 

Procurement  section,  Hospital  Division,  Surgeon  General’s  Office 30 

Professional  departments: 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 465 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 380 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 297, 306 

Professional  division  of  large  war  hospital,  tabular  statement  of 126 

Property : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 212 

patients’,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 449 

securing  and  issuing,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 213 

Property  administration,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 465 

Provision: 


hospital — 

at  existing  Army  posts  and  training  camps 33 

at  ports  of  embarkation 33 

for  neuropsychiatric  and  communicable  diseases 37 

of  debarkation  hospitals 34 

of  general  hospitals 35 

Psychiatric  patients.  (See,  Insane,  Mental  diseases,  Nemopsychiatry,  Neuroses,  Psycho- 
neurotie.) 

Psychiatric  ward  unit 70 

Psychiatric  wards 64,  69,  70 

Psychoneuroses,  hospitalsfor.  (See  also.  Insane,  Mental  diseases,  Neuropsychiatry,  Neuroses, 

Psychoneurotic) 532 

Psychoneurotic,  hospital  provisions  for  the 37 

Psychopathic  ward,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 199 

Quartermaster  department : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 213 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 353 

Quartermaster  supplies  for  hospitals 145, 147 

Quarters: 

colored  nurses’,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 200 

detachment,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 201 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 457 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 379 

nurses  ’ 64 

at  aviation  hospitals 401 

at  temporary  hospitals 92 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 200 

officers  ’ 64 

at  temporary  hospitals 92 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 200 

‘ ‘ Qu  eens  Hospital ” 14 

Quiet  rooms  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

Raritan  Arsenal,  Metuchen,  N.  J.,  200-bed  hospital Ill 

Receiving  building: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 196 

Receiving  buildings 64 

Receiving  office,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 - - - 235 

Receiving  officer,  office  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

Receiving  ward,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 332 

Reclamation,  gauze,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 217 


INDEX. 


851 


Page. 

Reconstruction,  physical 141 

and  education — 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 346 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 301,  311 

buildings  of  temporary  hospitals 80 

list  of  general  hospitals  designated  to  function  in 141, 142 

new  buildings  for,  temporary  hospitals,  early  plan  for 81 

Records : 

and  correspondence,  department  of,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 289 

death,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

Recreation : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 263 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 386 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 314 

Recreational  facilities: 

for  enlisted  men  at  temporary  hospitals,  housing  of 92 

for  nurses  at  temporary  hospitals,  housing  of 92 

Recreations  and  amusements 166 

Red  Cross.  (See  also,  American  Red  Cross)  : 166 

Convalescent  House,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 316 

Refrigerating  area,  base  hospitals 105 

Refrigeration 153 

Regimental  hospitals  in  Civil  War 18 

Regimental  infirmaries 107, 110 

Registrar: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 236 

office  of — 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 463 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 331 

Rehabilitation.  ( See  also,  Reconstruction,  physical) 141 

Religious  and  fraternal  agencies 165 

Repair  of  hospitals,  funds  for 27 

Report: 

bed,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

field,  of  patients,  Base  hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

of  officer  of  the  day,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111. 238 

of  sanitary  inspection  of  hospitals,  form  for 157, 158, 159 

surgeon’s  morning,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 238 

Repositorium,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 355 

Research  laboratories,  medical  aviation  hospitals 403 

Richmond  College,  Va.,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  52 110,  825 

Roads: 

and  walks 154 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 451 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 370 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 280 

Robert  Bent  Brigham  Hospital.  (See,  General  Hospital  No.  10,  Boston,  Mass.) 

Rockefeller  Institute,  War  Demonstration  Hospital.  (See,  Auxiliary  Hospital  No  1.) 

Rockford,  111.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant 193 

Roentgenology  (See  also,  X ray): 
department  of — 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 338 

W alter  Reed  General  Hospital 308 

Rooms: 

auxiliary 73 

utility 73 

San  Antonio,  Tex.: 

Base  Hospital — 

Camp  Travis 768 

Fort  Sam  Houston 111,741 

San  Diego,  Calif.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Kearny 697 

San  Francisco,  Calif.,  Letterman  General  Hospital 490 

Sanitary  commission : 

British,  in  Crimean  War 16 

United  States 20 

Sanitary  inspection  of  hospitals,  form  for  report  of 157, 158, 159 

Sanitary  inspectors 157 


852 


INDEX. 


Sanitary  status:  Page. 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 365 

Sanitation,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 333 

School  buildings  of  temporary  hospitals 80 

School  of  photography,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 356 

Secaucus,  N.  J.,  Embarkation  Hospital  No.  2 787 

Semi-infirmary  ward 76 

Semipermanent  hospital  buildings,  schedule  of,  Table  VI 52 

Semipermanent  hospitals: 

general,  in  interim  between  Civil  War  and  World  War 24 

in  1916 25 

Septic  surgery  section,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 309 

Sergeant  major,  office  of,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 237 

Service  and  supply,  department  of,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 295 

Service  Club  No.  i,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 318 

Services: 

hospital 124 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 371 

tabulation  of  administrative  personnel  required  for 125, 126 

tabulation  of  professional  personnel  required  for 127 

professional,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 380 

Serving  kitchens  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

“Set  up  service  ” for  ambulant  patients  in  temporary  hospitals 83, 86 

Sewage,  Embarkation  Hospital  Newport  News,  Va 455 

Sewage  disposal 151 

Sewerage  system,  General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 369 

Sewers  of  stationary  military  hospitals  of  ancient  period 13 

Ships,  hospital 187 

Shop : 

temporary  hospitals 98 

utilitv,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 202 

Shops,  buildings  for 64 

Showers 73 

Sick : 

ambulant,  influence  of  percentage  of,  on  hospital  plans 35 

and  wounded,  transportation  of 180-1SS 

Sick  and  wounded  department,  Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 444 

Skull  and  brain,  wounds  and  injuries  of,  hospitals  for 175 

Slop  sink 73 

closets  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

Soil: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 363 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 280 

Soldiers’  Home  (Debarkation  Hospital  No.  51),  Hampton,  Va 110 

Spanish-American  War,  General  hospitals  dining 24 

Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Wadsworth 775 

Speech  defects: 

and  deafness,  hospitals  for  soldiers  -with 142 

and  hearing,  hospitals  for 174 

Statistical  data: 

Army  and  Navy  General  Hospital,  Hot  Springs,  Ark 485, 486 

Auxiliary  Hospital  No.  1,  New  York  City - 818 

aviation  hospitals 412, 413, 414, 415 

Base  Hospital — 

Camp  A.  A.  Humphreys,  Va 6S6, 689 

Camp  Beauregard,  Alexandria,  La 621 

Camp  Bowie,  Tex 630,  631 

Camp  Cody,  Deming,  N.  Mex 637 

Camp  Custer,  Mich 641,  642 

Camp  Devens,  Mass 645,  646 

Camp  Dix,  N.  J 650,  651 

Camp  Dodge,  Iowa 655,  656 

Camp  Doniphan,  Fort  Sill,  Okla 662 

Camp  Eustis,  Va 664 

Camp  Fremont,  Calif 667 

Camp  Gordon,  Ga 672 

Camp  Grant,  111 271 

Camp  Green,  N.  C 674 

Camp  Hancock,  Ga 681. 682 

Camp  Jackson,  S.  C 691,692 


INDEX. 


853 


Statistical  data — Continued. 

Base  Hospital — Continued.  Page. 

Camp  Jos.  E.  Johnston,  Fla 696 

Camp  Kearny,  Calif 702 

Camp  Lee,  Ya 707,  708 

Camp  Lewis,  Wash 713 

Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Tex 717 

Camp  MacArthur,  Waco,  Tex 722,  723 

Camp  McClellan,  Ala 727,  728 

Camp  Meade,  Md 731,  732 

Camp  Merritt,  N.  J 814 

Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,  N.  Y 817 

Camp  Pike,  Ark 735,  736 

Camp  Sevier,  Greenville,  S.  C 748,  749 

Camp  Shelby,  Hattiesburg,  Miss - 752,  753 

Camp  Sheridan,  Ala 757,  758 

Camp  Sherman,  Chillicothe,  Ohio 764 

Camp  Travis,  Tex 770 

Camp  Upton,  N.  Y 774,  775 

Camp  Wadsworth,  Spartanburg,  S.  C - - 778,  779 

Camp  Wheeler,  Macon,  Ga 781,  782 

Camp  Zachary  Taylor,  Ky 767,  768 

Fort  Bliss,  Tex 625,  626 

Fort  Riley,  Kans •_  740,  741 

Fort  Sam  Houston,  Tex 743,  744 

consolidated,  camp  hospitals 783,  784 

Debarkation  Hospital — 

No.  1,  Ellis  Island,  N.  Y 794 

No.  2,  Fox  Hills,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y 798 

No.  3,  New  York  City . 450 

No.  4,  Long  Beach,  Long  Island,  N.  Y - 801 

No.  5,  Grand  Central  Palace,  New  York  City 806,  807 

No.  51,  Hampton,  Va . 824 

No.  52,  Richmond  College,  Ya.  (General  Hospital  No.  22) 827,828 

Embarkation  Hospital — 

Newport  News,  Va 480,481 

No.  1,  Hoboken,  N.  J 786,  787 

No.  2,  Secaucus,  N.  J 788 

No.  3,  Hoffman  Island,  New  York  Harbor 789,  790 

No.  4,  New  York  City... , 791 

Fort  Oglethorpe,  Ga 536 

General  Hospital — 

Fort  Bayard,  N.  Mex 489,  490 

No.  1,  Williamsbridge,  New  York  City - 497,  498 

No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 361,  362 

No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J... 387 

No.  4,  Fort  Porter,  Buffalo,  N.  Y . 500,  501 

No.  5,  Fort  Ontario,  N.  Y 504,  505 

No.  6,  Fort  McPherson,  Ga 510,  511 

No.  7,  Baltimore,  Md 513,  514 

No.  8,  Otisville,  N.  Y . 516,  517 

No.  9,  Lakewood,  N.  J 521,  522 

No.  10,  Boston,  Mass 524,  525 

No.  11,  Cape  May,  N.  J 527,  528 

No.  12,  Biltmore,  N.  C 531 

No.  13,  Dansville,  N.  Y 533 

No.  15,  Corpus  Clnisti,  Tex 538 

No.  16,  New  Haven,  Conn 540,  541 

No.  17,  Markleton,  Pa 543,  544 

No.  18,  Waynesville,  N.  C 544 

No.  19,  Oteen,  N.  C 554 

No.  20,  Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz 556,  557 

No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 374 

No.  22,  Philadelphia,  Pa 559 

No.  23,  Hot  Springs,  N.  C , 562 

No.  25,  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  Ind 568,  569 

No.  26,  Fort  Des  Moines,  Iowa 572 

No.  27,  Fort  Douglas,  Utah 574 

No.  28,  Fort  Sheridan,  111 577,  578 

No.  29,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn 580,  581 

No.  30,  Plattsburgh  Barracks,  N.  Y 587,588 

No.  31,  Carlisle,  Pa 590,  591 

No.  32,  Chicago,  111 593,  594 

No.  33,  Fort  Logan  H.  Roots,  Ark , 595,  596 


854 


INDEX. 


Statistical  data — 

General  Hospital— Continued.  Page. 

No.  34,  East  Norfolk,  Mass 597;  598 

No.  35,  West  Baden,  Ind 600*  601 

No.  36,  Detroit,  Mich ’ 603 

No.  37,  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y 605 

No.  38,  Eastview,  N.  Y 609 

No.  40,  St.  Louis,  Mo 613 

Letterman  General  Hospital,  Presidio  of  San  Francisco,  Calif 492,  483 

Parkview  Station,  General  Hospital  No.  24 564,  565 

Post  Hospital,  Fort  McDowell,  Angel  Island,  Calif 392, 393 

post  hospitals,  Table  No.  20 394,  395,  396,  397 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C 321,  322 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  General  Hospital  No.  40 609 

St.  Mary’s  Hospital  (Embarkation  Hospital  No.  1),  Hoboken,  N.  J 110 

Sterilization  and  disinfections,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 476 

Stonehouse,  England,  first  pavilion  hospital  at 14 

Storage  Depot: 

Chicago,  111.,  infirmary 112 

Columbus,  Ohio,  infirmary 112 

Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  infirmary 112 

New  Cumberland,  Pa.,  infirmary 112 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  infirmary, 112 

Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  infirmary 112 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  infirmary 112 

Storehouse,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 380 

Storehouses,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 458 

Strength  of  command,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 302 

Strengths  of  troops  at  N ational  Army  camps,  with  dates  of  first  admissions  of  sick  to  hospitals . 103 

Student  nurses,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 210 

Subsistence 146 

Substandard  officers,  instruction  of 138 

Supplies: 

and  utilities - 145-156 

auxiliary,  for  hospitals 148 

buildings  for,  at  temporary  hospitals 81 

for  hospitals 145 

medical,  for  hospitals - 147 

quartermaster,  for  hospitals 145, 147 

Supply  Base: 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  infirmary 112 

Fort  Wood,  N.  J.,  infirmary - 112 

Supply  buildings  at  temporary  hospitals 98 

Supply  warehouse,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

Surgeon’s  certificate  of  disability,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  A' a 465 

Surgeon’s  morning  report,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 - 238 

Surgery : 

course  of,  for  medical  officers,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 303 

of  the  head,  General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J - 383 

septic,  section,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 309 

Surgical  buildings: 

general 64 

of  temporary  hospitals 7S 

Surgical  cases,  general  hospitals  for 174 

Surgical  pavilion,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 197 

Surgical  service: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 251 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 442 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya - - - 471 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md - 334 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J - 380 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo - 3<  1 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 297 

Tables  of  organization,  hospital  personnel  in 1-1 

Tacoma,  Wash.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Lewis '09 

Tank  Corps  Camp,  Asheville,  N.  C.,  infirmary 112 

Temporary  hospitals : 

auxiliary  rooms  in J3 

block  plans  for 57 

buildings — 

for  food 81 

for  housing SI 

for  supplies  at 81 

for  utilities  and  physical  operation  at. 9S 


INDEX. 


855 


Temporary  hospitals — Continued.  Page. 

cafeteria  service  in g0 

for  ambulatory  patients 74 

classes  of  individual  buildings  for ’ ’ 59 

construction  plans  for 57-101 

cooking  and  messing  facilities  at gi 

enlisted  men’s  barracks  at 92 

housing  of  recreational  facilities  at 92 

nurses’  quarters  at. 92 

officers’  quarters  at 92 

“set  up  service”  for  ambulatory  patients  in 83,  86 

supply  buildings  at 93 

types  of  mess  hall  and  kitchen  at 81,  83 

Terrain : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 193 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 451 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 375 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 363 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 280 

The  Come-Back 318 

The  Silver  Chev’ . . 268 

Tile  construction 64 

Tilton’s  log  hut  hospital 15 

Toilets  in  temporary  hospitals 73 

Training  camps,  existing,  hospital  provision  at 33 

Training  departments  in  hospitals. 140 

Trains,  hospital 180 

Transfer,  classification  and,  of  patients  from  overseas,  Table  10 176, 177 

Transportation: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 215 

of  sick  and  wounded 180-188 

Transports.  (See,  Hospital  Ships.) 

Trouble  Bmter. 328 

Trowmart  Inn  (Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3),  New  York  City 437 

Tuberculosis: 

general  hospital  for 363-374 

pulmonary,  hospitals  for 175 

Tuberculosis  hospitals,  schedule  of  new  construction  (temporary),  Table  Y 50,  51 

Tuberculosis  ward  units 70 

Tuberculosis  wards  in  temporary  hospitals 76 

Tuberculous  patients,  wards  for 64 

Types  of  aviation  hospitals 398 

Types  of  buildings  for  kitchen  and  mess S3 

Types  of  hospitals 103-481 

"United  States  Sanitary  Commission 20 

Urinals  in  temporary  hospitals 73 

Urological  department,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 338 

Utilities 148 

and  physical  operation,  buildings  for,  at  temporary  hospitals 98 

and  supplies 145-156 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 217 

General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 354 

Utility  rooms  in  temporary  hospitals 73 

Utility  shop,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 202 

Venereal  diseases,  hospitals  for 175 

Venereal  service,  Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 471 

Ventilation 72 

lighting  and,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 204 

of  wards  of  temporary  hospitals 71,  72,  73 

Ventilators 72 

commercial  metal 73 

louver. 72 

ridge - 72 

Waco,  Tex.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  MacArthur 718 

Walks: 

and  roads 154 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 370 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C 25,  272-322 

administration,  department  of 288 

administrative  expansion 285 

admissions  to 305 

amputation  section,  surgical  service 306 

Army  School  of  Nursing 302 


856 


INDEX. 


Walter  Reed  General  Hospital,  Washington,  D.  C. — ’Continued. 

athletics 

average  number  of  days  lost  in 

climate 

correspondence  and  records,  department  of 

demobilization 

dental  section,  surgical  service 

detachment  administration 

disposition  of  patients  at 

empyema  section,  surgical  service 

eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  section,  surgical  service 

fire  protection 

garbage  disposal 

geographic  location 

history  subsequent  to  beginning  of  World  War 

hospital  department 

hospital  environments 

hospital  newspaper 

inspection  division 

Jewish  Welfare  Board 

Knights  of  Columbus . 

laboratory  service 

library  service 

maxillofacial  section,  surgical  service 

medical  service 

medical  service,  general 

neurosurgical  section,  surgical  service 

nursing  department 

orthopedic  section,  surgical  service 

patients 

personnel 

physical  characteristics 

physiotherapy  department 

police  protection 

pre-war  period 

professional  activities  of  hospital  departments 

professional  services,  department  of 

reconstruction 

reconstruction  and  education,  department  of 

recreation 

Red  Cross 

roads 

roentgenological  service.  (See,  X-ray  department,  surgical  service.) 

septic  surgery  section,  surgical  service 

service  and  supply,  department  of 

Service  Club  No.  1 

sewerage 

soil 

statistical  data 

strength  of  command 

surgery,  course  of,  for  medical  officers 

surgical  operations  performed  at 

surgical  service 

terrain 

The  Come-Back 

war-time  physical  expansion 

water  supply - 

welfare  organizations 

X-ray  department,  surgical  service — 

Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 

War  Demonstration  Hospital.  (Sec,  Auxiliary  Hospital  No/ 1.) 

War  of  1812,  general  hospital  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  during 

Ward: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 

fresh-air 

Knox  type 

maximum  number  of  beds  for 

psychopathic,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 

receiving,  General  Hospital  No.  2,  Fort  McHenry,  Md 

Ward  barrack  building 

Ward  barracks,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 

Ward  designing,  temporary  hospitals,  classes  of  patients  provided  for,  in. 

Ward  laboratories  in  temporary  hospitals 

Ward  management,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 


Page. 
..  315 

..  304 

..  280 
..  289 

. . 320 

..  307 

..  291 

. . 305 

. . 307 

. . 307 

292 

. ’.  281 
. . 280 
. . 280 
..  2S8 

. . 281 
..  318 

. . 291 

..  318 

..  317 

301,  309 
..  319 

..  307 

. 300 

..  309 

..  308 

..  301 

..  308 

..  303 

..  302 

..  280 
..  301 

292 
' 272 

..  306 

..  297 

. 311 

. 301 

. 314 

. 316 

. 280 


..  309 

. . 295 

..  318 

..  281 
. . 2S0 

321,  322 
..  302 

..  303 

304,  305 
297,  306 
..  2S0 

..  31S 

..  281 
..  2S1 

. 316 

300,  SOS 
..  316 

16 


236 

76 

67 

70 

199 

332 

107 

199 

64 

74 

220 


INDEX. 


857 


Page. 

Ward  office  in  temporary  hospitals 74 

Ward  proper 70 

Ward  reports,  forms  used  for,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 225 

Ward  units 64,  69,  70 

Wards 64 

different  types  of,  tabulation  of  bed  capacity  of 65 

double,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111.  . . 199 

for  contagious-disease  patients 64 

for  general  patients 64 

for  mental-disease  patients 64 

for  tuberculous  patients 64 

general,  of  temporary  hospitals,  characteristics  of 74 

isolation 64 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 199 

nurses’ 64 

of  stationary  military  hospitals  of  ancient  period 13 

of  temporary  hospitals — 

arrangement  of  beds  in 71 

dimensions  of 70,  71 

number  of  beds  in 71 

porches  added  to 73 

ventilation  of 71.  72,  73 

windows  in 72 

of  200  beds,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111., 200 

officers’ 64 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 196 

one-story  pavilion  type  of 66 

pavilion  type  of 66 

psychiatric . 64,  69,  70 

single,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 198 

size  of.. 71 

tuberculosis,  in  temporary  hospitals 76 

two-story 66,  67,  70 

Warehouse,  supply,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 203 

War-time  physical  expansion,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 281 

Warriors: 

ancient,  hospital  care  of 13 

revival  of  hospital  care  of,  credited  to  Isabella,  Queen  of  Spain 14 

Wastes,  disposal  of: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 216 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 378 

Water  piping  of  stationary  military  hospitals  of  ancient  period 13 

Water  supply 151 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Va 454 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 378 

General  Hospital  No.  21,  Denver,  Colo 368 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 281 

Water-closets,  number  of 73 

Waynesville,  N.  C.,  General  Hospital  No.  18 544 

Welfare  organizations: 

and  housing  of  recreational  facilities  for  enlisted  men  at  temporary  hospitals 92 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 265 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 316 

West  Baden,  Ind.,  General  Hospital  No.  35 598 

Whipple  Barracks,  Ariz.,  General  Hospital  No.  20 555 

Williamsbridge,  New  York  City,  General  Hospital  No.  1 494 

Windows  in  wards  of  temporary  hospitals 72 

Wounded  and  sick,  transportation  of 180-188 

Wrightstown,  N.  J.,  Base  Hospital,  Camp  Dix 646 

X-ray,  buildings  for 64 

X-ray  department  : 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 254 

Debarkation  Hospital  No.  3,  New  York  City 443 

Embarkation  Hospital,  Newport  News,  Ya 474 

General  Hospital  No.  3,  Colonia,  N.  J 384 

Surgical  service,  Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 300,  308 

X-ray  laboratory: 

Base  Hospital,  Camp  Grant,  111 197 

of  temporary  hospitals 76 

Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 92, 165 

Walter  Reed  General  Hospital 316 


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08/24/11  33357  * 


